What are the responsibilities and job description for the Planning + Zoning Administrator / Analyst II (34522) position at HARRISON FRENCH & ASSOCIATES LTD?
Potential New Title: Planning and Zoning Administrator/Analyst
HFA is seeking a highly organized and proactive Planning and Zoning Administrator/Analyst to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will play a key part in managing the entitlement and permitting process for a key client. As a Planning and Zoning Administrator/Analyst, you’ll be responsible for researching ordinances and design guidelines as they relate to building and site design, analysis of requirements to support early design decisions, overseeing permit submittals from pre-application to post closeout, attending jurisdictional meetings (e.g. pre-application meetings, Design Review Board meetings, Planning Commission Hearings, City Council meetings, etc.), and collaborating with design teams, to ensure timely approvals.
This position is ideal for a detail-oriented professional with strong communication skills, familiarity with the site and building development process, and a solutions-focused mindset, looking to contribute meaningfully to high-impact projects within a people-first, collaborative environment.
Job Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
The Planning and Zoning Administrator/Analyst works to obtain entitlement and permit approvals for retail projects through submittal-requirement research, zoning and building code verification, document management, design-impact assessments, and plans distribution.
Job Duties include but are not limited to:
- Possess strong communication skills
- Update client tracking systems
- Attend jurisdictionally required meetings (pre-application, design review, planning board, City Council, etc.)
- Responsible for managing complex and/or confidential projects
- Assist in challenging situations and develop solutions to resolve issues
- May include direct communication with clients on project and program execution
- May include staff and team management and training
- Manage and track permit submittals through the review process until final approval
- Communicate and document review status of the project with the Design Team based on communication with the governing agency/authority having jurisdiction
- Conduct in-depth zoning ordinance, land-use, and development standard research to determine feasibility, site/building design constraints, and entitlement requirements
- Provide early-stage design-impact summaries to the architectural team, highlighting required design considerations, including but not limited to, height limits, occupancy considerations, construction type, fire separation requirements, parking standards, material limitations, architectural styles, and other regulatory criteria
- Research and document jurisdictional submittal standards, review cycles, and approval pathways
- Track upcoming code adoptions, policy changes, and zoning amendments, advising internal teams and clients on potential project impacts
- Prepare and maintain code and zoning research reports, including matrixes, checklists, and annotated ordinance excerpts
- Act as an internal resource for questions regarding permitting, zoning, entitlement processes, and local regulatory conditions
Education Requirements: Equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in urban planning preferred, but not required.
Past Experience: 2-4 years of professional planning experience.
Licensure/Certification Requirements: AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certification.