Title: Sr. Planner

Division: PLA

Pay Range: $900,000 - $130,000

LJA recognizes that our success depends on the quality of the people we hire. We are currently seeking highly talented individuals that take pride in their work, function exceptionally well in team environments, and contribute to the overall success of the company. As a 100% employee-owned company, we promote an entrepreneurial spirit that helps drive the bottom line and the long-term professional and financial success of our employees. With more than 50 office locations, LJA is growing and ready for talented people to help us build our future.

General Responsibilities:

• Performs advanced professional work related to variety of planning assignments
• Manages complex planning studies, development applications and reviews consultant proposals
• Reviews and processes complex comprehensive plan amendments, rezonings, annexations, site plans, plats
• Develops project budgets, administers bidding process, verifies contract expenditures and compliance
• Conducts research and prepares statistical reports on land use, physical, social & economic issues
• Provides professional planning assistance to member communities on varied land use projects
• Develops transportation plans, studies and analyses on regional basis
• Works in regional program areas relating to natural/water resources planning, community development, hazard mitigation, coastal zone management and others
• Performs field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify that development projects comply with approved plans
• Schedules and conducts meetings with advisory boards and elected officials
• Presents reports and other findings to staff, planning and zoning boards and commissions, and elected officials and serves as liaison
• Attends substantial number of evening and weekend meetings
• Supervises more junior planners within organization
• Advanced knowledge of the philosophies, principals, practices & techniques of planning
• Well-developed knowledge of one or more planning disciplines, such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, historic preservation or economic development
• Knowledge and experience in construction processes
• Knowledge of principles, methodology, practices of research and data collection
• Knowledge of effective writing techniques
• Knowledge of computer programs and applications, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications econometric or transportation modeling, and database management
• GIS programs and applications

Required Education:

• Master’s degree in planning or related field
• Four years of professional planning experience
• AICP certification is preferred

Required Experience:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills for preparing and presenting planning reports and projects
• Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with elected/appointed officials or other decision-makers
• Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well- defined planning problems
• Group facilitation skills for use with community workshops
• Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously
• Ability to provide effective supervision and staff management
• Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines
• Ability to facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities