Planner

Performs mid-level complex work. Work involves coordinating current and long-range planning activities and special studies of the City. Performing reviews of subdivisions, zoning and site development; presenting to Boards, Commissions and to City Council; assisting with the Comprehensive plan updates; drafting ordinances, public interaction and assistance; and preparing written reports. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Geography, Architecture, or other related fields of study.
• A minimum of three years full-time work experience and/or training in a Planning Department.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree equivalent from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Geography, Architecture, or related field of study.
• Four or more years related experience and/or training in a planning department.
• American Institute of Certified Planners Certification (AICP). Salary may be adjusted upon certification.
• Experience working with government entities such as City, State, County.

• Knowledge of the philosophies, principals, practices and techniques of community and urban planning.
• Knowledge of effective writing techniques.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing for preparing and presenting planning reports and projects.
• Ability to follow detailed verbal and written instructions.
• Knowledge of computer hardware and software programs, including Microsoft Office, Internet applications and GIS.
• Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well-defined planning problems.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with other public and private agencies, civic groups, etc.
• Skill in working under the pressures of rigid and/or short work cycle.
• Skill in prioritizing tasks and/or work assignments.
• Skill in planning, organizing and monitoring subordinate employee work assignments to accomplish unit objectives.
• Ability to work on several projects or issue simultaneously.
• Ability to manage and delegate projects effectively to meet deadlines.
• Ability to research, create, explain and enforce City policies.
• Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, tact and diplomacy in public interactions.
• Ability to take initiative without direction.
• Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluation situations and in making decisions.
• Ability to draw sound conclusions from prepared analysis.
• Competency in general knowledge of administrative guidelines, rules and regulations and collection of data resources (census, demographic, economic and labor market, etc.) information.
• Ability to write daily, weekly and monthly reports including words, numbers, abbreviations and note taking. Also, may need to perform mathematical calculations for distance, formulas, mathematical word problems, percentages and metric conversions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle and feel items, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, talk, and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to lift or move 50 lbs. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position.

Your well-being and that of your family matters to you, and so it's important to us too. To support you and your loved ones through life's many challenges, we offer our full time employees access to a wide array of benefits including health, dental, vision, life, disability, accident, cancer, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, employee assistance, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid emergency leave, longevity pay, golf course discounts as well as generous retirement and deferred compensation programs and social security participation.

Medical
We offer two types of medical plans (a traditional PPO plan and a high deductible health plan) so that you can choose the one that best fits your needs. The premium you pay is based on which plan you select and who you cover. Covering just yourself? The City currently pays the entire employee-only premium for either plan. Covering qualified dependents in your family? Currently, we'll pay your employee premium and split the remainder of the spouse/child/family premium with you - we pay 60%; you pay 40%. That generous cost share reflects our philosophy that our employees and their families should have the best health care we can afford to provide.

Dental
Dental plans include a DMO option (no cost for employee-only coverage) and two more traditional plans whose premiums are also affordable. You can choose to cover yourself or any qualified dependents and choose which plan best suits your dental needs. Currently, for the DHMO option, we pay the employee premium and split the remainder of the spouse/child/family premiums with you – we pay 50%; you pay 50%. Under the more traditional plans, although we don't pay the entire employee-only premium, we still split the incremental dependent premiums with you 50/50.

Vision
Access to $10 eye exam co-pays and up to $150 frame and contact lens allowances make vision insurance a popular benefit among employees. Cover yourself for just a few bucks a pay period or all of your qualified dependents for not much more.

Life/AD&D
Your basic employee $15,000 term life insurance policy is paid for by the city. Accidental Death & Dismemberment under the plan would pay an additional $15,000 to your beneficiary if you die in an accident. More life insurance coverage is paid for by the City and provided through our Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) program. If that's still not enough coverage, you can purchase more life/AD&D coverage for yourself and your qualified dependents. Over the age of 65? These coverages are subject to an age reduction schedule.

Disability
Both short and long term disability plans which provide up to 60% income replacement are available to purchase at competitive rates.

Accident & Cancer
Need extra coverage for off-the-job medical injuries or a cancer diagnosis? Supplemental plans that pay cash for some of life's most unexpected events are available for purchase.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Want to set aside some pre-tax dollars for health care expenses or dependent care expenses? If you select the traditional EPO medical coverage, you can set aside pre-tax money for medical expenses through the City's Section 125 medical FSA plan, which is managed by an outside carrier. You can do the same for dependent day care expenses, regardless of which medical plan you select.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
The high deductible health care plan has its own provisions for pre-tax health savings (HSA) so you can set aside money for your qualified health care expenses. The City will add $1000 to your health savings