Urban Planner II

URBAN PLANNER II

GS 19

The City of Alexandria is located in Northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (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 square miles in the City 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
The Urban Planner II in the Development Review Division is a highly motivated, creative and responsible employee with knowledge and experience in planning and land use regulatory practices and procedures and strong analytical, project management, and communication skills. This Planner will review a wide variety of Development projects against the City of Alexandria's Zoning Ordinance, Small Area Plans, design guidelines, and other associated policies and programs. The work is performed under the supervision of a Principal Planner and in a team environment. The employee in this position is assigned complex projects ranging from small to large scale development proposals and will take them through the development review process from the concept stage to final site plan. This Planner II is also able to manage competing priorities, assumes the lead on projects working closely with the applicant and with interdepartmental teams, and has extensive experience multi-tasking and communicating well with both internal and external stakeholders.

The Opportunity

• Independently manage development projects, in close coordination with the project team, including reviewing for compliance with zoning policy, small area plans, design guidelines, environmental guidelines and standards, and any previous approvals;
• Review development proposals of a broad range of scales, including building permits, site plan revisions, site plan inspections, grading permits, landscape plans, and other work that is assigned within the planning area;
• Work with other professional planners on zoning policy and interpretation, neighborhood plans and implementation processes, design guidelines, and development studies and other special projects;
• Write comprehensive staff reports, conditions for development approval, memoranda addressing policies and practices, letters to industry addressing required procedures and practices, development comments, and other materials as needed for projects, and prepare associated graphics and handouts;
• Manage meetings, correspondence, and submissions for neighborhood groups, Boards and Commissions;
• Public speaking before groups of various sizes and backgrounds, including professional presentations to Boards, Commissions and City Council;
• Collaborate with staff to create and document Department policies and procedures; and;
• Perform related work as required.

About the Department
The Department of Planning and Zoning works closely with communities to carry out the City's Strategic Plan, fostering amenity-rich, service-oriented and equity-balanced neighborhoods; protecting historic and cultural resources; and supporting diverse and creative businesses. In developing neighborhood plans, reviewing development proposals, and promoting economic vitality, we continue our commitment to collaborate with all stakeholder groups to honor the character of each neighborhood and to strengthen and sustain them, and Alexandria as a whole, for now and in the future.

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

Four-Year College Degree plus four years' experience or Masters' degree plus 2 years' experience; two years' experience in public sector planning; at least two years' experience working successfully with customers and/or members of the public; the ability to use scales; the ability to review surveys/plats and architectural plans; demonstrated strong analytical, written and communication skills; and knowledge of the principles and practices of planning at the local level. Experience with urban design and historic preservation, spatial programming, and best management practices within the fields of Landscape Architecture and green building. Proficiency in Microsoft Suite Programs, Adobe Creative Suite Programs, AutoCAD, BlueBeam, Geographic Information Systems and other graphic programs. Professional certification such as AICP, RLA, LEED AP, or RA is preferred.

Notes

This position requires successful completion of pre-employment background checks which will include a criminal history records check.