Salary: $79,757.47 - $135,587.70 Annually
Location : Planning and Permitting Division - Frederick, MD
Job Type: Full-time Regular
Job Number: FY26-00586
Department: Development Review and Planning
Opening Date: 06/11/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
JOB INFORMATION Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday - Friday; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; full-benefits
This position performs advanced and specialized professional planning work in support of Frederick County's long-range planning, development review, historic preservation, environmental planning, and community development functions. This classification manages complex planning projects, policy initiatives, regulatory reviews, and technical studies involving comprehensive planning, land use analysis, development applications, public engagement, and implementation of County planning objectives and regulatory requirements. Work includes coordinating with elected officials, boards and commissions, developers, consultants, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and the public to develop planning recommendations, interpret regulations and policies, facilitate public processes, and present technical information related to County planning initiatives and development activities. This classification serves as a lead professional resource for complex planning matters, may coordinate specialized planning programs or major County initiatives, and works under limited supervision from a higher-level planning or management position.
NOTE: The upper pay range reflects possible wage rates for internal County transfers and promotions, which are calculated per County policy. For external hires, offers are made at the base wage rate, with limited exception.
The pay rate shown reflects the FY27 pay schedule effective June 27, 2026. If you are hired before this date, your starting rate will be the base of the FY26 pay scale and will be adjusted to the FY27 rate once it becomes effective.
TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE:Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how highly we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full-time benefited Frederick County Government employee.
- 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
- 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
- 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays (10 and 11 month employees may not receive all holidays)
- Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
- Employee Health Center with no or low-cost primary and urgent care
- 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
- County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
- Vesting after 5 years of service
- Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
- Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
- Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan
NOTE: Benefited employees will accrue service and leave based on the FTE and/or hours worked per calendar year.
For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES - Manage complex planning projects, development reviews, policy initiatives, technical studies, and implementation activities related to County planning objectives and regulations
- Review and evaluate development applications, subdivision plats, zoning requests, environmental studies, and related planning documents for compliance with County plans, ordinances, and regulatory requirements
- Prepare and present technical reports, policy recommendations, planning studies, graphics, correspondence, and public presentations for elected officials, boards, commissions, and stakeholder groups
- Develop and implement comprehensive plans, area plans, corridor studies, preservation initiatives, functional plans, and related long-range planning documents
- Conduct advanced research and technical analysis related to land use, zoning, transportation, environmental resources, historic preservation, urban design, growth management, and community development trends
- Coordinate public engagement activities, stakeholder outreach efforts, advisory committee meetings, Technical Advisory Committee meetings, and interagency collaboration processes related to planning initiatives
- Interpret and apply County, State, and federal planning laws, regulations, policies, and guidance documents to development review, policy development, and planning recommendations
- Lead or coordinate multidisciplinary planning efforts involving County departments, municipalities, regulatory agencies, consultants, community organizations, and private development interests
- Prepare proposed revisions to zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, planning policies, design standards, and related regulatory documents
- Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS), mapping applications, databases, graphic design tools, and data visualization software to analyze information and communicate planning concepts
- Conduct field reviews, site inspections, and data collection activities to support development review, environmental analysis, historic preservation, and planning studies
- Provide professional planning assistance and technical guidance to residents, developers, consultants, elected officials, boards, commissions, and other stakeholders regarding planning processes and regulatory requirements
- Develop transportation elements for all components of the County Comprehensive Plan, with emphasis on active transportation and multi-modal accessibility
- Collaborate with stakeholders to monitor, evaluate, and report on progress toward transportation goals, initiatives, and supporting strategies outlined in the Comprehensive Plan
- Coordinate the Annual Transportation Priorities Review, including data collection, project evaluation, and preparation of recommendations for County leadershipLead the Toward Zero Deaths Steering Committee, guiding countywide strategies to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on the transportation network
- Maintain the regional travel forecasting model, with consultant support, ensuring demographic, land use, and transportation network inputs remain current and accurate
- Coordinate with transportation agencies at the local, state, and regional levels on transportation projects, programs, and planning initiatives
- Represent the County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Technical Committee and other advisory bodies, including the County Transportation Services Advisory Council
- Analyze and interpret data to support reports and studies related to land use, transportation, housing, and demographic trends
- Deliver presentations to the Planning Commission, County Council, elected officials, community groups, and the general public on transportation planning topics and project updates
- Perform other related duties as required
To perform this job successfully, an employee must be able to perform all essential functions satisfactorily. Any employee's position may not be assigned all functions or equipment listed above, and the examples may not cover all functions or equipment that may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTSThe qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
- Bachelor's degree in urban or regional planning, geography, public administration, or a related field
- Minimum of 5 years of work experience in urban or regional planning, geography, public administration, or a related field
Substitutions for the above-listed required education and experience are a Master's Degree in urban or regional planning, geography, public administration, or a related field with 3 years of work experience as described above.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES: A successful incumbent operating in this role displays the following:
- Advanced knowledge of applied planning and implementation tools, including those tools appropriate in the regulatory, fiscal, political, and technical environments in the State of Maryland
- Advanced knowledge of larger planning context (federal, state, regional)
- Advanced knowledge of County laws and policies, State laws, State policies & guidance documents relating to land use planning
- Knowledge of land use and planning related laws to help ensure legitimate public decision-making and relevant crafting of regulatory revisions
- Advanced knowledge of County Plans, policies, and regulations and processes
- Advanced skill in technical writing
- Skilled in public speaking
- Skilled in data collection, analysis, and report writing
- Ability to evaluate the implications of various scenarios and decisions related to land use
- Ability to speak to large and small groups in a professional, clear, and calm manner
- Ability to manage staff resources effectively in preparation of reports, studies, data analysis, and background research
- Ability to communicate effectively with advocates and citizens seeking to participate in the local planning process
- Ability to develop a project scope, budget, and timetable, manage staff work tasks, and execute a public outreach effort
- Ability to translate complex concepts related to design, process, and data into visual form to communicate to audiences composed of a wide range of skills and background
- Ability to lead and facilitate the discussion of county planning priorities amongst elected and appointed officials
PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN FOR:- Work experience in transportation planning
- Administrative work experience in grant management or grant writing
- Planning related certifications, licenses or professional associations
PHYSCIAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:- While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly sit; frequently perform repetitive motions; occasionally walk; and rarely climb/ascend/descend, stoop/kneel/crouch, reach and drive
- While working in the position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors; and rarely work outdoors
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / EXAMINATION PROCESS - Ability to provide own transportation as needed for field visits and other duties
- Available for evening and/or weekend working hours as needed for meetings and programs
