Senior Planner

About the Department

Position Duties

• Provide project management expertise for large, complex initiatives. Help strategize spatial configurations that further the city’s development aspirations. Play a prominent role in representing design-based ideas for easy comprehension by city council, board and commissions, other departments, and stakeholders. Support the alignment of policy, regulation, and economic development goals with practical and suitable design documentation. Provide visual translations of the implications of development concepts. Identify existing typologies and generate new or hybrid prototypes for housing, retail and commercial structures, and configurations. Translate and test various economic constraints, policies and regulations with coordinated feasibility evaluations. Serve on various regional committees and represent Bellevue. Project manage and advance Comprehensive Plan Policy Amendments Generate reports and analysis on subjects such as TOD, placemaking, and design Provide inter-departmental support as a subject matter expert in design, transit oriented development, and placemaking. Organize and lead public engagement events related to assigned projects and support other public engagement events that are being led by different inter-department teams. Create, maintain, and manage various consultant contracts.
• Provide project management expertise for large, complex initiatives.
• Help strategize spatial configurations that further the city’s development aspirations.
• Play a prominent role in representing design-based ideas for easy comprehension by city council, board and commissions, other departments, and stakeholders.
• Support the alignment of policy, regulation, and economic development goals with practical and suitable design documentation.
• Provide visual translations of the implications of development concepts.
• Identify existing typologies and generate new or hybrid prototypes for housing, retail and commercial structures, and configurations.
• Translate and test various economic constraints, policies and regulations with coordinated feasibility evaluations.
• Serve on various regional committees and represent Bellevue.
• Project manage and advance Comprehensive Plan Policy Amendments
• Generate reports and analysis on subjects such as TOD, placemaking, and design
• Provide inter-departmental support as a subject matter expert in design, transit oriented development, and placemaking.
• Organize and lead public engagement events related to assigned projects and support other public engagement events that are being led by different inter-department teams.
• Create, maintain, and manage various consultant contracts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Expert knowledge of all the phases of project management. Ability to develop, manage, and monitor work programs for complex and/or controversial projects with a focus on addressing City Council priorities. Skilled in conducting complex technical work involving transit-oriented development, placemaking, urban design, site planning, and spatial analysis. Understanding of how buildings, streets, parks and other cityscape components work individually and together (i.e. assembled). Ability to administer and maintain budgets, agreements and contracts with public agencies and consultants. Ability to communicate effectively with peers, elected and appointed officials, and other stakeholders in areas of expertise. Ability to build partnerships with constituencies on controversial complex planning and design issues and, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of potential project impacts. Ability to prepare planning reports with supporting data and develop recommendations for various land use and urban development proposals. Familiarity with municipal planning and processes Education and Experience Requirement Graduation from an accredited four-year university in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental studies, urban geography, or closely related field. A master’s degree is preferred. Five or more years of progressively responsible experience as an urban designer, planner, or design professional. This experience could be in any order and in any allied discipline. Alternatively, a clear equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required mix of knowledge, skills and abilities. Certification as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expert knowledge of all the phases of project management.
• Ability to develop, manage, and monitor work programs for complex and/or controversial projects with a focus on addressing City Council priorities.
• Skilled in conducting complex technical work involving transit-oriented development, placemaking, urban design, site planning, and spatial analysis.
• Understanding of how buildings, streets, parks and other cityscape components work individually and together (i.e. assembled).
• Ability to administer and maintain budgets, agreements and contracts with public agencies and consultants.
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, elected and appointed officials, and other stakeholders in areas of expertise.
• Ability to build partnerships with constituencies on controversial complex planning and design issues and, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of potential project impacts.
• Ability to prepare planning reports with supporting data and develop recommendations for various land use and urban development proposals.
• Familiarity with municipal planning and processes

Education and Experience Requirement

• Graduation from an accredited four-year university in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental studies, urban geography, or closely related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience as an urban designer, planner, or design professional. This experience could be in any order and in any allied discipline.
• Alternatively, a clear equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required mix of knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Certification as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred.

