Listing Summary

The City of Stockbridge continues to strive to be the most progressive business and family-oriented community in Metropolitan Atlanta with a strong focus on enhanced quality of life initiatives that promote a sustainable “Live, Work, Play Environment”.  The City of Stockbridge believes that people are the most asset in delivering services to all citizens.  Stockbridge is a diverse city of approximately 35,000 + residents locatedjust 15 minutes south of Hartsfield - Jackson International Airport.

Job Summary: The Chief Planner performs supervisory and professional level planning duties in the administration of the City's Comprehensive Plan, and other areas as assigned. Performs complex and advanced City planning activities involving extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of urban planning and manages GIS applications. The Chief Planner manages and supervises the Planning & Zoning and GIS divisions within the larger planning department of an organization. 

Class Characteristics: This is the full-performance exempt level classification.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The duties assigned include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Performs and manages complex and sensitive professional planning projects, research, and analysis.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
• Oversees specialized planning functions such as large-scale new development proposals and environmental studies.
• Provides overall management of division-related planning issues.
• Advises the Community Department Director on planning-related matters.
• Advises various councils, boards, commissions, and elected officials in planning-related issues.
• Serves as liaison and performs all necessary functions in support of Planning Commission.
• Assigns work to professional staff and ensures appropriate training is provided.
• Evaluates operations and activities of assigned responsibilities.
• Prepares reports on operations and activities, recommending improvements and modifications.
• Handles personnel matters.
• Participates in budget preparation and administration, monitors, and controls expenditures.
• Attends substantial number of evening and weekend meetings.
• Other planning related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of urban planning and development and local government policies and procedures
• Thorough knowledge of specialization such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, , historic preservation or economic development
• Research methods and statistical principles related to urban growth and development
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations including recent changes
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management
• Budgeting procedures and techniques
• Recent developments, current literature and sources of information related to municipal planning and administration.
• Knowledge of local government procedures and practices
• Citizen involvement techniques and processes
• Knowledge of computer programs and applications, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications, econometric or transportation modeling, and database management
• GIS programs and applications

• Must be innovative, detail-oriented, experienced in highly visible/controversial projects

• Capable of managing multiple, high-priority assignments
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop good working relationships with staff, officials, and stakeholders and to resolve complaints
• Strong analytical skills to interpret research data for reports and apply mathematic techniques in practical situations
• Reading comprehension to understand technical and legal materials.
• Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously
• Ability to provide effective supervision and staff management
• Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both in writing and orally
• Ability to manage and conduct in-person and virtual public participation activities, meetings, and hearings
• Ability to work with computers, proficient with standard data and word processing software
• Ability to draft legal ads in compliance with the State of Georgia Zoning Procedures Law
• Ability to meet deadlines and schedules in compliance with State of Georgia Zoning Procedures Law
• Experience in using GIS software such as Arc GIS.
• Proficient computer skills: advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Supervisory Controls: The work of this position is directed by the Community Development Director.

Guidelines: Guidelines include state and federal laws and regulations governing City and departmental rules and regulations, and City ordinances, policies, and procedures.

Complexity: Work requires the exercise of independent thinking within the limits of guidelines, policies, standards, and precedents.

Personal Contacts: Contacts typically occur with co-workers, developers, city employees and the public.

Purpose of Contacts: Contacts are typically to give and exchange information, resolve conflicts, solve problems, and services.

Physical Demands: This work is performed indoors in an office setting, involves occasional light lifting.

Work Environment: This work is performed indoors in an office setting.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility: Senior Planner, Planner 1 and GIS Analyst.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree in planning or a closely related field and at least five years of experience in the planning profession. Three to four years of supervisory experience in city or regional planning, and/or an equivalent combination of professional experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. AICP Certification preferred.  A Georgia Driver’s License is required.

How to apply: 

Closing date for accepting applications and resumes will be open until filled.https://secure3.entertimeonline.com/ta/6111842.careers?CareersSearch

The City of Stockbridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to equal access and equal treatment of all applicants and employees without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or disability.