Principal Planner – Development Review and Plan Implementation, City of Madison, Wisconsin

Position: Principal Planner – Development Review and Plan Implemenation

Employer: City of Madison, Wisconsin

SALARY: $39.86 – $47.99 Hourly
$3,089.29 – $3,719.60 Biweekly
$6,693.46 – $8,059.13 Monthly
$80,321.54 – $96,709.60 Annually

COMP. GROUP/RANGE: 18/15

JOB TYPE: PERMANENT FULL TIME

DEPARTMENT: Planning

OPENING DATE: 09/06/16

CLOSING DATE: 10/09/16 11:59 PM

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The City of Madison seeks a qualified Principal Planner with excellent communication skills to be part of the leadership team for the Planning Division. The Principal Planner will lead the Development Review and Plan Implementation (DRPI) Section, an experienced five-person team of planners coordinating the City’s development review and land use approval processes. Working closely with staff from other agencies, elected and appointed officials, diverse Madison residents, and development teams, the DRPI Section is responsible for guiding decisions related to physical change and urban design throughout the City of Madison. This is primarily accomplished through the application of development ordinances and standards to recommend courses of action by the City’s Urban Design Commission, Plan Commission, and Common Council. Importantly, the team also works collaboratively toward innovative and creative design solutions to improve site and building design for public benefit.

The City of Madison (population 247,000) is experiencing a period of relatively rapid growth and change, which results in an exciting, fast-paced work environment where clear and consistent communication is paramount. In 2015, DRPI staff reviewed 175 land use cases before the Plan Commission, which resulted in the approval of nearly 2,500 new residential units and over 350,000 square feet of commercial space. The Downtown Core and major transit corridors are experiencing high rates of infill redevelopment, with continued growth in peripheral areas as well. Madison has a need for additional affordable housing and a strengthened transit system to serve the needs of the community, and residents and other stakeholders are passionate about the ways change occurs and impacts on surrounding neighborhoods.

The Comprehensive Plan (adopted in 2006) and Subarea Plans in place today support strong and efficient mixed-use neighborhoods, and an update the Comprehensive Plan currently in progress will better prioritize action and investment to move toward a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy city. The Principal Planner will maintain close communication with staff throughout the Planning Division and the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development to ensure a strong thread between overarching citywide goals, plan recommendations, and physical change citywide. If you are interested in working in a collaborative and challenging environment to positively impact growth and change of Madison, please consider applying to become part of this team.

IMPORTANT: THERE ARE THREE SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS ON THE JOB POSTING. YOU MUST ANSWER ALL THREE QUESTIONS AND ATTACH YOUR ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS IN THE ATTACHMENT SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT THE RESPONSES WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROCESS.

To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key responsibilities will include:
Direct the activities and functions of the Development Review and Plan Implementation Section encompassing land development policy, regulation and review, and plan implementation.
Work closely with Zoning and other City of Madison staff to coordinate the City’s response to development proposals.
Work with the Planning Division Director to hire, train, assign, supervise and evaluate the Development Review and Plan Implementation staff team.
Review and approve work products of the DRPI team. Work with staff to continually assess and improve the development review process, including increased transparency and community engagement, transition to electronic plan review, a more robust data management and reporting system, and strengthened collaboration with staff from other City agencies.
Serve as an initial point person for contacts regarding potential development proposals. Use good judgment to involve other staff when needed in early discussions regarding proposals and relevant adopted plans and policies.
Assign development review, ordinance research and drafting, and cross-section special project responsibilities to staff.
Attend and/or coordinate staffing of occasional neighborhood meetings, Urban Design Commission, Plan Commission and Common Council meetings as needed.
Build relationships with design professionals in the community and help cultivate design leaders to serve on City boards and commissions.
Support the City’s historic preservation planning program and Landmarks Commission as needed by working proactively with developers to ensure context sensitive development around landmarks and adaptive reuse of structures with historic value.
Serve as Project Manager and/or Principal Staff for specific development proposals (e.g., rezoning requests, conditional use requests, certified survey maps, demolition requests, etc.).
Advise developers, consultants, realtors, property owners and elected officials regarding land developments and context sensitive solutions that effectively implement the City’s adopted comprehensive plan, area plans and other City policies.
Perform other related work as required.
For the exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, please reference the position description online:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/HR/documents/PrincPlannerPosDesc.pdf

Members of our team are expected to:
Support and promote collaborative efforts and teamwork.
Communicate openly and candidly.
Participate fully in discussions.
Employ techniques for effective problem solving and decision making.
Ensure the principles of equal opportunity are properly observed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of land use and community planning and urban design. Thorough knowledge of development review and land use approvals processes at the local level. Working knowledge of local land use ordinances and laws. Working knowledge of supervisory principles and practices, labor relations and personnel management. Working knowledge of public administration and budgetary principles. Ability to exercise considerable judgment in reviewing land use and land division applications. Ability to provide primary staff support to policy review bodies and to facilitate the implementation of their decisions. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing, including the preparation and presentation of persuasive reports and recommendations. Ability to create and deliver presentations to large groups of people. Ability to use computer software applicable to the duties of the position. Ability to plan, manage, coordinate and evaluate the work of diverse professional staff. Ability to hire, train, evaluate and discipline employees. Ability to effectively manage and coordinate staff team activities. Ability to direct and perform research work, assist in policy and ordinance development, and to prepare technical and statistical information relevant to major planning issues. Ability to assist with complex planning processes and implementation strategies for future community development. Ability to attend meetings during the evening or on weekends. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other managers, staff, City officials, the press and diverse and multicultural stakeholders. Ability to assist with the Planning Division budget and oversee the DRPI section budget. Ability to visit and inspect sites throughout the city. Ability to maintain adequate attendance.
Training and Experience:

Five years of professional planning experience including responsibilities for coordinating land use approvals or development review, project management, and work as a leader or member of a team. Such experience would normally be gained after graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Studies or other related studies and programs. Other combinations of training and/or experience which can be demonstrated to result in the possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position will also be considered.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to meet the transportation requirements of the position.

Physical Requirements:

Incumbents must be able to physically access sites throughout the City. In addition, incumbents will be expected to attend meetings and provide presentations outside the normal work schedule, including evenings and weekends.

* Payroll title for this position is Principal Planner

THE CITY OF MADISON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER FUNCTIONING UNDER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN. WE ENCOURAGE MINORITIES, WOMEN AND INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY TO APPLY.

It is your responsibility to list all related jobs, correct dates of employment, average number of hours worked per week, etc. Be sure to place the complete job title on your application. If you wish to provide additional or supplemental information, please provide a resume in addition to the formal application. If you are still employed please indicate this. Failure to provide accurate and complete information may result in you not being considered for this position.

All applicants are notified by email of the status of their application in each selection process. Those applicants invited to exams will receive an email notice of the date, time, and location. Alternate exam dates/times are not available except in the case of an emergency. Emergency situations are reviewed on an individual basis. Conflicting work hours are not considered an emergency. Exams are job specific and are developed based on the duties to be performed and the criteria listed under the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities section of the job announcement . Exam results are generally available within 2 weeks of the exam, and will be emailed or may be accessed through your NEOGOV account. Due to the volume of exams given by our office, exam scores are not available via telephone.

As an employer, the City of Madison places a strong emphasis on customer service and strives to provide a working environment where: Engagement and equity are supported; Diversity and differing opinions are valued; Teamwork and open and honest communication are encouraged; Meeting customer needs through quality service is a common goal; Creativity is encouraged; Continuous learning and improvement is fostered. Come be a part of the team!

APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/hr

210 Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
CCB Rm 501
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-4615

hr@cityofmadison.com

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