Senior Planner (Project/Program Manager III)
- Summary
Senior Planners work under the supervision of a Product Line Manager to produce or help produce timely, accurate, quality reviews and approvals of land use and building permits. Working in a collaborative manner, Senior Planners work with a higher degree of independence than do Assistant or Associate Planners. They apply their years of current planning experience to review a variety of permit types ranging from single-family projects to complex commercial or infrastructure projects, but may work more often on complex, high profile, and/or time-sensitive projects. Senior Planners are responsible for carefully reviewing permit application plans and technical documents; working cooperatively with others in the department and in other agencies; and writing technical permit approval documents and staff reports that are clear, accurate, and defensible. Senior Planners may assist in developing code amendments; participate occasionally in long-range planning assignments; and, as directed, may be a technical resource for and provide workflow guidance to other planners. An essential part of the job is to work positively and in a solution-oriented manner with customers, their design/engineering professionals, other members of the public, and co-workers. Some presentations to the public, hearing bodies, and other agencies will be required on a periodic basis.
ABOUT KING COUNTY
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make this King County one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
King County is the local service provider for roughly a quarter-million people who live in unincorporated parts of the county. If all of these residents lived together in a single city, it would be the second-largest city in the state. The population of our urban unincorporated areas is three-to-four times more diverse than those of our rural unincorporated areas in terms of race, language spoken, and income. The Department of Local Services includes a Director's Office, a Community Service Areas group, a Road Services Division, and a Permitting Division. It provides a single point of accountability for delivery of local services to all unincorporated areas in King County.- Job Duties
- As assigned by the Product Line Manager, review and potentially impose conditions upon land use and building permits according to applicable codes, laws, and policies.
- Author accurate and understandable permit language, technical documents, and staff reports that are consistent with applicable codes, laws, and policies.
- Manage individual work time to meet a fluctuating work load and achieve target review times.
- Serve as a technical resource for other planners in the department.
- As directed, assist in managing the workflow of other planners in the department, and help establish Standard Work practices for permit types.
- Develop or assist in developing code and plan amendments that bring greater relevance or improve departmental processes or systems; support ad hoc long-range planning assignments.
- Support pre-application conferences and assist with customer inquiries.
- Work cooperatively with others in the department or in other agencies to resolve permit- and process-related issues.
- Exhibit and support a culture of superior customer service; to the extent possible, help applicants find the correct pathway to what the applicant wants to achieve.
- Communicate on the job in ways that reflect well upon King County, the County Executive, the department, and the incumbent.
- Scrupulously honor commitments made to customers and others.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in planning, urban studies, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Seven years of professional-level current planning experience.
- Ability to read and interpret plans, policies, and regulations; knowing when to reach out for assistance from supervisor or other professionals.
- Demonstrable experience with long-range planning assignments.
- Demonstrable supervisory experience of current planning professionals.
- Clear and effective communication skills: ability to listen, provide feedback, and negotiate outcomes as needed; ability to provide accurate and concise oral presentations.
- Ability to help establish and commitment to work within a Standard Work framework in the department.
- Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships and partnerships across boundaries
- Skill in problem solving with effective solutions.
- Master's degree in planning or a related field.
- Demonstrable track record of success with complex, high-profile, and/or time-sensitive projects.
- Professional current planning experience in a rural context.
- Experience in making presentations to Hearing Examiners, legislative bodies, and the public.
- Frontline customer service experience.
- American Institute of Certified Planners accreditation.
- Supplemental Information
First interviews will be scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 2019. Please make yourself available to interview on this day.
If you are selected as a finalist you will be asked to come back on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 for a second interview. Please make yourself available to interview on this day.
NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS- Must have a valid Washington State driver's license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle safely throughout the County.
- Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
- Must be able to traverse construction sites in any weather condition.
- Must be able to use office equipment and software.
WORK SCHEDULE: This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is not overtime-eligible. The position is paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday, comprising a 40-hour work week. The work week is normally 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The position may be required to work extended and/or flex scheduled work hours to respond to service needs.
APPLICATION PROCESS: To apply for this career opportunity, you must provide four application components: 1) your resume, 2) a cover letter, 3) a completed King County application form, which is available online, and 4) an example of a staff report written by the applicant. You may attach your resume, cover letter, and writing sample to the on-line application. To apply, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs then click the "Current King County Employment Opportunities" link. From there, click the Senior Planner position for the Department of Permitting and Environmental Review. Finally, click the "Apply" link on the far right to initiate the application.
If you do not have access to a computer or are unable to apply on line, please call the department's human resources office at 206-477-0380.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS: Applicants who are found to meet the minimum qualifications will be further reviewed for competitive quality. Those applicants who possess the most competitive background in directly related experience, knowledge, and training may be contacted for interviews. Job-related reference checks will be conducted prior to any offer of employment.
UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is represented by Local 17 PROTEC.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Please direct questions about this recruitment to Theresa Reynolds at 206-477-0380, or theresa.reynolds@kingcounty.gov.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.