JOB DESCRIPTION

Salary: $72,136.00 - $95,580.00 Annually

Location: Gwinnett County, GA

Job Type: Full-Time Merit

Job Number: 26-03634

Department: Department of Planning and Development

Opening Date: 02/13/2026

Closing Date: 4/13/2026 12:00 AM Eastern

FLSA: Exempt

Job Description

Under the direction of the Planning Division leadership, the Planner III serves as a lead individual contributor responsible for administering current planning activities within Gwinnett County. This position functions as the technical lead for the Current Planning section, providing advanced professional expertise in zoning administration, code interpretation, and development review.

The Planner III is expected to develop and maintain subject matter expertise in Gwinnett County's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and application of recommendations from the Unified Plan. This individual is expected to evaluate development proposals, prepare recommendations, and ensure consistency with applicable County policy and regulations. This role is expected to perform highly technical planning work independently with minimal supervision and to provide guidance, mentoring, and quality control support to Planner I and Planner II.

Essential Duties

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for current planning activities, to ensure successful execution of projects and initiatives that align with Gwinnett County's vision and goals and comply with the Unified Development Ordinance.
• Provide technical support to Division leadership to manage the Planning Commission/Board of Commissioners and the Zoning Board of Appeals processes.
• Independently analyze and manage complex rezonings, special use permits, and change in conditions applications and develop clear, well-supported recommendations consistent with County policy and regulations.
• Review land disturbance permits, special administrative permits, plats, plans, applications, and related documents for compliance with zoning code and other applicable ordinances, laws, rules, and regulations.
• Assist or lead special projects such as UDO amendments, technology enhancements, and developing or updating of standard operating procedures and/or training materials.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to less experienced team members on topics of code interpretation, report writing, plan review and other daily operations; including providing quality control for plan review comments and reports drafted by less experienced team members.
• Assist with planning and zoning inquiries, ensuring accurate information is provided within a timely manner to customers by phone, email, and in-person.

Public Speaking Duties

• Planning Commission
• Zoning Board of Appeals

Grade

The grade for this position is C43(1). Salary will be dependent on education and experience.

Effective 4/11/2023, this position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, urban design/architecture, public administration, or fields related to community and economic development; AND
• Minimum four years of full-time experience in urban planning and/or a related field; OR
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above will also be considered.
• Valid Driver's License from state of residency.
• Extensive knowledge of planning principles, best practices, and trends related to zoning, land use, housing and transportation.
• Profound Understanding of the rezoning/special use permit/change in conditions process as well as the variance process.

Preferred Qualifications in addition to the above minimum qualifications

• Master's degree in urban planning, urban design/architecture, public administration, or fields related to community and economic development.
• Minimum six years of full-time experience in urban planning or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communications and project management skills.
• AICP Certification or desire to acquire within 12 months.

For information related to position-specific essential duties, knowledge and skills, and physical requirements, please click here.

Note: The class specifications listed on this website are not the official class specifications for Gwinnett County and are subject to change.

For more information about this department, please click here.

BENEFITS

To learn more about the Benefits offered at Gwinnett County, click here.