Senior Planner

Home to more than 50,000 residents, Everett is known for its rich culture, diverse population, and robust sense of community. The city builds on its strong industrial heritage and close neighborhood connections as a modern, vibrant, and welcoming place for residents, businesses, and visitors.

About the role

Assists in shaping the future of development in Everett by providing professional and technical expertise in land use permitting (e.g., master plans, special permits, site plan reviews, variances, subdivisions), housing policy and inclusionary zoning, zoning compliance, historic preservation, and long-range planning for the City. Assists with development, implementation, and monitoring of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The Senior Planner works under the direction of the Director of Planning & Community Development.

Responsibilities

• Serves as staff support to assigned permitting boards including, but not limited to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals
• Reviews applications and plans for completeness, performs site investigations, receives input from City departments and community members, prepares staff reports to assigned boards with formal recommendations and recommended conditions of approval
• Presents information to the Director of Planning & Development for cases set to appear before the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals
• Monitors and ensures compliance with approved plans and conditions of approval after board action
• Makes recommendations on process improvements including improving information sharing with applicants and community members
• Assists the Building Department with ensuring zoning compliance
• Works with the Director of Planning & Development to prepare, implement, and monitor the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program
• Participates in efforts to enhance the recognition and preservation of historic buildings and spaces in Everett
• Provides information to the public regarding City ordinance, state laws, and applicable regulations
• Collaborates on presentations for various city, regional, state, and federal agencies
• Attends meetings and serves as a resource to other City departments, divisions, the general public, community groups, and outside agencies related to planning and permitting in the field, over the counter, and on the telephone
• Manages the public process dealing with planning initiatives
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, engineering, architecture or similar field, and 5-7 years’ experience in land use planning or related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job
• Master’s degree preferred

Skills

• Advanced knowledge of the philosophies, principles, practices & techniques of planning
• Well-developed knowledge of one or more planning disciplines, such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, historic preservation or economic development
• Knowledge of principles, methodology, practices of research and data collection
• Knowledge of effective writing techniques
• Knowledge of computer programs and applications used in an office setting, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications, econometric or transportation modeling, and database management
• Knowledge of GIS programs and applications is a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for preparing and presenting planning reports and projects
• Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with elected/appointed officials or other decision-makers
• Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well-defined planning problems
• Group facilitation skills for use with community workshops
• Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously
• Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines
• Ability to facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities
• Multi-lingual skills in Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian-Creole a plus
• Ability to analyze complex technical issues and to develop relevant and realistic plans, programs, and recommendations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department staff, other municipal departments, organizations, and contractors
• Ability to adhere to policies and procedures
• Ability to communicate in-person, via phone, email and in writing and make impartial decisions
• Ability to explain complex information in a manner that can be understood by all

Pay

$80,000 – $90,000 annual

Schedule

35 hours/week, City Hall standard day schedule Monday – Thursday, with either Monday or Thursday 8:00am – 7:30pm

Benefits

Exempt full-time position with benefits.