Salary: $80,400.00 - $124,600.00 Annually
Location : One Exchange Plaza 219 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Land Development
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 7/29/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Work Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:30 am - 5:15pm
Hiring Range: $80,400.00 - $102,500.00

Job Description
The City of Raleigh is seeking a collaborative, solutions-oriented professional to serve as a Principal Planner specializing in permitting solutions within the Raleigh Planning and Development Department. This position plays a central role in guiding permit applications and development plans through the review lifecycle, helping move projects efficiently from intake to approval while maintaining a strong commitment to customer service and regulatory integrity.

In this role, you will act as a key liaison for applicants, residents, design professionals, reviewers, and City staff. You'll coordinate across departments, help resolve issues, and translate complex technical and regulatory information into clear, actionable guidance for applicants navigating the development review and permitting process. The Principal Planner balances customer needs with organizational priorities, triages inquiries and escalations, and works proactively to identify challenges early so they can be addressed effectively.

You'll also contribute to continuous improvement by analyzing permit activity/trends and leading initiatives that enhance processes and service delivery. A key part of the work also includes evaluating projects for consistency with the Unified Development Ordinance and related codes.
The Principal Planner will supervise two Senior Permit Advocates.

Duties and Responsibilities
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Supervise two Senior Permit Advocates
• Monitor permit activity and provide targeted support for select or stalled development applications, helping move projects efficiently from intake to approval
• Work across disciplines to expedite the approval of projects that are a City priority and/or are close to completion
• Triage and manage inquiries and escalations while balancing customer needs with regulatory requirements and organizational priorities
• Coordinate across departments to facilitate issue resolution and help applicants achieve compliance with applicable regulations
• Serve as a liaison for applicants, residents, design professionals, reviewers, and City staff, fostering clear communication, collaboration, and excellent customer service
• Analyze permit activity and performance trends to recommend process improvements and support special initiatives
• Review projects for consistency with the City's Unified Development Ordinance and other codes

Typical Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Studies, Transportation or a related field and 5 to 7 years' of progressively responsible experience in a lead or supervisory capacity related to urban, land use, or regional planning

OR

Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted.
Additional Information
Knowledge of:

• Planning and land development principles, practices, and techniques including those related to construction, transportation, public utilities, and natural resources
• Public administration best practices
• Principles and practices of project management and organization
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis
• Principles and techniques of effective writing
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations
• Customer service principles
• Planning related technologies such as GIS, CRM, and permitting systems/software
• Research methods and sources of information related to urban growth and development
• Recent development, current literature and sources of information related to municipal planning administration
• Best practices in community engagement and survey design
• Principles and practices of program administration and management
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis
• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques

Skill In:

• Supervising and evaluating staff performance
• Coaching and mentoring others
• Working across disciplines to understand pain points and identify creative solutions that serve both the customer and the general public
• Balancing policy goals and service-delivery with a keen understanding of organizational priorities
• Expertise in administration of laws, codes, and regulations relevant to planning and development
• Strong project management and organizational skills, ability to coordinate deadlines, and manage work volume
• Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills, including fostering and maintaining positive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders, receiving work direction, and communicating technical information to technical and non-technical audiences
• Practice sound judgement, and be comfortable gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason to make informed decisions in complex situations
• Competently author original reports, technical documents, and presentations
• Managing multiple high-profile or time-sensitive projects
• Facilitating public meetings and engaging with diverse community stakeholders
• Coaching and leading the work of others

ADA and Other Requirements:
Work Environment and Physical Effort:

Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Work Environment:

Work is typically performed in an office or similar indoor environment. Employees may occasionally work in an outdoor environment or in a vehicle.
Work Exposures:

Employees in this role will occasionally interact with individuals who are hostile or irate.
When you join the City of Raleigh's work family as a full-time employee, your benefits are an important part of your "total rewards". Your benefits impact many aspects of your life including your health, your finances, and the protection of your family. The City provides a comprehensive benefits package as part of our total rewards program to support you through important events in your life, to enhance your life outside work, and to help you plan and prepare for the future.

To find out about the City's benefits package, and other programs, please visit our Employee Benefits page: https://raleighnc.gov/services/jobs-and-volunteering/pay-and-benefits

The City employs temporary and seasonal employees who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh's benefits.
01

Please select your highest level of education completed.

• Some high school
• High school diploma (or GED)
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• PhD or other professional degree

02

How much relevant or comparable work experience do you have in a lead or supervisory capacity related to urban, land use, or regional planning?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 to less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 3 years
• 3 to less than 4 years
• 4 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 6 years
• 6 to less than 7 years
• 7 to less than 8 years
• 8 to less than 9 years
• 9 to less than 10 years
• 10 years or more

03

Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from a position?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered "yes" to being terminated or forced to resign, please provide an explanation and the date.
05

Briefly describe your experience in urban planning, public administration, or a related field.
06

What excites you about this position and more specifically about working in/for the City of Raleigh?
Required Question