Salary : $61,143.00 - $114,778.00 Annually
Location : Richmond, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 05M
Department: Planning and Development Review
Opening Date: 09/05/2025
Closing Date: 9/21/ :59 PM Eastern
Are you Richmond
R.E.A.D.Y ?
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E quity.
A ccountability.
D iversity...
YOU !!!
This is an
EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:
- Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
- Language Incentive
- Referral Bonus
- T uition Assistance Program
Description The City of Richmond,
Department of Planning and Development Review, is seeking a highly qualified individual to fill the position of
Planner (Secretary to City Planning Commission). Primary duty is to serve as Secretary to the Planning Commission. This class also provides professional planning services, land use planning, preservation planning, zoning administration, and the monitoring, review, and evaluation of land use development proposals and urban design.
Mid-level incumbents provide journey-level professional planning work, working on diverse planning projects and assisting in the development of policies. The most advanced incumbents serve as designated subject matter experts, performing the most complex planning and development proposal reviews and planning project oversight. The most advanced incumbents may serve as lead workers, providing guidance to other staff and leading planning teams on large, complex assignments.
As assigned, work may include: reviewing applications, proposals, bids, plans, and reports for land use and zoning ordinance compliance; conducting field investigations; preparing and presenting reports; maintaining databases; coordinating city agency reviews, including determining review criteria; designing and developing comprehensive community and neighborhood development plans; determining project compliance; analyzing effects of plans on land use, redevelopment, and rehabilitation; and providing technical assistance.
Supervision Exercised/Received: Exercised: This classification typically does not supervise other employees, but may serve as lead worker, assigning work and monitoring work completion.
Received: This classification typically reports to a Planning Supervisor or team lead.
Note: Other reporting relationships may apply.
Duties include but are not limited to - Serving as Secretary to the Planning Commission: Preparing dockets, publishing agendas, conducting meetings. Providing technical expertise, presenting applications, advising staff on the preparation of reports, assisting with long-range initiatives, and other administrative tasks.
- Reviewing documents such as land use, zoning, and subdivision property proposals, applications, and building proposals.
- Assisting with special projects such as census updates, the City's Master Plan, HUD-funded projects, Cell Tower Environmental Impact reports, GIS-based maps, and visionary small area plans and reports.
- Advising staff on various matters, such as urban design, land use, historic preservation.
- Conducting site visits and taking measurements to develop site plans, floor plans, elevations, and 3D renderings.
- Communicates with members of the community.
Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses KNOWLEDGE , SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.
Knowledge (some combination of the following): - Clear understanding of Planning Commission procedures, zoning and land use guidelines, architectural history, architectural terms, styles, and construction methods, and public meeting protocols
- Basic knowledge and application of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
- Basic knowledge of Commission of Architectural Review Guidelines and Section 106 review
- Proficiency in rezoning and special use permit processes
- Proficiency in the Plan of Development Review Process and Subdivision Review Process
- Understanding of all phases of a project's lifecycle from pre-design through construction administration
- Graphic design
- General knowledge of: urban planning and design; federal preservation laws and regulations; preservation planning; zoning ordinances; historic preservation principles; master planning; traditional neighborhood development; transportation planning; ordinance preparation; land title surveying; and engineering principles
- Expertise with some combination of the following computer programs: Microsoft Office Suite; GIS; Energov; Legistar; Blue Beam; SharePoint; word processing programs; AutoCAD; SketchUp; ArcGIS; IRender nXt; and Adobe Creative Suite (i.e. InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)
Skills (some combination of the following): - Providing excellent customer service, including dealing with unhappy customers Being a clear and effective facilitator, including public speaking skills and defending recommendations/positions
- Managing databases Composing documents
- Negotiating and balancing the needs of citizens with economic demands, health and human service needs, goals of private corporations, and land use regulations
- Assessing and evaluating a project's conformance with Commission of Architectural Review Guidelines, the Master Plan, site plans, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances
- Utilizing a large-scale printer/plotter
- Preparing documentation according to state and federal standards Photographing sites for clarity and documentation
- Conducting research
- Preparing visual content for presentations and reports
- Reading and understanding building plans Leading effective meetings
- Conducting site inspections
Abilities (some combination of the following): - Analyze land use, demographic, and development data to support policy recommendations and planning decisions
- Interpret and apply zoning regulations to proposed development scenarios
- Manage complex projects and competing deadlines
- Maintain a high level of organization and attention to detail for administrative and technical tasks
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE - Bachelor's degree in urban planning, civil or environmental engineering, landscape architecture, or a related field
- Three years of experience or an equivalent amount of graduate level training.
- An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification
- Preferred Qualifications: At least three years of experience and a Master's degree in urban planning or a related field
LICENSING , CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations.
If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Human Resources Manager by email at
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The
City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official
V3 Certified Company .
The
City of Richmond is a proud partner with the
US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program. With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an "Employer of Choice" among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an "Employer of Choice".
The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.
01
10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veteran's widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?
02
5-point veteran's must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following:Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52-7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?
03
Which answer best describes your highest level of education?
- High school diploma/ GED
- Associate's Degree
- Some college
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
04
Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, civil or environmental engineering, or a related field?
05
Which best describes your years of experience working in urban design, project management or community planning?
- Less than two years of experience
- Two to four years of experience
- Four to six years of experience
- More than six years of experience
06
Which best describes your years of experience do you have working in a local government Planning Department in an urban setting?
- Less than two years of experience
- Two to four years of experience
- Four to six years of experience
- More than six years of experience
07
Which best describes your years of experience working with a design review board?
- Less than two years of experience
- Two to four years of experience
- Four to six years of experience
- More than six years of experience
08
Which best describes your years of experience in delivering presentations/speaking in front of citizen groups, representatives of public institutions and local government officials?
- Less than two years of experience
- Two to four years of experience
- Four to six years of experience
- More than six years of experience
09
Based on the City of Richmond Department of Human Resources MS Proficiency Scale immediately described below, what is your level of proficiency using Microsoft Word? Basic - At this level, an individual is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Intermediate - At this level, an individual is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and produce elaborate reports. Advanced - At this level, an individual is able to use and create a wide range of graphic effects and has full mastery of Macro commands.
- Basic experience
- Intermediate
- Advanced experience
- No experience
10
Based on the City of Richmond Department of Human Resources MS Proficiency Scale immediately described below, what is your level of proficiency using Microsoft Excel? Basic Level: Has requisite skills to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Intermediate Level: Has requisite skill to work with multiple worksheets, filter data, use integrate functions, manipulate databases, charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Advanced Level: Has requisite skill to use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data in Excel; automate some operations, manage Macro commands, and create MS Excel applications.
- Beginner experience
- Intermediate experience
- Advanced experience
- No experience
Required Question
