Senior Planner - Long Range

The City of Arvada is seeking a knowledgeable, community-minded, and forward-thinking Senior Long Range Planner to join our team! This role is ideal for a planning professional who is passionate about shaping the future of Arvada through strategic growth, revitalization, and public engagement.

In this role, you will lead long-range comprehensive planning initiatives, provide policy recommendations, manage complex projects, and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders from neighborhood groups to City Council. Your work will directly impact how the city evolves, ensuring that growth is both sustainable and aligned with Arvada’s values.

You’ll also serve as a subject-matter expert in zoning and land use, contribute to updates of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, and support public processes through research, communication, and facilitation. If you have a strong foundation in municipal planning, project management, and public policy — and you’re ready to help guide Arvada’s future — we invite you to apply.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides strategic planning advice on long-range and short-term planning initiatives, develops policy and strategic alternatives regarding planning goals, and makes recommendations on highly visible or sensitive issues to planning staff, city officials, boards, commissions, the public, and other stakeholders.
• Manages special projects, including writing requests for qualifications and proposals, managing consultants, reviewing consultant's’ expenses and work. Coordinates with state and federal agencies, including filing reports and managing grants.
• Plans and manages neighborhood and community planning processes. Assists and facilitates neighborhood groups in addressing development issues for city-initiated projects. Facilitates public outreach, and develops partnerships with private property owners, when required.
• Attends and facilitates public meetings on behalf of the city including neighborhood meetings, advisory groups, planning commission, city council, design review committee, and board of adjustment.
• Reviews and develops proposed changes and amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan.
• Researches and writes proposed plans, codes, and ordinances.
• Prepares demographic estimates and forecasts.
• Assists in the review of complex development proposals; reviews and analyzes development and related land use, building permit, and variance applications.
• Assists with providing zoning, development, and planning information to architects, developers, contractors, owners, appraisers, realtors, community groups, and the general public as part of Planner of the Day duties.
• Travels to and attends team and organizational meetings, training, events and activities and appropriately and professionally represents the department.

Other Job Functions

• Performs basic computer skills related to planning practices including spreadsheets, word processing, graphics, and databases.
• Represents the city on various regional committees or task forces.
• May supervise interns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances governing planning, zoning, and subdivision activities.
• Strong knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of comprehensive municipal planning, urban design, site planning, landscape architecture, zoning subdivisions, public participation, and consensus building.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate and interact with all levels of personnel within the city and the general public in a positive and cooperative manner.
• Solid computer skills related to planning practices including spreadsheets, word processing, graphics, and databases.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Strong organization skills and project management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate and interact with all levels of personnel within the city and the general public in a positive and cooperative manner.
• Ability to interpret and apply the principles of planning to a variety of land development proposals. Writes technical reports and provides technical advice and recommendations regarding planning activities.
• Ability to exercise initiative and judgment as well as make decisions within the scope of assigned authority.
• Ability to effectively communicate information, both verbally and in writing, to support organizational objectives and interact with all levels of personnel within the city in a positive and cooperative manner.
• Must be able to operate a motor vehicle

License & Certification

• A valid Colorado driver’s license and acceptable driving record.

Education Degree

• Bachelors Degree (BA, BS, BBA)

Education Major

• City planning, land use planning, urban planning or related field.

Education Required

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Work Experience Related

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible related experience

Work Experience Preferred

• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)
• Master’s degree in city planning, land use planning, urban planning, or related field.