Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs

Salary: Depends on Qualifications

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Job Type: Full-Time

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

Department: Planning & Code Administration

Job Number: FY2023-00749

Closing: Continuous

Description

The Planning Division of the Department of Planning & Code Administration is seeking a talented full-time Long-Range Planner to perform professional and technical work developing, coordinating, implementing, and administering the City's land use policies and goals. This position will include regional and local transportation policy planning. 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 Long-Range Planner position is part of a team that oversees the amendment process for the City's Master Plan, develops growth policies, and collaborates with other local, state, and federal agencies to guide the region toward a balanced and sustainable future. The ideal candidate, along with strong and effective writing skills, will have knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of comprehensive planning in Maryland; planning-related data (census, economic, housing, etc.) collection and analysis methods; a base understanding of the relationship of land uses to transportation networks; urban design; community engagement and outreach; and statistical analysis for demographic and socioeconomic land-use and zoning issues.

This position may be filled at the Planner I or Planner II level, depending on qualifications. Starting salary is negotiable within the anticipated hiring range (see below) and will be offered at a level consistent with the experience and qualifications of the candidate:

• Planner I - $57,000 - $66,000
• Planner II - $71,500 - $81,000

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; excellent work/life balance; and opportunities for professional growth and career progression.

Job Functions

What you will do with us:

• Represent the City on local and regional land use or transportation-related committees and project teams.
• Serve as staff liaison to the City Transportation Committee.
• Develop, prepare, and update City Master Plan Elements including Land Use and Transportation.
• Review and analyze various regional land use and transportation studies, master plans, and projects.
• Conduct the review of various development applications including annexations, sketch plans, and rezonings.
• Make oral presentations on long range planning matters and projects at public meetings and other outreach opportunities.
• Grant opportunity research and writing.

Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please click the appropriate link to view the classification description for the Planner I and the Planner II positions. The classification description indicates the full salary range established for a position in Grades 106 and 109 in the City's FY 2023 Schedule of Salary Ranges.

Qualifications

What you will need to be considered:

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Demography, 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 perform the functions of the position.
• Strong, effective writing skills.
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record.
• Ability to handle multiple projects effectively with demonstrated attention to detail.

To be considered for a Planner II level position, you must:

• Have a relevant Master's Degree and at least 3 years of relevant professional planning experience at the regional or local level (or a Bachelor's Degree and at least 4 years of professional planning experience).
• Have in-depth knowledge of the principles and practices of planning and zoning.
• Have demonstrated ability to manage more complex projects and perform work with more autonomy.
• Possess American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.

Additional Information

• Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:
• A complete online application (include relevant education and work experience; incomplete applications will not be processed)
• Current Resume (attached to the online application)
• Letter of interest (attached to the online application) - Your letter of interest should include why you are interested in the position and what specific skills and abilities make you uniquely qualified to serve in this position.

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. This position can accommodate a combination of in-person and remote work. 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 Long-Range Planning Manager Rob Robinson at 240.805.1072 or Rob.Robinson@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.