Department: Planning & Development

Hours: Full Time

Job Description:

Purpose of Position

To perform major tasks and assist the Planning Director with all major operations at hand. The person in this role will help the Planning Director research and implement major planning objectives. This person will additionally help with other any other tasks as assigned by the Planning Director, which may relate to anything within the Planning Department’s scope of work, including but not limited to planning, development, permitting, code enforcement, and zoning.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class/position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the Planning Department in the absence of the Planning Director.
• Delegate tasks to personnel in the Planning Department.
• Answer questions from the public on any issues or inquiries they may have regarding the city’s planning process, the code of ordinances, permitting and licensing, the comprehensive plan, or anything within the scope of the planning field.
• Receive and review permit applications such as those for building permits, accessory structure permits, fence permits, sign permits, electrical permits, plumbing permits, transient vendor permits, and any other permits that may need review.
• Initiates, plans, coordinates, monitors, and enforce programs which accomplish compliance with Storm Water regulations associated with all new construction and re-development projects under five (5) acres in size, coordinates response, reporting, enforcement, and clean-up activities as necessary.
• Review site plans and other related plans.
• Create PowerPoint presentations for Planning Commission cases.
• Create PowerPoint presentations for Mayor and Board of Aldermen cases.
• Research varying topics within the planning field such as case law, state codes, federal regulations, engineering practices, architecture, environmental science, geology, hydrology, and any other subjects related to the planning field.
• Understand the city’s comprehensive plan and work on amendments to it as needed.
• Work at the front desk in the lobby whenever there is a need, such as during times of high volume or when there is an absence of the Planning Clerk and Planning Technician. This may include answering questions, distributing applications, collecting payments, and directing customers to the appropriate personnel.

• Evaluate plans for residential and commercial developments to ensure that plans adhere to city ordinances and guidelines.
• Notify the local media for notices of public hearings for both the Planning Commission and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
• Write staff reports for planning cases that go to the Planning Commission and to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
• Assist the department with assignments such as grant research and grant writing.
• Understand the comprehensive plan and assist the department with any research on implementing or updating the comprehensive plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Context

The Assistant Planning Director is a full-time, permanent position in the Planning Department. The immediate supervisor for this position is the Planning Director. This person is required to meet with his/her supervisor as needed. The Assistant Planning Director works regular hours, year-round, however the position may require working more than the regularly scheduled hours on a regular basis. This position may also require night-work rarely. The person hired for this position will never perform any shift work and will never be on call. This position requires 95% to be indoor work, while 5% will be outdoors.

The position is responsible for assuring that there is no undue legal liability placed upon the City of Horn Lake. A master’s degree in urban planning is preferred. A bachelor’s degree in any field of study may be considered depending on experience. Applicants must be able to deal with various levels of stress. Applicant must also be able to walk through heavily muddy areas while observing various types of land and must be able to endure any weather condition.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge on the basic history of the planning field, such as the legal basis of zoning and major federal and state supreme court cases on planning issues.
• Knowledge of past and current planning practices across the United States.
• Knowledge of transportation planning, traffic engineering, housing policies, environmental policies, zoning law, infrastructure, and other areas within the planning field.
• Knowledge of how city ordinances are drafted and enforced, as well as limitations within this process.
• Knowledge of municipal processes.

How to develop goals and objectives for the physical development of a city.

• OSHA standards and regulations concerning employee safety.
• Federal and state statutes concerning the work of municipal government.
• General function and operations of municipal government.

Skills and Abilities:

• Public Speaking.
• Computer knowledge.
• Organizational skills.
• Prioritizing daily work flow.
• Meet specified or required deadlines.

• Communicate effectively, both orally and through writing, with residents, elected officials, other city employees.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Handle multiple tasks simultaneously with frequent interruptions.
• Maintain professional composure in heated situations.
• Develop, implement, and follow departmental and city procedures.
• Ability to read site plans and other related plans.
• Ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and politely to the public and to coworkers.
• Ability to delegate inquiries and tasks from the public and the Planning Director to the appropriate personnel.
• Ability to adapt to the changing needs of the Planning Department.

FLSA: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Planning Director

SUPERVISES: Building Inspector, Planning Clerk, Code Enforcement Officers,

Rental Property Licensing Clerk, and Planning Technician in the absence of Planning Director

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. The characteristics described in this job description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform them.

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Signature Acknowledging Job Description Date

Revision adopted: 05/07/2024