Listing Summary

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region’s success, including growth and development, transportation, water resources, services for older adults and workforce solutions. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region’s collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships.

The Community Development Department works closely with local governments across the 11-county region to help address a range of land use, development, and transportation challenges. The Department is seeking a highly motivated and collaborative self-starter to join its team. The ideal candidate will have a mission-oriented mindset, excellent written and verbal communication skills, graphic design and GIS skills, and knowledge of the principles and techniques of local planning, including an understanding of the application of regulations.

The Planner, Senior will contribute to local planning projects undertaken through the Department’s Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), Local Comprehensive Planning Program, and Livable Centers Initiative (LCI). Projects currently being undertaken include municipal comprehensive plans, local food systems plan, corridor or subarea plans, studies of special topics such as housing or economic development, and similar planning activities. The position may also be asked to contribute to other ARC activities, including but not limited to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides regional planning coordination by developing strategies, educating stakeholders, identifying, and recommending funding options, and serving as a liaison to state and local jurisdictions and non-profit organizations;
• Chairs committees; develops committee agendas and determines content; hosts and facilitates meetings; assists with organizing and developing content for regional forums; recruits and selects speaker/topics; and coordinates set-up of meeting space;
• Develops and writes regional policy, programming, and budget documents; prepares comprehensive plan documents; research issues, gathers and analyzes data, assesses policy impacts, performs case studies; identifies best practices, performs technical analysis of projects and programs;
• Serves as project manager, developing methodologies, analyses, and planning activities; overseas consultant work product, contracts and invoice payment may lead lower-level employees participating in project work; and coordinates development and deployment of strategies throughout the region;
• Produces reports, presentations and outreach materials using various tools, interactive and/or digital media; makes presentations;
• Provides technical assistance to member jurisdictions; and assists other planning staff in area of expertise;
• Serves as a lead worker, assigning work and monitoring work completion, as assigned;
• Manages and supports local plans produced through ARC’s Community Development Department;
• Contribute to all elements of local plan development, including research, analysis, mapping, writing, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach;
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with local project sponsors and partner organizations and communicate effectively;
• Work as part of multidisciplinary teams and contribute to moderately complex projects;
• Completes other technical, analytical, GIS-related, and administrative projects as needed;
• Performs other duties as assigned to support agency goals and objectives.

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of urban and regional planning and planning analysis;

• Knowledge of land use planning; comprehensive planning; food systems planning; zoning; community development; local government policy; economic development;
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research, and data gathering and analysis;

• Knowledge of applying urban and regional planning practices and principles;
• Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with local project sponsors and partner organizations and communicate effectively;
• Ability to independently think through work assignments comprehensively and creatively;
• Ability to provide technical assistance, conduct trainings and workshops, and develop innovative, collaborative solutions to build local capacity;
• Ability to work with elected officials and local government staff in designing and implementing policies, strategies, and regulatory approaches that support healthy livable communities; 
• Ability to manage and contribute to complex projects and to work as part of a multidisciplinary team;
• Ability to provide technical assistance, conduct trainings and workshops, and develop innovative, collaborative solutions to build local capacity;
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, with multiple deadlines and changing priorities;
• Ability to organize, prepare and maintain reports, schedules, records and files;
• Skill in authoring and preparing original reports, mapping products, technical documents and presentations. 
• Skill in utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction. 

• Skill in gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason;
• Possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent management skills and the ability to juggle competing priorities;
• Possess excellent analytical and organizational skills;
• Proficient in standard office equipment, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access and Project), and related software applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in urban or regional planning, economics, architecture, landscape architecture or related field
• Two (2) years of professional urban planning experience which may include internship experience

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in urban or regional planning, transportation planning, urban planning, public policy, landscape architecture or related field
• Five (5) years of work experience in planning, public policy, and/or research field
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: community engagement; land use planning; comprehensive planning; arts and culture; community development; local government policy

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to the detailed examples of responsibilities and abilities contained herein, all employees of the Atlanta Regional Commission are expected to model behavior consistent with the guiding principles outlined in our Evolution Strategy. Specifically, incumbents are responsible for demonstrating work habits that are:  

1. Interdisciplinary by promoting professional and interpersonal connections and integration across functional disciplines
2. Holistic by seeking expertise within the team, Department, or Agency to produce his/her work output, and demonstrating a strong understanding of and support for interrelationships between their work and the work of others in the team, Department, or Agency
3. Actionable by continuously striving to improve his/her capabilities to produce sustainable outcomes, and displaying a strong need for achievement and a high energy level to attain goals
4. Outcome Based by taking the initiative to meet goals and expectations, and consistently striving to produce tangible results with significant visible impact
5. Targeted toward Ensuring Colleagues' Success by willingly and deliberately providing his/her expertise to others in an effort to build and sustain effective internal and external working relationships, and by modeling behaviors that consistently demonstrate concern for colleagues' success, needs, respect, trust and integrity.   

 

ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $57,058-$96,997 no SS deductions except for Medicare portion, approx. 1.45% of salary)

 

Interested candidates should apply at atlantaregional.org

ARC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex, religion or disability in employment or the provision of services.