Community Planner

Salary: $54.28 - $63.26 Hourly
Location : Seattle, WA
Job Type: Classified Civil Service, Regular, Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2025-00208
Department: Office of Planning & Community Development
Opening Date: 02/21/2025
Closing Date: 3/11/2025 4:00 PM Pacific

Position Description
THE OFFICE

The Office of Planning & Community Development (OPCD) ensures that City departments are aligned and coordinated in planning and advancing equitable development for Seattle's future growth. OPCD is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The fields of urban planning and community development have often failed to reflect the experiences and identities of people affected by development decision and outcomes, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Immigrants, Refugees, People with Disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people. We strongly encourage people with these identities or from other marginalized communities to apply.

THE JOB

We are recruiting for a Community Planner to join our Community Planning division, which focuses on neighborhood plans, regional centers plans, and station area planning. This is an opportunity to have a significant impact on equitable planning and the built environment in Seattle. Your immediate focus will be on:

• Completing community planning for the North Aurora neighborhood
• Leading regional centers planning for Ballard
• Supporting work on six other regional centers plans

Job Responsibilities
We are looking for a generalist who is committed to:

• Anti-racist and equity-based urban planning
• Nurturing and facilitating effective partnerships and relationships with communities, non-profit organizations, service providers, businesses etc.
• Asking for ideas and input from community, listening, synthesizing, and incorporating them into policies and planning

We are looking for applicants who have:

• Led complex community-based projects that integrate with current plans and included economic analysis and modelling, visioning with community, policy and plan recommendations
• Managed consultants and consultant contracts, including setting scope and schedule, tracking budget, reviewing invoices, and communicating effectively and respectfully with internal and external partners
• Facilitated meetings, discussions, planning efforts, or internal briefings to identify and resolve issues of risk, legal compliance, public policy, or public expectations and trust
• Provided direct support, assistance, and relationship management to community members and organizations
• Assessed and worked within policy or regulatory-driven environments and managed compliance
• Created a range of compelling and informative written documents and made engaging and successful presentations adapting both styles of communication to the audience, their concerns, and levels of understanding

Qualifications
In addition to the qualities mentioned above, you will need to possess the below required qualifications (or a combination of education, training or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform this job):

Five years of experience in planning and research related to urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation, land use; or other work directly related to City planning and development activities

OR

Four years of experience in planning and research related to urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation, land use; or other work directly related to City planning and development activities and an associate's degree in public administration, planning, urban design, environmental studies or a related field

OR

Three years of experience in planning and research related to urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation, land use; or other work directly related to City planning and development activities and a bachelor's degree in public administration, planning, urban design, environmental studies or a related field

Additional Information
This job is classified as a Planning & Development Specialist, Senior and is part of a Collective Bargaining Agreement with PROTEC17 - Professional Unit. The full pay range for this step-progression position is $54.28 - $63.26 per hour. Current City employees' starting rate of pay will be based on Personnel Rules regarding promotions.
Work Location and Hours: This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and management.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans
Here is a resource for Application and Interviewing tips with the City of Seattle.

In addition, to completing the application at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle fully, please attach:

• A PDF of your current resume
• A cover letter that details the work you have done aligned with equitable planning and development

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
Why work at the City?

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.
This position is open to all applicants that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The City encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.
Accommodations:

Individuals with disabilities will be provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact Kate.Moore@seattle.gov for questions or to request accommodations.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:
01

In your own words, please describe an urban planning project where you applied anti-racist principles. What was your role and who benefited?
02

Tell us about a long-term project that you led and how you organized and motivated yourself and others to meet milestones.
Required Question