Senior Land Use Planner

🌍 Remote, USA 🚀 Full-time 🕐 Posted Recently

Job Description

Are you a forward-thinking advanced current planner with strong project management, development review and environmental analysis expertise? If so, the City of Bellevue wants you!

The Land Use Division is looking for two Senior Planners to join a dynamic work group within the Development Services Department. The 25-person land use division consists of four work groups: Environmental Team, Neighborhood Development Team, Urban Design Team and Housing and Special Projects Team. The Senior Planner positions will be filled on the Housing and Special Projects Team and the Urban Design Team. Senior Planners provide expertise in specific land use areas but are required to work on a wide variety of projects across all four teams of the land use division.

The City of Bellevue is one of the hottest tech markets in the nation due to its prime location, ranking as one of the best mid-sized cities in the country in which to live, and has a business-friendly environment. As a result, Bellevue is seeing an unprecedented amount of growth. To accommodate this development, current planners in the City of Bellevue are in a unique position to affect meaningful change by “growing” an urban environment with a view to creating a vibrant, livable city of the future.

As a senior in your field, you will bring your depth of knowledge primarily to land use entitlement review, construction permit review, but will also mentor, train, and support staff, and assist in developing ordinances and regulations related to a wide range of topics, furthering the city’s vision and goals. Primary duties include administrative review and project management of a wide range of development applications, including complex and politically sensitive projects in the Downtown, Bel-Red, and other commercial and design districts in the city, review of projects located in environmentally critical areas of the city, urban design analysis, housing related and other large special projects, and assistance in the preparation of ordinances and processes related to land use review. You'll work in an environment where being innovative, collaborative, and future focused are the status quo. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. It's what makes The City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Hybrid Work Environment
Exceptional Benefits
Commitment to Employees
Focus on Equity and Inclusion
Office location Downtown - close to transit, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment

If you are a collaborative problem solver, are customer-focused, and have an interest and experience, apply today and join our team!

The scope of potential assignments is diverse and varied and ranges from predevelopment consulting and providing public information on policies, codes and processes to project managing entitlement review of complex planning development proposals. Duties may also include providing code updates related to review work as well as the preparation of ordinances and process improvements. Multi-faceted urban design analysis, project management skills, and strong site and architectural design expertise is often required. The position also requires the senior planner to use expert depth of knowledge to mentor, train, and support staff and to assist in developing innovative ordinances and regulations related to a wide range of topics, including urban design elements of the Land Use Code, signage, and other issues related to design of the built environment and furthering the city's urban vision and goals.

Performs reviews and approves projects where the combination of size, scope, complexity, policy implications, gray areas, and political sensitivity or client goals and expectations require unique skill and planning/design expertise.
Serves as project manager for a variety of complex administrative and quasi-judicial development projects. In the role as project manager, is responsible for ensuring timelines and client satisfaction for a large array of application types.
Prepare detailed staff reports supporting each project's compliance with city codes and guidelines, incorporating reviews by other city departments.
Conducts pre-application conferences and other predevelopment client services.
Make recommendations on quasi-judicial project review to the Hearing Examiner.
Conducts public meetings, land use hearings, and presents technical material to citizen groups, commissions, and the City Council.
Use technical expertise and experience to mentor and advise less experienced staff in resolving land use and environmental issues.
Manages or contributes to special projects having to do with land use policy and code development.
Reviews a variety of ministerial and construction related permits.

Assist on development of ordinances and processes related to the Land Use Code.
Participate in staff training, public outreach, and inter-departmental teams to advance Bellevue's urban design vision.

Provide official responses to inquiry from citizens as well as local, State, and Federal entities.
Make presentations to Boards and Commissions, community groups, and private organizations.
Writes and produces public information materials.
Assist visitors at the Land Use desk in the Development Services Permit Center with general information about land use, environmental issues, and other regulations under the authority of the Land Use Division.

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in land-use planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or a closely related field.
A minimum of five or more years of professional or related experience described above with experience reviewing urban design development projects, land use entitlement, environmental analysis, housing or special project analysis, making presentations to large and small audiences such as boards and commissions, working on cross-disciplinary teams and mentoring and training junior land use staff.
A Masters degree in planning or related field is preferred with seven years’ professional related experience in any of the following: land use planning, the development process, environmental planning, or urban design.
American Institute of Certified Planners designation is preferred.
Or any demonstrated combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIREMENTS

The ability to communicate planning, environmental and architectural concepts clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
Organization and writing of detailed staff reports using strong writing skills to communicate a project's compliance with City codes, approval criteria, and guidelines.
Project management of cross-disciplinary teams reviewing complex urban design or special development projects, and/or technical planning studies.
Independent interpretation of adopted guidelines and policies and ability to negotiate design outcomes to achieve them.
Code and policy conflict identification and resolution.
Analytical competency and the ability to effectively communicate methodology and results.

Principles, practices, regulations, and techniques in the field of land use, site planning, architecture, urban design, and/or environmental planning as they pertain to current planning and development review.
Local government and political decision-making process.

Communicate effectively with individuals, applicants, and groups regarding complex and/or controversial land use and planning policies and regulations.
Organize and participate in committees and public meetings and communicate ideas effectively.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff of other departments, work groups, agencies, elected and appointed officials, and the community/public.
Manage review teams to ensure review is meeting required timelines.
Provide exceptional customer service to citizens, developers, consultants, and staff.
Become an integral member of the Land Use Division and work collaboratively to interpret the Land Use Code and assist with mentoring and training of junior land use staff.

FLEXIBLE/HYBRID WORKING:

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period. Remote work for this position is subject to the department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.

This is a Union-represented position. The terms of its wages and working conditions are currently being negotiated between the City and the Union.

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