Associate Land Use Planner

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the Hiring Process section below to learn more.

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint however we may go slightly higher based on experience internal equity and market.

Bellevue is building the city of the future. Our welcoming multicultural innovation-focused community attracts technology pioneers outdoor enthusiasts and family-focused professionals from around the world. At Bellevue youll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service upholding the public interest and being a part of the community vision. Our people bring unique skills and qualities to the table embrace the values of honesty accountability and commitment to service and take pride in the work they do. Youll work in an environment where being innovative collaborative and future focused are the status quo. The City invests in its employees and encourages and rewards employee growth and development by building on our commonalities and our differences. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength and its what makes Bellevue an exciting place to work live and explore.

Development Services is a department that unifies cross-departmental review functions including Building Planning Utilities Transportation and Fire disciplines into one line of business. This allows for one-stop shopping for information and permits needed for all development activity in Bellevue. We are code compliance officers engineers finance analysts inspectors planners plans examiners permit technicians and support staff from the Land Use Building Fire Transportation and Utilities divisions. The 25-person Land Use Division consists of four work groups: Environmental Team Neighborhood Development Team Urban Design Team and Housing and Special Projects Team.

We are currently looking for an Associate Planner to join the Land Use Division on the Housing and Special Projects Team. Development review is the main focus of the Associate Planner level and the scope of potential assignments is diverse varied and grows with addition to development review the work includes consulting with potential applicants regarding possible future development and providing exceptional public service and information on polices codes review processes and project proposals. Project types will include both residential and commercial and involve simple to complex project management of the review process. Projects may be subject to special design and environmental requirements that impact the complexity of the project and the review process. The associate planner position requires strong analytical ability and excellent customer service skills to engage and collaborate with a very diverse client base and interested public.

Some of the many benefits of working in Bellevue include:

• Hybrid work environment
• Exceptional benefits
• Commitment to Employees
• Focus on Equity and Inclusion
• Office location Downtown close to transit shopping restaurants and entertainment.

If you are a collaborative problem solver are customer focused and have an interest and experience apply today and join our team!

A successful candidate will have prior experience in land use planning and interest in issues pertaining to design affordable housing and the environment. Those with experience in the following including but not limited to: platting conditional use permits design review critical areas shorelines sustainability tree preservation habitat restoration mitigation and landscape design are encouraged to apply. Field work is occasional in this role and most activities involve the review and evaluation of plans technical materials and consultant documents and reports. Public information meetings and/or presentations to the Hearing Examiner are also occasional and will require work after business hours. Candidates with strong analytical and writing skills and experience presenting technical information to nontechnical audiences are desired. Successful candidates should have experience with the following:

• Ability to review and project manage a myriad of development review projects predominantly focusing on medium range land use applications that have varying complexities processes and interest from the public.
• Substantive analysis of discretionary reviews of all types with modest direction from supervisors.
• Monitoring project review according to pre-agreed timelines. This may include project management of Affordable Housing projects eligible for expedited review.
• Coordinating and managing information received from technical reviewers into consolidated documents for transmittal to applicants.
• Using technical expertise to advise junior staff on complex and politically sensitive projects.
• Training and coaching junior staff in areas of expertise.
• Organizing and performing original research and preparation of written findings and recommendations for land use code or policy development.
• Working closely with senior management on policy development issues.
• Providing official responses to inquiries from local state federal and tribal entities.
• Acting as a consultant to other departments within the city.
• Preparing and making presentations for councils hearing examiner boards and commissions community groups and private organizations.
• Ability to engage in independent routine problem solving negotiation and discretionary decision-making.
• Takes initiative in learning the Land Use Code and preparing in-depth analysis and written documentation of land use and environmental interpretations decisions and determinations with minimal assistance.
• Working effectively and predominantly with teams of consultants and City staff.

Knowledge of:

• Applicable codes and policies used in land use review and the SEPA process.
• Comprehensive plan and development review processes.
• Development review and planning principles practices regulations and techniques as they relate to land use environmental or transportation planning.
• Zoning laws and comprehensive plans including their formation process of adoption an enforcement.
• Local government and political decision-making processes.

Ability to:

• Read and interpret architectural civil and landscape plans and technical documents.
• Utilize computer programs created for the benefit of facilitating development services review including permit tracking electronic plan review timekeeping GIS and other applications.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with individuals and groups regarding complex or controversial proposals and how the Citys land use and planning policies apply.
• Explain complex code and review processes to architects contractors developers owners supervisors employees and the general public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff applicants interested public and members of state and federal agencies as applicable.
• Provide in-depth technical expertise in specialized area of planning such as development review SEPA landscaping critical areas architecture urban design or other related areas.
• Write clear and concise staff reports and communication that is understood by the anticipated audience.
• Ability to negotiate solutions to development review issues in a collaborative manner.
• Respond to internal and external customers within 24 hours within the prescribed timeline established for the Development Services line of business.
• Apply project management techniques to independently coordinate internal and external review teams to ensure development review deadlines are completed within established timelines.
• Ability to manage assigned workload ensuring completion of review within established timelines.
• Develop and implement system improvements related to assigned body of land use professional project types.
• Demonstrate leadership by staffing or chairing committees and internal improvement teams.

Education Experience and Other Requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in land use planning urban planning landscape architecture environmental studies or a closely related field; or unrelated field and completion of an accredited professional planning certificate program.
• A minimum of three years experience and comprehensive knowledge of planning principles practices and techniques as they relate to all functional areas of land use environmental impacts design review or other related areas and must include two years of project management and development review experience.
• Four or more years related professional experience in any of the following is preferred: land use planning the development process environmental planning or urban design.
• Or any demonstrated combination of education and applicable experience which provides the applicant with the required knowledge skills and abilities.

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 usually 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 departments 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.

This is a Union represented position. The terms of its wages and working conditions are currently being negotiated between the City and the Union.

HIRING PROCESS
The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name address and other demographics. To help us please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

• Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
• We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter resume writing sample and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks including at least one prior supervisor.
• Some positions may require completion of a criminal background checkprior to start employment
• Some positions may require obtaining a commercial drivers license (CDL) licensures or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue youll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions our interactions and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service Stewardship Commitment to Employees Integrity Innovation and Diversity Equity & Inclusion. Youll work in an environment that is innovative collaborative future focused and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. Its what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work live and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation marital status national origin genetic information disability age veteran status or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office at or .If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

any technical difficulties with your application please contact the NEOGOV support line at .

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