Hillside and Landscape Planner III - Planning & Development

About This Position

The Planning & Development Department (PDD) guides the physical development of the city by preserving our historic sites, planning what can be built where, and ensuring the safe construction of buildings and infrastructure. The process is governed through development and enforcement of the city's General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Historic Preservation Ordinance, Phoenix Building Construction Code, and other city codes and ordinances.

The Planning & Development Department is looking for a Planner III to join their team. There is a vacancy on the Hillside and Landscape Team. Planner IIIs usually supervise professional staff and provide technical advice and assistance in gathering information and making analyses, recommendations, and presentations of planning-related matters. Work is performed with considerable independence within established policies, procedures, and practices.

The Hillside and Landscape Planner III is responsible for supervision of the Hillside and Landscape Teams in the Site Planning Division. The role manages the workload and training of entry level Planners and Landscape Architects and participates in developing and providing feedback on zoning regulations and development process improvements. Other responsibilities include research, providing technical advice and assistance regarding zoning ordinance regulations, and site planning / development processes to both internal and external customers.

This Planner III will work with staff and the development industry to improve communication and coordination. Critical customer service and processes overseen by this position include support of the Hillside and Landscape teams, email inbox, and hillside and landscape plan submittals. The position will also be responsible for public hearing processes and appeals. This position reports to the Principal Landscape Architect.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Knowledge of Site Planning, Subdivisions, Hillside, Preservation, Trails and Open Space, Landscape Architecture, native Sonoran Desert plant materials, inventory/salvage, revegetation, grading and drainage, and environmentally sensitive design and planning.
• Knowledge of the City of Phoenix land use, zoning, and development-related processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of local, state or federal requirements, with an emphasis on zoning ordinance and general plan implementation and updates.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word), Shape PHX, Bluebeam, KIVA, and ProjectDox.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to research, organize, prioritize, and present information.
• Ability to nurture collaboration and communication with different audiences and cultural competency to lead appropriate community outreach that can meet people where they are at.
  
  

SALARY

Pay Range: $90,459.20 to $133,660.80 annually.

Hiring Range: $90,459.20 to $121,243.20 annually.

Pay Range Explanation

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
• Promotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade increase.
• Demotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade decrease.
• Lateral transfers occur when there is no change to the last two digits of the pay grade.
• When there is a change in the first digit of the pay grade, there may also be a change to your classification or unit.
  
  

Your job classification can be found in eCHRIS > Personal Details under your name, located in the top left section of the page.

The pay grade and classification/unit of your current position may be found by looking up your job title on the job description page.

Benefits

A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:

• Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information.
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions.
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans.
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan.
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually.
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options.
• Employer paid long-term disability.
• Free Bus/light rail pass.
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year.
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days.
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period.
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi.
  
  

For more details, visit: Unit 007 Benefits

Minimum Qualifications

• Five years of experience in urban planning, including three years at the level of Planner II.
• Bachelor's degree in urban or city planning, landscape architecture, engineering, architecture, political science, a related field, or a field related the specialty area.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here.
• The City job description can be found here.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus:

• Project management experience with a proven ability to prioritize workloads and perform complex work assignments with considerable independence within established policies, procedures, and practices.
• Experience developing new procedures and policies to improve processes and customer service, including participating in and/or leading interdepartmental committees and/or task forces.
• Proven track record of excellent internal and external customer service and the ability to provide technical information and analytical recommendations in a timely and digestible manner.
• Experience presenting plans, analysis, training, and/or design concepts at internal and/or public meetings.
• Experience with Hillside development including grading and drainage, retaining wall design, inventory/salvage and revegetation, research and plan review.
• Experience with public outreach, public hearing process, and appeals.
• Experience supervising professional, junior-level staff, including training, coaching, and managing workloads.
  
  

RECRUITMENT DATES

Recruitment closes September 14, 2026. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list. This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

How To Apply

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.

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• If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at (602) 495-5700 or by text at (800) 367-8939. You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
  
  

REFERENCE

Planner III, JC:18230, ID# 62427, 09/03/26, USM, SG, Benefits:007

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City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.