Category: 
Job


Location: Wheaton, MD

Planner II/ Planner III

Salary: $67,614.00 - $121,955.00 Annually

Closing: 9/29/2023

Description
The Montgomery County Planning Department is currently seeking an experienced Planner II/Planner III, ideally with urban design experience, to help implement master plans by leading the review of development applications for the Upcounty Planning Division. Upcounty Planning is responsible for nearly two-thirds of the land area in Montgomery County, including Germantown, Clarksburg, Potomac, Darnestown, Damascus, Olney, Ashton-Sandy Spring, Burtonsville, Fairland Briggs Chaney, and the Agricultural Reserve. This is an opportunity to lead complex regulatory cases while creatively advocating for design excellence in all projects assigned and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Montgomery County Planning Department is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). For over 95 years, M-NCPPC has had a national reputation for excellence in planning, and today serves a culturally diverse population of over one million people on the border of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County. We provide county-wide planning functions including long range planning, as well as reviews of development applications in diverse built environments of downtown urban districts, suburban communities, and agricultural areas. We have pioneered nationally modeled programs in agricultural preservation, inclusionary housing, and transit-oriented design.

Examples of Important Duties
Planner II

  • -Coordinates development review functions of varying degrees of complexity.
  • Provides timely and accurate reviews of preliminary plans, site plans, sketch plans, and concept plans of varying complexity.
  • Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, such as the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations, adopted policies, best practices, guidelines and regulations, while promoting and achieving Design Excellence.
  • Leads, advocates and negotiates for Design Excellence in all projects.
  • Develops goals, schedules, and deadlines for work effort and assures that objectives are met for completion.
  • Writes and develops planning reports, correspondence, plans, and other materials.
  • Explains technical planning issues and concepts to support research conclusions and recommendations. -Ensures the development and design of presentations, charts, graphs, maps, data, and other exhibits as appropriate.
  • Presents and defends staff recommendations to the Planning Board in a Public Hearing setting.
  • Makes presentations to a variety of individuals and groups (e.g., Planning Board, community, business developers) for purpose of communicating planning issues, procedures, and recommendations.
  • Schedules and coordinates pre-submission meetings to provide general guidance and feedback on development proposals.
  • Effectively coordinates applicant, citizens, agency and staff meetings to resolve issues in a manner that produces appropriate, successful solutions.
  • Offers suggestions, including design alternatives, that can address planning issues identified and works toward achieving creative and equitable solutions.
  • Responds to general inquiries from citizens, elected officials, developers, engineers, architects, and attorneys concerning development, actions of the Planning Board, planning regulations and development processes.
  • Conducts site visits and documents important site conditions as needed.

Planner III
The Planner III will perform similar duties as the Planner II, but more independently and under more general direction. In addition to the duties listed above for the Planner II, the Planner III performs the following major duties and responsibilities:

  • Serves on committees, task forces, and special teams for the purpose of contributing technical expertise, problem solving approaches and resource support to achieve goals and objective of work effort.
  • Brings innovative ideas and solutions to work assignments by keeping current with the latest developments in other jurisdictions and the body of current design and planning knowledge.
  • Assists and mentors other staff on design principles related to architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design.

This position requires the capability to work well with a team with a diverse set of backgrounds and areas of expertise such as county residents, developers, planners, architects, engineers, attorneys, and public officials. Fieldwork and occasional evening meetings are required.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Urban Design, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Economics or any related field.
  • Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience related to specific area of assignment such as transportation planning, environmental planning or urban planning.
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total eight (8) years.
  • Valid driver’s license (depending on area of assignment) in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

How to Apply
Apply online at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mncppc/jobs/4183938/planner-ii-planner-iii-13961-grade-24-28