URBAN PLANNER II

The City of Alexandria is located in Northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia and Maryland (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 160,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Urban Planner II position.

An Overview
This position is located within the Neighborhood Planning and Community Development (NPCD) Division of the Department of Planning & Zoning (P&Z). The Planner will perform professional planning work primarily but not limited to small area planning and implementation, community outreach, research and analysis, and development review.

What You Should Bring

The incumbent should be a highly-responsible and organized planner with outstanding planning, communication, technical, and analytical skills. You must have a strong knowledge of and experience with the principles and practices of urban planning, urban design, and community engagement as well as excellent GIS, graphics/Adobe Suite and plan review skills.

The Opportunity

• Collaborating as part of a multi-disciplinary team on long-range planning projects involving extensive public participation to facilitate equitable solutions for complex neighborhood issues;
• Producing graphics and maps for presentations, plans, and staff reports, transforming complex issues into concise and easy to understand concepts for community groups, property owners, and appointed and elected officials;
• Reviewing development projects for consistency with the Master Plan;
• Assisting with design and execution of community engagement strategies and working closely with community stakeholders in the development of plans;
• Assisting with implementation of long-range planning initiatives; and
• Assisting in coordinating with other divisions within P&Z as well as other departments and external partners on small area plans and implementation.

About the Department

Planning and Zoning works closely with the community in each area of the City to carry out City Council's Strategic Plan for vibrant, accessible, amenity-rich neighborhoods, protected historic resources, equitable community outcomes, and thriving local businesses. With the community as our partner in developing neighborhood plans and reviewing proposals for development projects, we continue to deliver on the Vision we have developed together.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Four-Year College Degree from an accredited college or university in regional, or urban Planning, or a closely related field such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Physical Sciences, Historic Preservation, or Environmental Studies; three years of experience or Master's degree with 1 year experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Minimum requirements listed above plus three or more years of urban planning experience, including community engagement/facilitation and experience addressing equity and environmental sustainability in planning work; at least three years of urban planning experience in local government, demonstrated intermediate or higher skills in Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, SketchUp and ArcGIS; at least three years of site plan review experience; demonstrated strong written and oral communication skills; Spanish fluency; and proven ability to manage complex projects in a fast-paced collaborative team environment.

Notes

This position requires successful completion of pre-employment background checks to include, but not limited to a criminal history records check.