Planner I

POSITION SUMMARY The Planner I position is responsible for applying professional standards to planning, administration, coordination, research, and implementation of comprehensive plans, development review codes, design guidelines, affordable housing, and urban re-development. This position requires friendly and consistent customer service to a variety of groups and individuals including, but not limited to other City employees, Municipal, State, and Federal officials, representatives of neighborhood organizations, business and community organizations, architects, engineers, and the general public. This includes verbal communication and professional correspondence in regard to standards and policies concerning proposals, building permits, development applications, and other various planning office activities. This is a full-time opportunity with many benefits! As a City of Bozeman employee, you will be part of a team that is committed to positively impacting the community. This great opportunity also provides enrollment in an established retirement system with significant employer contribution (9.07%), generous vacation and sick time accruals, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, and excellent medical/dental/vision benefits. Bargaining Unit: Montana Federation of Public Employees Fair Labor Standards Act Status: Non-Exempt Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only) - Performs professional planning duties, including preparing component parts of plans, applying standards and policies to proposals, seeking and conveying comments from various departments and agencies concerning proposals, and presenting proposals to appropriate boards or committees; - Prepares staff reports based on review process and evaluation, including making necessary recommendations; - Gathers and analyzes data on land use, transportation, development and related information based on present and future conditions, including performing field inspections to ensure compliance with approved plans and conditions of approval; - Outlines review schedule for projects, including report deadlines, meeting dates, public notices and newspaper deadlines based upon adopted regulations; - Uses computerized modeling techniques, including forecasting, capacity analysis and related information to determine impact of various plans on existing conditions; - Serves as staff and provides technical support to Planning Board, Design Review Board, Transportation Coordinating Committee, Board of Adjustment, the City Commission, and other advisory boards as needed; - Prepares correspondence and memoranda requiring independent and interpretive judgment in regard to approvals or unmet conditions; - Explains policies, procedures and regulations to the public, developers, business organizations, contractors, and architects; - Provides assistance in effective implementation of planning office policies, including drafting administrative policies for review by the Director, and reviewing applications; - Checks zoning regulations applicable to a particular property and provides all related information to interested parties; - Catalogues and maintains official subdivision and site plan documents for public access; - Determines the appropriateness and validity of data for use in various projects and makes recommendations for additional data collection as needed; - Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems; - Attends meetings, conferences, workshops and training sessions and reviews publications and audiovisual materials to remain current on the principles, practices and new developments in assigned work areas; - Responds to citizens' questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner; - Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification. MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Architecture or a closely related Degree; or - Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: - Substantial knowledge of the current principles and practices involved in urban planning; - Substantial knowledge of land use and zoning theory, urban design, economics, government finance operations, demographics, environmental design, resource development and ecology; - Substantial knowledge of data gathering and research techniques; - Substantial knowledge of the theory and methods for formulating land use policies and related procedures; - Some knowledge of, or the ability to quickly learn Bozeman subdivision and zoning regulation, as well as Montana Annexation and Planning Statutes; - Some knowledge of or the ability to quickly learn the methods used for citizen involvement in planning projects; - Some knowledge of or the ability to quickly learn cartography and GIS, preferably ArcInfo and ArcMap, topographic information, and computer usage; - Some knowledge of or the ability to quickly learn, the architectural, economic and cultural history of the jurisdictional area; - Ability to read and interpret architectural and engineering designs and specifications, including planimetric, topographic, geologic, hydrological, statistical maps, and charts and graphs; - Ability to perform basic designs; - Ability to deal with a wide range of persons, including situations in which individuals may be upset over some issues involved with City activities and policies; - Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language; - Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures and instructions; - Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations on all facets of planning operations; - Ability to operate or quickly learn to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks; - Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions; - Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines; - Ability and willingness to quickly learn and use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology; - Ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks. - Consistently performs assignments in accordance with the City's Core Values of Integrity, Leadership, Service and Teamwork. REQUIRED SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS - Upon hire, will need to provide a valid Montana Driver's License or obtain one with 60 days of employment; - Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory response to a criminal background check.