The primary function of this position is to provide planning services, including the review of proposed development permits and the preparation of staff reports. The Principal Planner ensures that all development permitted in unincorporated Monroe County is well designed, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, and in compliance with all applicable Land Development Regulations, community master plans, and design guidelines. This position is also responsible for providing planning and development services, including building permit review and inspections, the preparation of official County planning documents, and support to the Development Review section of the Department through data gathering and other technical services necessary for development and permit review.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Acts as a member of the Planning team, providing planning services to the community; explains planning-related policies and regulations to the public and offers customer service to the community and developers by providing information, guidance, and assistance.
• Reviews proposed development projects to ensure consistency with the Comprehensive Plan/ Land Development Regulations, as well as ensure that quality design and site planning standards have been applied.
• Prepares and assists in the preparation of technical policy reports and studies, including deficiency letters, requests for corrections, and other staff reports related to permitting, as needed.
• Prepares reports, analyses, and recommendations for the Director of Planning & Environmental Resources, advisory committees, the Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.
• Analyzes planning applications and building permits to determine completeness and the correct application of procedure, policies, and regulations.
• Collects, analyzes, and updates County baseline statistical data; updates and provides regional data, including demographics, transportation, and GIS, to communities.
• Drafts language and guides proposals through public hearings and other administrative processes.
• Provides expert testimony and cross-examination at quasi-judicial hearings.
• Prepares maps, background materials, and presentations for public hearings and workshops.
• Leads and facilitates public workshops as needed.
• Provides technical assistance to community projects.
• Creates public relations materials and guidebooks.
• Staffs and facilitates advisory boards and meetings.
• Responsible for personally knowing and following the County's Personnel Policies and Procedures, Administrative Instructions, Department Operating Procedures, and applicable Statutes and Regulations. Responsible for ensuring others also adhere to these standards.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• In the event of special, emergency, or disaster situations, employees may be required to work schedules other than those for which they are regularly scheduled in any capacity deemed appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Master's Degree in Urban Planning or related field with five (5) years of related work experience, OR a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning or related field with seven (7 ) years of related work experience. An equivalent number of years of experience may substitute for formal education requirements.

Special Qualifications:

AICP certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to organize work around broad organizational goals and processes.
• Ability to oversee work that involves the use of complex technical, scientific, or mathematical concepts that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization; ability to analyze and make recommendations on how to improve the operational performance of the organization.
• Ability to make decisions that govern one's own activities as well as the activities of others; decisions impact how unit provides services and support to internal and external customers.
• Ability to provide updates to senior managers, elected officials, or other community groups or organizations; ability to work regularly with other Directors or senior managers to ensure the provision of efficient and effective services.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary and requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
• Manual Dexterity: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Visual Acuity: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a relatively safe, secure, and stable work environment.

Monroe County has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.