JOB DESCRIPTION

The Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) is seeking a motivated, team-oriented Principal Planner to join the Comprehensive Planning Section within the Planning Division. The Section is responsible for communicating Arlington County's Comprehensive Plan and managing its land use growth policies and also manages targeted work portfolios for the Richmond Highway, Columbia Pike, and Langston Boulevard corridors. This Planner performs advanced level planning work with assignments that involve managing countywide and smaller, geographic-specific planning projects and will dedicate a share of their time on the Crystal City and Pentagon City areas.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include:

• Leading and coordinating the development of multi-phase countywide policy, long-range small area and special planning studies, and implementation strategies and tools, with data, planning analyses and research, and well-informed recommendations;
• Coordinating, supporting, and/or leading the review of General Land Use Plan (GLUP) amendments, rezonings, Site Plan, Phased Development Site Plan (PDSP), and Block Plan development proposals, and/or other post-approval tasks, and County or other public capital projects;
• Serving as a main point of contact between public and private sectors, specifically serving as the Crystal and Pentagon Cities Council (CPCC) liaison;
• Developing and implementing project scopes of work and timelines to meet assigned work plan priorities;
• Managing the activities of interdepartmental teams, ad hoc working groups, and facilitating community engagement processes and interaction with private industry, to consult, conduct and present planning research, and form recommendations;
• Ensuring that project results align with the Planning Manager's and Planning Director's expectations;
• Applying a broad understanding of policies and guidelines for transportation, public spaces and facilities, biophilic and sustainable design, historic preservation, housing, economic development, and urban design;
• Preparing recommendation reports for assigned projects, including presenting recommendations to senior management and in public hearings held by the Planning Commission and County Board;
• Managing consultants and related procurement activities; and
• Assisting and/or coordinating with staff from the Planning Division and/or other County departments on tasks or issues of inter-departmental nature with County-wide policy implications.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Ability to work independently and perform as a team player who can manage multiple tasks;
• Experience analyzing complex, politically sensitive and highly visible issues, interpreting them and their interrelationships, and formulating strategies to address them;
• Land use and physical planning sense and experience planning for equitable development, smart growth and sustainable transit-oriented development;
• Extensive experience collaborating among multi-disciplined professionals and stakeholders, contribute to high level policy discussions, and identify innovative opportunities;
• Clear and effective presentation skills to communicate work and provide sound advice to County leadership, community stakeholders and elected officials on elements of the Comprehensive Plan, land use policies, zoning regulations, and other implementation strategies; and
• Sound judgment with political acumen informing staff recommendations.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Community or Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration or a directly related field; and
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in transit-oriented mixed-use planning, urban planning, development review, urban design, or landscape design.

Substitution: Additional education may be substituted for experience.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master's Degree in the related field and experience or credentials in one or more of the following:

• Managing highly complex planning projects and processes;
• Progressive responsibility in mixed-use and/or urban planning, community development, landscape design, or other related program areas;
• Preparing planning reports and multimedia presentations that effectively communicate related work to a range of audiences, including online and other social media platforms;
• Proficiency in computer software programs for urban planning analysis and urban design, such as ArcGIS, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Cloud;
• Senior-level project management of planning and development initiatives within an urban community and integration of equitable community engagement and/or facilitation; and/or
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification from the American Planning Association.

Special Requirements

Drivers License: Applicants for this position must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid driver's license, or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary work site. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain or provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. A pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check will also be completed before hire.

Economic Interest Form: Completion of the Commonwealth of Virginia Statement of Economic Interest form will be required of the successful candidate upon hire and annually thereafter.

Additional Information

Work hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday- Friday. Significant evening and weekend work will be required to attend meetings held by the County Board, the Planning Commission (and its committees), other commissions/advisory boards, and other community meetings. The CPHD Planning Division offers a hybrid work environment with minimum two days per week onsite office hours and with telework options pending supervisor approval.

Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions.

Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington's generous benefits and retirement plan, click here

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs.

Learn more about our commitment

#LI-Hybrid