What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Planner or Planner position at City of Ames, Iowa?
SALARY
$30.32 - $43.24 Hourly
$63,060.82 - $89,947.94 Annually
LOCATION
50010, IA
::: {aria-label="Job Type"}
JOB TYPE
:::
Full-Time
JOB NUMBER
25-1212-1214-01
DEPARTMENT
Planning and Housing
DIVISION
Planning and Housing
OPENING DATE
04/03/2026
CLOSING DATE
5/4/2026 12:00 PM Central
FLSA
Exempt
BARGAINING UNIT
MERIT
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT?
No
Centrally located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is a vibrant, progressive community with more than 66,000 residents providing an excellent quality of life. Home to Iowa State University, Ames offers year-round recreation opportunities, diverse cultural offerings, a stable economy, safe neighborhoods, and a high-achieving school district.
## General Information
The City of Ames is conducting a recruitment to establish Civil Service eligibility lists for these classifications. The lists will be valid for up to one year from the date of certification by the Ames Civil Service Commission and may be used to fill one or more vacancies in this classification. In addition, City of Ames Civil Service employees who have previously held Civil Service status in this classification and are interested in voluntarily demoting or laterally transferring into the current vacancy must submit their application by the deadline.
**Assistant Planner**
Under general supervision, works independently to implement the City's development standards, including zoning, subdivision, and other regulations. This is both a front-line planning position working directly with customers on development proposals, permitting, code compliance, and inquiries; and it may include long-range activities and research. The Assistant Planner has some experience with land use, zoning, and urban design and acts in a capacity of an entry-level to mid-level professional under more direct supervision than a Planner. Performs related work as required.
**Planner**
[Under general supervision, works independently to implement the City's development standards, including zoning, subdivision, and other regulations. This is both a front-line planning position working directly with customers on development proposals, permitting, code compliance, and inquiries; and also a long-range planning position involved in comprehensive planning, research, and policy development. The Planner is more experienced with an increased degree of complexity/diversity of project assignments and project management responsibilities than an Assistant Planner. Performs related work as required.
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***In order to be considered for this position, all applicants must submit their online application by the deadline listed on this posting. Your application includes complete responses to the supplemental questions. Please keep in mind that submission of a resume in lieu of work history on your application or answering the supplemental questions is not sufficient.***
Compensation Philosophy
The City of Ames has a compensation philosophy for our merit salary ranges that provides growth for employees as they gain experience and expertise in their roles. The minimum pay of each range is intended to reflect an employee's qualifications that meet the position's minimum requirements. The median of any range is for an employee who can reasonably meet all expectations of the position responsibilities without initial or extensive training. The City may consider a candidate's education, experience, and skills that are above the minimum requirements when considering a salary closer to the median.
The
entry salary is $63,060 and themedian salary for the Assistant Planner position is $76,504. The
entry salary is $74,506 and the
median salary for the Planner position is $91,716.
**Benefits**
Our comprehensive benefits package can be viewed at:City o
$30.32 - $43.24 Hourly
$63,060.82 - $89,947.94 Annually
LOCATION
50010, IA
::: {aria-label="Job Type"}
JOB TYPE
:::
Full-Time
JOB NUMBER
25-1212-1214-01
DEPARTMENT
Planning and Housing
DIVISION
Planning and Housing
OPENING DATE
04/03/2026
CLOSING DATE
5/4/2026 12:00 PM Central
FLSA
Exempt
BARGAINING UNIT
MERIT
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT?
No
Centrally located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is a vibrant, progressive community with more than 66,000 residents providing an excellent quality of life. Home to Iowa State University, Ames offers year-round recreation opportunities, diverse cultural offerings, a stable economy, safe neighborhoods, and a high-achieving school district.
## General Information
The City of Ames is conducting a recruitment to establish Civil Service eligibility lists for these classifications. The lists will be valid for up to one year from the date of certification by the Ames Civil Service Commission and may be used to fill one or more vacancies in this classification. In addition, City of Ames Civil Service employees who have previously held Civil Service status in this classification and are interested in voluntarily demoting or laterally transferring into the current vacancy must submit their application by the deadline.
**Assistant Planner**
Under general supervision, works independently to implement the City's development standards, including zoning, subdivision, and other regulations. This is both a front-line planning position working directly with customers on development proposals, permitting, code compliance, and inquiries; and it may include long-range activities and research. The Assistant Planner has some experience with land use, zoning, and urban design and acts in a capacity of an entry-level to mid-level professional under more direct supervision than a Planner. Performs related work as required.
**Planner**
[Under general supervision, works independently to implement the City's development standards, including zoning, subdivision, and other regulations. This is both a front-line planning position working directly with customers on development proposals, permitting, code compliance, and inquiries; and also a long-range planning position involved in comprehensive planning, research, and policy development. The Planner is more experienced with an increased degree of complexity/diversity of project assignments and project management responsibilities than an Assistant Planner. Performs related work as required.
]{#isPasted}
***In order to be considered for this position, all applicants must submit their online application by the deadline listed on this posting. Your application includes complete responses to the supplemental questions. Please keep in mind that submission of a resume in lieu of work history on your application or answering the supplemental questions is not sufficient.***
Compensation Philosophy
The City of Ames has a compensation philosophy for our merit salary ranges that provides growth for employees as they gain experience and expertise in their roles. The minimum pay of each range is intended to reflect an employee's qualifications that meet the position's minimum requirements. The median of any range is for an employee who can reasonably meet all expectations of the position responsibilities without initial or extensive training. The City may consider a candidate's education, experience, and skills that are above the minimum requirements when considering a salary closer to the median.
The
entry salary is $63,060 and themedian salary for the Assistant Planner position is $76,504. The
entry salary is $74,506 and the
median salary for the Planner position is $91,716.
**Benefits**
Our comprehensive benefits package can be viewed at:City o
Salary : $63,061 - $89,948