The City of Plano’s BEST Neighborhoods Division is looking for an innovative and organized Neighborhood Planner with experience in neighborhood revitalization and community engagement to join our team. As a Neighborhood Planner you would facilitate the organization of neighborhood groups, help neighborhoods identify challenges, and develop strategies to meet neighborhood needs. The ideal candidate would develop and manage programs, revitalization strategies, and grants.

As a valued Team Plano member, you will receive numerous benefits:

• Ability to work remotely up to two (2) days a week after successful completion of six (6) month probation.
• Flexibility to start at either 7:30am, 8:00am, or 8:30am
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• Membership in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS), in which the City matches contributions 2:1 upon retirement
• Enrollment in the Retirement Security Plan (RSP) which is fully funded by the City
• Up to three weeks of paid vacation
• Up to three weeks of paid sick leave per year
• Nine paid holidays
• Tuition Assistance
• Free Library Card
• Free recreation center membership

And so much more! Learn about our benefits here.

Every person matters. Every job has purpose. Together we make a difference. Join Team Plano! 

Planner (The Senior Planner job description can be accessed on our website.)

Summary of Duties:  Under general supervision, the Planner is responsible for research, analysis, review, and reporting of matters relating to growth, development, redevelopment, revitalization, and the physical organization of the community. Depending on area assignment, the focus of an individual planner may include the review of development and zoning requests, records and ordinance maintenance, demographics, long range planning, neighborhood planning, downtown planning and/or various heritage preservation activities. 

Distinguishing Characteristics: This is the journey-level classification in the Planner series that follows diversified procedures and implements processes to accomplish end results, within guidelines. Immediate supervision is available upon request. This class is distinguished from Planner, Senior in that the latter is a higher-level class in the series that performs more complex technical, investigative, and supervisory duties requiring a higher level of knowledge and skill.

Examples of ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. 

• Provides general customer services; responds to concerns and inquiries.
• Performs technical analysis using adopted ordinances and policies.
• Drafts various reports; maintains department and project files and documents. 
• Assists other team members within the division and department as needed. 
• Attends department, public, boards and commissions, and City Council meetings. 
• Regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work schedule is essential. 
• Researches and manages program development, revitalization strategies, and studies. 
• Facilitates organization of neighborhood groups for specific areas of the city and assists them in identifying challenges, needs, and opportunities for improvement; prioritizes the needs of neighborhoods and implementing strategies to meet those needs. 
• Develops print materials for neighborhood outreach and to promote community awareness; supervises volunteers assisting with outreach. 
• Develops and compiles information from surveys and research for neighborhood revitalization strategies or as a general resource for neighborhood planning. 
• Evaluates neighborhood improvements and prepares detailed reports upon completion of projects. 
• Researches and prepares grant applications; manages grant funding. 

Marginal Duties:

Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Decisions: The incumbent prepares the final draft of reports, studies, plans, and other team assignments. The incumbent makes recommendations to the department or division head on team assignments.

Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge of: Principles and practices planning, historic preservation, or neighborhood engagement; federal and state law; municipal government organization and functions; and legal terminology related to development documents.

Skill in: Communicating clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing, in both formal and informal settings; preparing a wide range of written materials that communicate effectively to various audiences; operating a computer, standard software, and some specialized software; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships. Prefer skill in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator; Microsoft Power BI; Airtable; and ArcGIS.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Geography, Community Development, Historic Preservation, Architecture, or related field. A Master’s degree is preferred. 

Experience: Two (2) years of experience in urban planning, neighborhood engagement, or heritage preservation or a related field.

Any work-related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the above Minimum Qualifications is an acceptable substitute for the above specified education and experience requirements.

Licenses and Certifications: Membership in AICP desired. Texas Class C driver’s license (must obtain within 30 days of hire per state law).

Conditions of Employment:   Must pass a drug test, driver license check, criminal history background check, periodic CJIS background check (for positions requiring access into Police buildings) and social security number verification check. 

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to work in the field including traversing uneven terrain. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees may be required to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Employees partly work in the office and partly in the field; when in the field incumbents may be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, and mechanical and/or electrical hazards. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required. The position also requires meeting the essential requirements of the Physical Demands and Working Conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.