Salary: $52.017 - $65.785/hour*

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am- 5:00 pm

With occasional evening and weekend work

NATURE OF WORK:

The City of Evanston Community Development Department is seeking a dedicated and experienced Senior Planner to join our dynamic team. As a Senior Planner, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of Evanston by providing expert guidance on urban planning, zoning, land use, and development projects. You will collaborate with various stakeholders to develop and implement the City's Comprehensive Plan and ensure that Evanston continues to thrive as a vibrant and sustainable community. This position is responsible for performing complex professional, administrative, technical, regulatory, policy, and programmatic functions and supporting multiple boards, commissions, and committees. This is an exciting moment at the City of Evanston and the Community Development Department in particular as we prepare to develop a new comprehensive plan and associated zoning code. You will play a meaningful role in the development and implementation of these initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignments will include some or all of the following):

• Lead and contribute to the development and implementation of Evanston's comprehensive plan, ensuring alignment with the city's goals and objectives. This includes the development of land use policies, zoning regulations, and growth strategies.
• Evaluate development proposals, zoning applications, and site plans for compliance with city ordinances and regulations. Prepare recommendations and present findings to city boards and commissions.
• Facilitate community meetings, workshops, and public hearings to gather input from residents, business owners, and stakeholders. Foster open dialogue and ensure public involvement in the planning process.
• Analyze demographic, economic, housing, and land use data to support evidence-based decision-making. Use GIS and other tools to create maps and visualizations for planning projects.
• Manage complex grant applications and planning projects from inception to completion, including budgeting, scheduling, and coordination with consultants, community members, interested parties, and other city departments.
• Stay up-to-date with local, state, and federal regulations related to urban planning, zoning, and land use. Ensure city ordinances and codes are current and aligned with best practices.
• Collaborate with various city departments, regional planning agencies, and external partners to ensure that planning efforts align with broader community and regional goals and initiatives.
• Provide guidance on planning and zoning matters, including but not limited to land use planning, transportation planning, historic preservation, and urban design.
• Contribute to the development and revision of zoning ordinances, land use policies, and planning regulations, advocating for best practices and innovation.
• Present planning recommendations, findings, and reports to municipal boards, commissions, and elected officials, effectively communicating complex planning concepts to diverse audiences.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging planning practices, and professional certifications. Engage in ongoing education and training to enhance planning skills and knowledge.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff members and collaborate with cross-functional teams within the organization.
• Prepare comprehensive reports, studies, and documentation related to planning projects, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with established standards.
• Provide exceptional customer service and assistance to City staff, the general public, elected and appointed officials, and consultants/developers regarding City plans, zoning matters and development requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:

Must possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, and five (5) or more years of experience in urban planning, zoning, land use, architecture, preservation, public administration, or substantially similar area OR must possess a GED and seven (7) or more years of planning or project management experience. Must possess a valid driver's license.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Urban planning, land use and zoning principles, best practices, and regulations to facilitate the development review and entitlement process.
• Municipal government operations within a community development/building/planning department or equivalent.
• Current legal procedures and limitations as administered by local municipalities throughout the United States.
• Familiarity with federal and state court decisions affecting land use regulation.
• Using relevant planning tools and software.
• Communicating clearly verbally and in writing.
• Collaborating with colleagues and working independently, as needed.
• Reading and understanding architectural plans, site plans, technical studies and reports and demographic and financial data.
• Word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, web apps, geographic information systems (GIS), project management tools, and other software commonly used by public agencies.
• Developing policy and strategy recommendations for a variety of planning, zoning, and community development programs and projects.
• Conducting various work functions online, such as virtual meetings.
• Thinking logically to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions
• Interpreting federal, state, and local statutes and regulations.
• Reading memos, technical journals, abstracts, financial reports and legal documents.
• Writing memos and reports with proper formatting, spelling and grammar.
• Speaking effectively and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Working and partnering with, and serving people from diverse socioeconomic, racial, ethnic and educational backgrounds.
• Providing excellent customer service
• Managing projects organizational and project management skills.
• Self-motivated, disciplined, organized, reliable, innovative, creative, resourceful and an independent thinker.
• Ability to attend evening and occasional weekend meetings.