Senior Planner

About the role

The Senior Planner will perform a wide variety of municipal planning functions, including duties associated with the full life cycle of land use permitting from scoping/pre-application, development review, Planning Commission and Town Trustees presentation, project and warranty closure, and permit compliance. This role will be responsible for daily "on-call" planning questions and for providing positive customer service. The position provides highly responsible support to citizens, developers, and the Community Development Department.

The ideal candidate values clear and transparent communication, creative problem solving, critical thinking, meaningful community engagement, collaboration with peers, and mentoring and developing the potential in others. Process improvement, code-writing, and long-range planning projects are anticipated. The Senior Planner will be the staff liaison with the Historic Preservation Commission, the Housing Consortium, and participate in regional planning activities. Collaborates with the Planning Manager and Community Development Director in implementing action items and goals for the Town's annual work plan, the Comprehensive Plan and other plans and policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as a contact for developers and citizens regarding development and zoning questions. Provides professional customer service
• Manages current planning cases. Participates in development review pre-application, intake, process, completion, collaboration with compliance
• Interpret and apply applicable codes and regulations, including the town's comprehensive plan, area plans, municipal development codes, guidelines, and standards and specifications
• Prepare professional staff reports, supplemental materials, and provide professional-level presentations to internal and external advisory boards: Town Board, Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment/Appeals, Historic Preservation Advisory County, Housing Consortium, and outside partners
• Research and generate records and reports on local demographics and development activity for Town administration and outside agencies
• Requires field inspections and an understanding of how properties/projects are interconnected to adjoining properties/projects
• Represent planning department and Town at regional or local meetings, events, and conferences
• Recording and Filing Development Documents; working with staff to digitize files and create GIS layers
• Present development projects to Planning Commission and Town Board meetings are required (evening meetings)
• Act as lead staff liaison to Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (evening meetings)
• Act as lead staff liaison to the Housing Consortium (daytime meetings)
• Support for special projects (code updates, overlay's, etc) as assigned. Identifies code deficiencies or needed amendments as well as process improvement opportunities experienced during current planning duties. Understands change management processes, collaborate with team members and communicate goals
• Assist the Building division as needed for setback confirmation, participation in learning and builder engagement programs, and manage the Block Diversity and Architectural Review programs (building permits). Reviews sign permits for compliance with zoning regulations and land use permits
• Build and maintain the Town's GIS database and oversee the ArcGIS accounts
• Act as the Berthoud Representative to regional planning efforts (may be evening meetings)
• Take in and process all sign permit applications with the Building Division
• Send out public notices as necessary; coordinate with applicants and referral agencies
• Participate in internal development review meetings and Technical Review Committee Meetings with interested developers

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare the Planning Commission meeting agendas and manage the meeting video capture
• Other related duties as may be assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Team-player
• Basic Website abilities
• Preparing for and presenting at public hearings and public engagements meetings
• Read plats and plans
• Translate development terminology and requirements simply to all audiences
• Communicate effectively in person, over the phone, in email and in writing
• Knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of current and long-range municipal planning
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• GIS and Esri applications understanding and implementation, preferred

Qualifications

Education: Undergrad degree in Planning or related field required. Master's Degree in Planning or related field preferred.

Work Experience: More than four years of increasingly responsible planning experience in a municipal or county agency Required. Supervisory experience preferred. Private sector role performing land use/site planning and performing similar duties and responsibilities preferred.

Certificates and Licenses: AICP, with 2 years to acquire. Colorado Driver's License is required.

Work Environment

May experience: Extreme cold, extreme heat, humidity, wetness, noise, hazards, temperature change, atmospheric conditions, and vibration.

Physical Demands

May include: reading, climbing stairs, crouching, grasping, gripping, handling, kneeling, pinching, pulling, pushing, reaching, vision, repetitive motions, sitting, standing, walking, stooping, and carrying/lifting up to 50 lbs.

Benefits

• Group Health Insurance w/HSA funds
• Dental
• Vision
• Life
• 401/457
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Longevity Pay
• Recreation Membership