Salary : $93,077.50 - $162,885.63 Annually
Location : HERRITY BUILDING (B-2), 12055 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY, FAIRFAX (EJ26), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01177
Department: Park Authority
Opening Date: 08/01/2026
Closing Date: 8/14/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S30
Posting Type: Open to General Public

As one of the Park Authority's lead planners, this position directs, guides, and manages review of rezoning applications, Comprehensive Plan amendments, and a range of other types of development plans and applications processed by park planning staff. This position will be a leader in advancing agency efforts to incorporate racial and social equity into park planning and design practices. Manages multi-discipline professional planning and technical staff in a team environment and routinely collaborates with other county agencies and entities to conduct plan review and analysis. Also serves as an agency expert on urban park planning and design, guiding staff and performing independent review of specialized, complex development plans, especially those in the county's growth areas such as Tysons and other urban cores, the Richmond Highway corridor, Metro-related mixed-use sites, and town centers. Will also be a leader who must be able to operate independently, exercising experienced professional judgement, and take creative initiative to guide staff to start, complete, and close out a variety of highly complex, collaborative, and important planning tasks.
Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Manages complex, multi-faceted zoning applications or planning studies in specific high profile development areas, such as Tysons and other urban cores, Metro-related mixed use sites, or town centers and represents the County in negotiation of proffers, conditions, and positions with applicants, citizens, County staff, other jurisdictions, State and/or Federal government;
• Manages special projects and studies, including directing the work of a team or work group of planners and planning technicians or others, from within and outside of the Department to include contracting consultants, preparing schedules, and administering the project budget;
• Represents the Department or County and serves as an internal expert on panels, committees, and task forces and may propose planning and zoning policies and amendments to the Zoning Ordinance or Comprehensive Planning response to a variety of complex policy and land issues;
• Represents the Department's positions at public hearings before the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and/or Park Authority Board, among others;
• As representative of the Department, coordinates with other County agencies, interest groups, and jurisdictions on highly specialized policy, zoning, and land use issues;
• Prepares detailed position papers and staff reports on complex zoning applications, Ordinance amendments, Plan amendments, public facility proposals, appeals of the
• Reviews and provides comments and direction on the work of others in the planner series related to area of expertise, acting as an internal consultant to the department and a mentor to other planners;
• Responds to complex land use, planning, and zoning inquiries and requests
• Supervises advanced and complex planning and zoning work;
• Serves as expert witness in litigation involving particular area of expertise.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Thorough knowledge of the Zoning Ordinance, the adopted Comprehensive Plan and County policies and procedures as they relate to planning and zoning applications;
• Thorough knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of urban planning and zoning;
• Thorough knowledge of local government areas of specialization, including planning or zoning, management procedures, and principles of supervision;
• Ability to write, proofread, edit, and rewrite documents effectively and to critique and edit the work of others in the series;
• Ability to apply interpersonal skills to resolve conflicts and to maintain effective communication with staff;
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, elected and appointed officials, development representatives, and citizen groups;
• Ability to coordinate the preparation of comprehensive planning and technical zoning reports;
• Ability to apply principles of leadership, creative problem solving, collaboration, decision making, and team building;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in a planning related field; plus, five years of experience in a planning-related field.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check, and child protective services registry to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in planning, landscape architecture, urban design, or related area.
• One of the following certifications:
  • Certified Planner (AICP/APA), Professional Landscape Architect (PLA/ASLA), or Registered Architect (RA/AIA
• Experience leading a team of professional staff including developing work plans, mentoring, and coaching junior planning staff on highly complex development plans.
• Experience incorporating racial and social equity principles in planning, design, and leadership practices.
• Experience in the review of high-profile, complex, mixed-use, and/or transit-oriented (TOD) development plans.
• Proficiency using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the current version of ArcView, online survey and public input software, and Microsoft Productivity software including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Familiarity using and updating databases is also preferred.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication and collaboration skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Position is primarily sedentary, however, employees may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying items under 15 lbs. in weight. Work assignments may also require that the employee make site visits and inspections. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:Panel interview; may include exercise.
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Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Planning
• Landscape Architecture
• Architecture
• Urban Design
• Recreation Planning
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working in a planning-related field?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine or more years

06

How many years of professional, full-time equivalent experience do you have in independently performing development reviews related to comprehensive land planning, policy plans, or zoning evaluations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six or more years

07

How many years of full-time equivalent supervisory/management experience do you have supervising planning professionals in policy planning, development review, land use planning, or zoning evaluations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

08

What is the number of staff you have supervised in your management experience?

• 0 to 2 employees
• 3 to 5 employees
• 6 to 10 employees
• More than 10 employees

09

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible experience do you have incorporating racial and social equity concepts into the review of plans or the development of plan policies or regulations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

10

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have managing and guiding staff in the preparation and presentation of reports to senior/executive management, Boards, Planning Commissions, or other similar entities?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

11

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping technology data base?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

12

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have collaborating with public elected or appointed officials?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
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