Overview

OVERVIEW

The Middlesex County Office of Planning is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as Assistant Planner in its fast-paced Development Review division. The Assistant Planner will be responsible for preparing staff reports on subdivision and site plan applications, preparing standard County agreements associated with development applications, processing performance guarantees, providing technical support to the Planning Board and its Development Review Committee, and related duties. The ideal candidate will be familiar with Complete Streets concepts and have excellent communication and organizational skills. The Assistant Planner may also assist other divisions within the Office of Planning, including Regional Planning and Technical Assistance, Sustainability and Resiliency, and Transportation.

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The Middlesex County Office of Planning is a busy, fast-paced office engaged in a county-wide strategic plan, Destination 2040, that will guide the County’s policies, plans, programs, and investment decisions in five broad focus areas: Land Use, Development and Housing; Sustainability and Community Resilience; Healthy, Safe and Inclusive Communities; Economic Development and Workforce Competitiveness; and Transportation and Mobility. Comprising twenty-five urban, suburban, small-town, and rural municipalities, Middlesex County is New Jersey's second most populous county and is strategically located midway between New York and Philadelphia.

Responsibilities

Examples of work may include, but are not limited to: 

• Review land development proposals and determine compliance with County regulations and other applicable state and/or municipal regulations. 
• Evaluate development proposals against adopted standards, plans, and programs; recommend viable alternatives as needed. 
• Communicate County recommendations and actions relating to development proposals to municipalities, applicants, and other representatives. 
• Provide technical advice and assistance to fellow staff members, development applicants, and municipal representatives. 
• Utilize cloud-based software for land development review and communications. 
• Contribute to planning studies pertaining to physical development, economic development, or transportation needs of the County or other programs involving the application of general planning principles. 
• Prepare maps representing existing and proposed land use and other pertinent data. 
• Prepare various types of reports, including graphic, statistical, and written presentations. 
• Prepare correspondence associated with County development applications. Maintain and organize essential records, files, maps, plans, and charts. 

Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of the theories, practices, and procedures of land use planning. 
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic information systems used by the Office of Planning. 
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret basic laws and regulations. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those involved in the Office of Planning’s work. 
• Ability to provide professional advice and guidance on planning matters. 
• Ability to keep current with land use planning practices. 
• Ability to prepare written correspondence. 
• Ability to maintain and organize records, reports, maps, plans, and files. Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret land use information.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate and informative planning reports, studies and surveys containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. 
• Ability to prepare maps, charts, graphs and plans. 
• Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.

Submission Deadline) June 30, 2024

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, including or supplemented by 21 semester hour credits in professional planning subjects such as the principles of land use planning, history of city planning, planning project design, and planning law and administration.

Preferred: Master’s degree in City Planning or related field

Experience

One (1) year of professional experience in municipal, county, regional, or state planning.

Note: Possession of a current and valid license as a Professional Planner (PP) in New Jersey issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Planners may be substituted for the education requirement.

Note: Possession of a current and valid credential as a Certified Planner Issued by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) may be substituted for the educational requirement.

Note: Possession of a master's degree in planning from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.