Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs

Salary: Depends on Qualifications

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Job Type: Full-Time

Department: Planning & Code Administration

Job Number: FY2023-00741

Closing: Continuous

Description

This recruitment was reopened to widen the candidate pool.

The Planning Division of the Department of Planning & Code Administration is seeking a talented full-time entry-level Community Planner (Planner I) to perform routine professional and technical work primarily related to community planning, zoning, and land use. You'll be joining a collaborative and innovative team that plays a key role in the planning and development of one of the largest cities in Maryland -- Gaithersburg, which has just over 70,000 residents and is located in the heart of Montgomery County.

The Community Planner I is responsible for reviewing site development plans and applying regulations governing community development, zoning, and land use. The Planner I works directly with the public to respond to general zoning inquiries and collect, analyze, interpret, and present technical land use, environmental, zoning, and other City planning data. To be successful in this position, the employee must possess basic knowledge of principles and practices of planning and zoning.

The ideal candidate will have excellent research, verbal/written communication, and customer service skills; the ability to interact easily with City officials, representatives of other government agencies, members of commissions and boards, and the general public is required. Strong initiative, good judgment, and common sense are essential.

Hiring range for this position is anticipated to be $57,000 to $66,000 (negotiable) and will be offered at a level consistent with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, long-term care, life); paid time off; generous retirement contributions; tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans; opportunities for professional growth and career progression; and excellent work/life balance.

Job Functions

What you will do with us:

• Process and review planning applications for compliance with City Code and policies.
• Prepare planning reports and present materials at public meetings.
• Utilize GIS to create and maintain the planning department's database; analyze data and prepare maps and data layers for planning and reporting purposes.
• Assist committee and board staff liaisons with meetings and agenda packages.

Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please click here to view the classification description for the Planner I position. The full salary range listed in the job class description ($52,980 - $85,828) represents the earning potential for this position. Starting salaries are negotiable and generally not above the midpoint of the salary range.

Qualifications

What you will need to be considered:

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban/Regional Planning, Urban Studies, Engineering, Architecture, or closely related field.
• At least one year of planning-related experience, including internships, preferably at the regional or local government level, or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties.
• Ability to handle multiple projects effectively with demonstrated attention to detail.
• Strong, effective writing skills.
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record.

Additional Information

Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:

• A complete online application
• Resume (attached to the online application)
• Letter of interest (attached to the online application)

Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is highly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are received or all hiring decisions have been made.

This is a full-time salaried "exempt" position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week (not eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the City's personnel regulations). Attendance at some early morning/evening public meetings or events and other work outside of regular business hours is required. Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.

The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.

As part of the City's efforts to prevent further spread and/or outbreak of COVID-19, upon hire successful candidates are required to certify their vaccination status. Employees who certify they are not fully vaccinated and those who decline to certify their vaccination status may be required to undergo weekly mandatory COVID-19 testing.

For more information about the position, contact Community Planning Manager Greg Mann at 240.805.1071 or Greg.Mann@gaithersburgmd.gov. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at 301.258.6327 or hr@gaithersburgmd.gov.

This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancies and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.