Senior Planner

Description **Hiring Range: $74,947.07 - $93,684.42 (Depending on qualifications)

Full Salary Range: $74,947.07 - $112,421.79** Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Under direction of the Planning Manager, the Senior Planner performs detailed and complex analysis and technical review of applications to ensure compliance with the City’s development regulations and comprehensive plan. Will prepare professional documents, technical reports, and presentations for the City Council and other various boards and commissions. This position is responsible for coordination with applicants at all levels of residential and commercial development, and serves as lead on various project review processes, collaborating with any necessary internal and external partners to ensure thorough review.

Essential Job Functions Coordinates with applicants and provides assistance to navigate the development review process. This may involve coordinating and leading meetings with internal and external stakeholders to ensure quality development within Rowlett. Must exhibit a high level of understanding of planning practices and utilize same to perform complex reviews and evaluation of submitted plans and documents as they relate to all City governing documents or ordinances.

The incumbent would be expected to utilize planning knowledge, historical information, and best practices to initiate or assist with requested ordinance updates. Updates may be needed for better community protections, ease of understanding and more transparent processes, alignment with best practices, or legal updates.

This position has responsibility for ensuring public notices and publications are completed for any assigned cases/projects. This position will have a significant amount of public interaction and will provide presentations and reports to City Council, Boards and Commissions, and City departments. This position will have responsibility for leading project teams or work groups and may provide direct supervision to interns or other part-time employees.

Performs other duties as assigned. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential function of this position, as is the ability to create and maintain professional, harmonious working relationships with others.

Minimum Requirements Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Community Development, Communications, Public Administration, Social Work, Urban Planning or related field. A master’s degree is preferred. Four (4) years of related experience with significant public interaction required, particularly in engaging and working with stakeholder groups. Current planning / development review experience preferred.

• Knowledge of municipal operations, organizational structure, and the legal and political environment of local government.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, and theories of urban planning and land use, including Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, statues, etc.
• Knowledge of research, analysis, interpretation, implementation, development, and enforcement of complex legal, development, planning and zoning proposals.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and display good judgement in interactions with residents, development community, and City employees.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with employees in all City departments.
• Ability to prepare and present a variety of reports for oral and written presentations.
• Ability to listen well and communicate clearly and precisely, orally and in writing with various audiences.
• Ability to manage projects for thoroughness and attention to detail while meeting project milestones or due dates.

Other Requirements Valid driver's license required. Must have and maintain a good driving record in accordance with the driving standards as established by the City of Rowlett. Must report all traffic citations to his/her departmental Director or his/her designee within two working days of receipt.

Mobility within an office or field environment. May be required to work evenings or weekends to accomplish tasks, such as community meetings and special events.

Physical demands are primarily sedentary. Light lifting (up to 15 lbs.) walking, standing, etc. Primarily works in a climate-controlled office environment. Will occasionally work in outside environments and may be subject to the elements.

The City of Rowlett is proud to support a healthy work/life balance by offering a 4-day work week, with standard business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., depending on departmental schedules . We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes vacation, holiday, and sick leave, along with medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, life insurance, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance.

To support our employees’ long-term financial goals, the City participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS), featuring a generous 2:1 match.

For a more detailed overview of our benefit package, please visit our Benefits Page.

01

Do you have a current Texas driver's license? (Your driving record will be considered to the extent that you will drive a City vehicle or conduct City business in your personal vehicle).

• Yes
• No
• No, I do not have a Texas driver's license, but I will be able to obtain within the first 60 days of employment. (For out of state applicants)

02

Please select your highest level of education completed. Relevant fields of study include Business Administration, Public Administration, Community Development, Communications, Social Work, Urban Planning, or a closely related field.

• High School Diploma or GED
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree or higher

03

How many years of professional planning and/or development review experience do you have?

• Less than 2 years
• 2-3 years
• 4-5 years
• 6 years and more

04

Which of the following best describes your planning experience? (Select all that apply.)

• Development review (site plans, plats, zoning cases, etc.)
• Current planning for a municipality
• Long-range/comprehensive planning
• Zoning administration
• None of the above

05

Have you prepared staff reports and presented planning or zoning cases to a Planning & Zoning Commission, City Council, or similar public board?

• Yes, regularly as part of my current or recent position
• Yes, occasionally
• No

06

Which type(s) of organization have you worked for in a planning or development review capacity? (Select all that apply.)

• Municipal government
• County Government
• Regional Council of Governments (CDG)
• Consulting firm serving public-sector planning clients
• Private land development
• None of the above

07

Which of the following types of applications have you independently reviewed or managed? (Select all that apply.)

• Zoning requests
• Specific Use Permits (SUPs)
• Preliminary or final plats
• Site plans
• Planned Development (PD Districts)
• Comprehensive Plan amendments
• None of the above

08

Which statement best describes your preferred work environment?

• An organization with well-defined processes and established workflows.
• An organization with a mix of established processes and ongoing improvements.
• An organization that is rebuilding or transforming processes

09

Please enter your annual base salary requirement as a specific dollar amount (numbers only). Responses such as "Negotiable," "Open," or other non-numeric responses will not be accepted.

10

Scenario: A developer submits a commercial site plan that generally meets City requirements, but you identify several issues that conflict with the City's zoning ordinance. The developer requests that you approve the project without requiring revisions. Question: Describe how you would approach this situation. Include the steps you would take, how you would communicate with the applicant and internal stakeholders, and how you would ensure compliance with City regulations. N/A will not be accepted.

• Required Question