Community Planner I/II

The Planning Division of the City of Gaithersburg Department of Planning & Code Administration is accepting applications for a full-time Community Planner to perform a variety of responsibilities primarily related to community planning, zoning, and land use. We are looking for a talented professional who is interested in joining a collaborative and innovative team that plays a key role in the planning and development of one of the largest cities in Maryland -- Gaithersburg, which has just over 70,000 residents and is located in the heart of Montgomery County.

As part of the Community Planning team, the successful candidate will perform professional and technical work reviewing site development plans and applying regulations governing community development, zoning, and land use. The Planner works directly with the public to respond to general zoning inquiries, and collect, analyze, interpret, and present technical land use, environmental, zoning, and other City planning data. The ideal candidate must possess basic knowledge of principles and practices of planning and zoning, have the ability to review site development applications, possess excellent research and writing skills, and be able to interact easily with City officials, representatives of other governmental agencies, members of commissions and boards, and the public.

Qualifications
This position may be filled at the Planner I or Planner II level, depending on qualifications. Starting salary is negotiable within the anticipated hiring range (see below) and will be offered at a level consistent with the experience and qualifications of the candidate:

Planner I - $63,000 - $72,000

Planner II - $79,000 - $88,000

We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, long-term care, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, excellent work/life balance, and opportunities for professional growth and career progression.

What You Will Do With Us

• Process and review planning applications for compliance with City Code and policies.
• Prepare planning reports and present materials at public meetings.
• Utilize the City's Geographic Information System (GIS) to create and maintain the planning department's database, analyze data, and prepare maps and data layers for planning and reporting purposes.
• Assist committee and board staff liaisons with meetings and agenda packages.
• Provide outstanding service, pursue continuous improvement, and exceed expectations.

Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please click the appropriate link to view the classification description for the Planner I and the Planner II positions. The classification description indicates the full salary range established for these positions to provide opportunity for growth and development (Grades 106 and 109, respectively, in the City's FY 2026 Schedule of Salary Ranges.

What You Will Need To Be Considered

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban/Regional Planning, Urban Studies, Engineering, Architecture, or closely related field.
• At least one year of planning-related experience, including internships, preferably at the regional or local government level, or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties.
• Ability to handle multiple projects effectively with demonstrated attention to detail.
• Strong, effective writing skills.
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record.

To be considered for a Planner II level position, you will need:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Urban Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Engineering, Architecture, or closely related field, and 6 years of progressively responsible professional planning experience (experience at the regional or local government level preferred); OR
• A Master's Degree in Urban Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Engineering, Architecture, or closely related field and 5 years of progressively responsible planning experience (experience at the regional or local government level preferred). (Any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform the functions of the position is qualifying.)
• In-depth knowledge of the principles and practices of planning and zoning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage more complex projects and perform work with more autonomy.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification (preferred),

Interested Applicants Must Submit The Following To Be Considered

• A complete online application
• Current Resume (attached to the online application)
• Letter of interest (attached to the online application) - Your letter of interest should include why you are interested in the position and what specific skills and abilities make you uniquely qualified to serve in this position.

Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is strongly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are received or all hiring decisions have been made.

This is a full-time salaried "exempt" position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week (not eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the City's personnel regulations). Attendance at some early morning/evening public meetings or events and other work outside of regular business hours is required. Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.

The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.

For more information about the position, contact Community Planning Manager Jasmine Forbes at or Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at or

This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancies and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.