The City-County Planning Department helps plan and direct Durham’s vision for growth that supports a high quality of life, a robust economy and a sustainable, inclusive, equitable and accessible Durham for generations to come. We work collaboratively with other agencies and the community in a fast- paced, innovative environment looking for solutions to today’s land-use and community planning challenges. If you’re talented, creative and focused on customer service, join our team!
 
The Planning Department is committed to improving racial equity, including hiring staff that reflect our community’s demographics and those with strong ties to Durham. Working in the field of planning, we recognize the historic inequities that have been designed into the fabric of our cities and are committed to doing our part in changing that. Creating a more equitable community and recognizing the strength in diversity is a core part of our work in the Planning Department. We believe our work is best fulfilled when our workplace reflects a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences. We believe that creating an environment for diversity to thrive requires an enduring and evolving commitment to inclusion in our department’s culture, values, and behaviors. We encourage people with lived experiences and diverse perspectives and identities to apply including people of color, people who have experienced or are experiencing housing insecurity, people with low-wealth, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

This position is devoted to professional planning services for the City and County, including development review and landscape-based site compliance investigation. Decision-making includes providing input into management objectives, establishing work goals and objectives of a unit to carry out management direction, and selecting the method to address a problem or issue, subject to the constraints established by management objectives and direction.

Position is responsible for managing development projects and/or planning processes/plan development; performing site inspections for landscape-based site compliance; performing advanced professional analyses and recommendations; and providing technical assistance and addressing escalated issues.Duties/Responsibilities

• Under the direction of a supervisor provides planning expertise in a specialized program area. Programs include but are not limited to: zoning enforcement, site compliance investigations, rezoning and use permit processing, strategic planning, historic preservation, environmental protection and conducting several types of development review programs. Attends and makes presentations at meetings with the public, elected leaders, and appointed boards; Reviews site plans and plats, for compliance with ordinance requirements and development objectives. Conducts patrols and investigations within the jurisdiction. Conducts citizen information programs and neighborhood meetings on planning projects. Prepares legally required notifications including on-site placards, mailed notices, and legal advertisements. Conducts research studies, manages data and prepares reports for consideration by advisory boards, elected officials and the public. Prepared materials may become permanent governmental policy or ordinance or (in the case of enforcement) may be the basis for civil citations.
• Provides customer service by answering questions regarding Planning and Development functions and ordinances and providing support for walk-in inquiries.
• Provides support and leadership to citizen groups, special task forces, appointed boards and commissions, and elected leaders by organizing and publishing meeting agenda, preparing reports, and making presentations.
• Conducts investigations within the jurisdiction for site compliance in regards to the enforcement of tree conservation and landscaping requirements and proper practices; 
• Carries out enforcement actions; 
• Prepares legally-required notifications, including mailed notices of violation; 
• Reviews and/or approves graphic, narrative, and other reports, development proposals, plans/plats, permits, maps, articles, applications, and other documents;
• Researches, reviews and analyzes data;
• Provides written and oral notification of ordinance requirements, related permits and/or related reports; 
• Ensures compliance with applicable ordinances, codes, policies, and procedures;
• Maintains records, websites, and databases.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, arboriculture or a directly related field OR equivalent experience.
• Five years of professional planning or related experience.
• Valid North Carolina class C driver's license, or, if license is from another state, willing able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborist Certification within 6 months of hire.
• Tree Risk Assessment Qualification or obtain certification within 12 months of hire.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Master’s degree in planning, engineering, or a directly related field. 
• Prior experience with municipal ordinance requirements, especially regarding landscaping and tree preservation.