Do you have a passion for public service? Do you want to make a positive impact on your community and your profession now and into the future through housing, climate, and social justice? The City of Shoreline’s Planning and Community Development Department is looking for a talented and innovative Senior Planner to help develop and implement the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
 
The Senior Planner works under the direction of the Planning Manager playing a leading role in creation and implementation of long-range planning projects. The Senior Planner will routinely interact with elected and appointed officials as well as the community on efforts like the Comprehensive Plan, subarea plans, and development code updates.
 
Shoreline is a growing and diversifying community of over 60,000 people located directly north of Seattle in King County, Washington. The City is in the midst of an exciting transformation, with two light rail stations opening later this year and an ongoing Comprehensive Plan update setting the policy direction for the City’s growth for the next 20 years. At the City of Shoreline, you will be part of the team at the forefront of this transformation. The City is committed to an aggressive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through Resolution 494 and the recently adopted Climate Action Plan. Shoreline recently declared its commitment to becoming an actively anti-racist city by passing Resolution 467 and working to understand how undoing racism in all forms shows up in city policies and services. Shoreline is also in the process of implementing its Housing Action Plan including drafting regulations to comply with the state’s middle housing bill.
 
The Shoreline Planning Team is committed to bringing the community’s vision of a welcoming, equitable, sustainable, and safe community into being by providing exceptional customer service, community guidance, and creative problem solving. Our seven-person team includes both long-range and current planning (development review) functions. This position is specifically focused on long-range planning, though the successful candidate will frequently collaborate with current planners and preferably have experience with current planning. In addition to the planning team this position works closely with partners in other departments like Parks, Public Works, and Community Services. A collaborative, solution-oriented attitude is essential to this work.
 The successful candidate will enjoy a fast-paced work environment and have experience and skills in evaluating complex policy documents; leading high-profile long-range planning projects; making public presentations; managing and reviewing complex land use applications; interpreting, applying and drafting development codes; conducting environmental review; and providing customer service. Preferred experience includes working with local governmental agencies, project management, public outreach, policy analysis, and code writing.
 
DEFINITION
To perform a variety of complex, professional planning functions in support of land use regulations and/or urban, regional and community development; to provide staff assistance to an assigned supervisor; and to perform and coordinate a variety of planning and development functions relative to assigned area of responsibility.ESSENTIAL AND MARGINAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Essential Functions: 

1. Perform a variety of professional planning functions in support of land use regulations and urban, regional and community development; cooperatively develop and administer complex long range planning programs and studies relating to assigned planning area, including the development of criteria and policies for program administration. Coordinate with staff from other departments for plan and regulation implementation.
2. Act as a project manager and planning reviewer for land use and development permit applications including rezones; review special reports (eg. Traffic Studies, Critical Area Studies); review applications for compliance with SEPA and determine appropriate mitigation; prepare staff reports, decision documents, letters and public notifications regarding permit applications.
3. Create and implement dynamic and accessible public engagement efforts both in person and virtually through open houses, tabling at community events, surveys, interviews, workshops and other activities. Plan, host, and facilitate community meetings and events with a focus on reaching audiences that have been historically excluded or marginalized by local government actions.
4. Prepare SEPA checklists and Draft, Supplemental and Final Environmental Impact Statements for applicable project and non-project actions initiated by the City. Additionally, coordinate the review of Draft, Supplemental and Final Environmental Impact Statements for project and non-project actions proposed by non City applicants occurring within the City. 
5. Prepare and present written, oral and visual reports to Planning Commission, Hearing Examiner, City Council and other public and private committees, hearing bodies, community groups and organizations to explain City policies, regulations, plans and community impacts within assigned planning area; represent the City at regional forums. These functions typically occur on evenings or weekends and may require travel.
6. Administer and maintain agreements and contracts with public agencies, funding agencies and private organizations; oversee and review the work of consultants and contracting agencies.
7. Provide excellent customer service by meeting with applicants for land use and development permits to evaluate proposals and assist with successful project implementation.
8. Respond to general public inquiries regarding planning and zoning regula­tions within assigned planning area of responsibility.

Marginal Functions:

1. Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the assigned field of urban planning.
2. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, theories, terminology and applications of urban planning.
• Theories, practices and techniques of transportation planning.
• Principles and practices of data collection and analysis.
• Functional areas of planning and their relationship to the planning process.
• Principles of planning, zoning, regulation, construction and market forces.
• Methods and techniques used to create and maintain computer databases.
• Methods and techniques used to review and approve various development permits or development applications.
• Methods and techniques for public meeting facilitation.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Principles of sustainability, including emerging technologies and innovative programs.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Principles of conflict resolution and consensus building.
• Principles and practices of public administration and government organization.
• Project management, including ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.

 
 Ability to:

• Participate and work effectively in an organization committed to advancing principles and practices of equity and anti-racism.
• Perform a variety of professional planning functions in support of assigned area of responsibility.
• Develop and administer current or long range planning programs and studies.
• Develop and administer planning goals, objectives and procedures.
• Administer the development and modification of the City's Comprehensive Plan, development regulations, or other City planning and development activities.
• Conduct technical planning research and field studies.
• Recommen­d revisions to City policies and regulations in area of responsibility.
• Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns and needs.
• Interpret and apply applicable Federal, State and local policies, codes, laws and regulations.
•  Review and approve development permits and applications or other matters within area of responsibility.
• Prepare and present clear and concise reports.
• Administer and maintain agreements and contracts with various public agencies and consultants.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Create and give presentations for a variety of audiences.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Use modern office equipment and programs.

 Experience and Training Guidelines
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
 
Experience:
Five years of increasingly responsible urban planning, environmental, or transportation experience.

Training:
Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, environmental planning, transportation planning, architecture, or public administration or related field.Conditions Of Employment:

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.

Application Process: 
To demonstrate skills and interest, please complete the application and provide answers to the Supplemental Questions which will help us determine your qualifications for the job. (This application does not allow for attachments.)
Employees Working Remotely: 
The City has implemented a remote work policy that will allow staff to work up to three remote days a week. Full-time remote work is not an option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington.
Environmental Conditions:
LEED Gold City Hall office environment; occasional travel from site to site.
 
Physical Conditions:
Essential and marginal functions may require walking, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; extensive communication with the public.