Other Qualifications

• Physical Demands The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry objects up to 40 pounds. The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet. FLEXIBLE/HYBRID WORKING: A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period. Remote work for this position is subject to the department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.

Physical Demands

FLEXIBLE/HYBRID WORKING

Benefits

• The City of Bellevue offers employees a comprehensive benefits package providing choice, flexibility, and value! Please Note: Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees are not eligible for the below benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT 2) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan and any other benefits as required by law. The following summary applies to fully benefited positions: Medical Employees are offered a choice of medical coverage through the City's self-insured Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or Kaiser Permanente (HMO). Dental Employees are offered a choice of two dental carriers with plans that offer regular checkups, x-rays, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontia is available through one of the carriers. Vision Employees are offered a choice of vision coverage through an annual exam-only plan or a buy-up plan which includes an annual eye exam and hardware coverage. Retirement Plans - Employees are offered three retirement plans: Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS): Mandatory participation (PERS, LEOFF or PSERS), depending upon eligibility. City of Bellevue Municipal Employee's Benefit Trust (MEBT): Optional participation in this 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match contributions that vest on a 3-year schedule. Deferred Compensation Program (457 DCP): Optional participation in the supplemental Deferred Compensation Program also administered by DRS that allows tax-deferred savings into a variety of investments options. Other benefits include: More detailed information about our employee benefits is available at https://c2mb.ajg.com/cityofbellevue Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance Long Term Disability (LTD) Survivor Income Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 11 observed holidays per year plus 2 additional personal holidays, vacation (standard accrual of 12 days a year), and sick leave (accumulated at the rate of one day per month) An ORCA Card bus pass On-site fitness center, and self service food/coffee options Career development and training programs Tuition Reimbursement Program Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) Paydays - The City of Bellevue pays employees on the 8th and the 23rd of each month (24 pay periods per year). Please note: The City of Bellevue does not participate in the Social Security Administration (SSA) program and employees do not earn social security credits. The mandatory DRS retirement pension plan provides the required social security replacement plan. NOTE : This is a brief summary of the benefit programs for the City's non-represented employees. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Benefits for employees represented by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) may have different benefits. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a CBA, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
• The City of Bellevue offers employees a comprehensive benefits package providing choice, flexibility, and value! Please Note: Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees are not eligible for the below benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT 2) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan and any other benefits as required by law. The following summary applies to fully benefited positions: Medical Employees are offered a choice of medical coverage through the City's self-insured Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or Kaiser Permanente (HMO). Dental Employees are offered a choice of two dental carriers with plans that offer regular checkups, x-rays, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontia is available through one of the carriers. Vision Employees are offered a choice of vision coverage through an annual exam-only plan or a buy-up plan which includes an annual eye exam and hardware coverage. Retirement Plans - Employees are offered three retirement plans:
• Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS): Mandatory participation (PERS, LEOFF or PSERS), depending upon eligibility.
• City of Bellevue Municipal Employee's Benefit Trust (MEBT): Optional participation in this 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match contributions that vest on a 3-year schedule.
• Deferred Compensation Program (457 DCP): Optional participation in the supplemental Deferred Compensation Program also administered by DRS that allows tax-deferred savings into a variety of investments options.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Survivor Income
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 11 observed holidays per year plus 2 additional personal holidays, vacation (standard accrual of 12 days a year), and sick leave (accumulated at the rate of one day per month)
• An ORCA Card bus pass
• On-site fitness center, and self service food/coffee options
• Career development and training programs
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• Paydays - The City of Bellevue pays employees on the 8th and the 23rd of each month (24 pay periods per year).
• Please note: The City of Bellevue does not participate in the Social Security Administration (SSA) program and employees do not earn social security credits. The mandatory DRS retirement pension plan provides the required social security replacement plan. NOTE : This is a brief summary of the benefit programs for the City's non-represented employees. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Benefits for employees represented by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) may have different benefits. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a CBA, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.

Supplemental Questions