Principal Planner

Overview

The City of Asbury Park is currently seeking a full-time Principal Planner to serve as the City’s Assistant Planner and Zoning Officer for plan and ordinance review in a very dynamic municipal planning department. The Principal Planner will serve as the principal administrator of the City’s Zoning Ordinances under the direction of the Director of Planning & Redevelopment.

Successful candidates are community builders and change-makers who have consistently and successfully tackled challenges in local government bringing innovation and efficiencies to community engagement and possess extensive knowledge of the complex urban planning issues facing diverse communities such as Asbury Park. This individual must be passionate about building a better community, improve communications, and create meaningful relationships with City residents and businesses.

Job Duties:

·         Conducts studies and surveys involving highly complex technical aspects of the planning field, including existing and future land uses, resources and resource needs, utilities and transportation uses.

·         Analyzes land development proposals submitted for review and approval, and determine proposals comply with State, County, and municipal plans, regulations, and rules.

·         Review of working plans of proposed improvements for compliance with zoning laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations.

·         Conducts field inspection of land development proposals to assess existing conditions of the area with the land development proposal.

·         Conducts meetings with the general public and government officials to resolve conflicting issues.

·         Oversee the enforcement of compliance with the provisions of the City’s zoning regulations by instituting and conducting lawful proceedings to prevent threatened violations of the Ordinances, and/or to correct conditions resulting from the violation thereof.

*Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required License: Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey.

Required Education/Experience:

·         Seven (7) years of professional experience in municipal, county, regional, or state planning including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hour credits in professional planning subjects such as the principles of land use planning, history of city planning, planning project design, and planning law and administration;   OR

·         Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hour credits in professional planning subjects such as the principles of land use planning, history of city planning, planning project design, and planning law and administration; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience;  OR

·         Possession of a master’s degree in planning from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience;  OR

·         Possession of a current and valid license as a Professional Planner in New Jersey issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Planners; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience;  OR

·         Possession of a current and valid credential as a Certified Planner Issued by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP); and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.

·         NOTE: “Professional experience” refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession’s principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one’s own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

·         Knowledge of theories, practices, and principles of state, municipal,

·         and regional planning.

·         Knowledge of the problems associated with the growth of urban centers, movements of population, the changing character of individual urban, suburban, and rural areas, the location, relocation, development, and/or loss of industrial opportunities, traffic conditions, and other contemporary conditions affecting land use development.

·         Knowledge of the varied factors, to be considered in the planning process.

·         Knowledge of factors that determine the development, location, form, growth, or decline of urban areas.

·         Knowledge of the impact of land use on community development.

·         Ability to read site plans for development.

·         Ability to identify and define planning goals and objectives.

·         Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those involved in the work of the unit.

·         Ability to organize and execute designated planning projects and studies.

·         Ability to prepare technically correct, and realistic land use plans.

·         Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret, and use land use information.

·         Ability to prepare maps, charts, graphs, and plans.

Preferred Education/Skills/Qualifications:

·         Master’s degree in City, Regional or Urban Planning from an accredited college or university

·         Experience working in municipal Planning, Zoning, Economic Development, or Community Development office

·         Possession of a current and valid license as a Professional Planner issued by the New Jersey Board of Professional Planners and/or AICP Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)

·         Knowledge of and experience with Spatial Data Logic

·         Knowledge of and experience with Edmunds Financial Suite

·         Knowledge of and experience with ArcGIS

·         Knowledge of and experience with Adobe Creative Suite