Planner II

Overview

Under the direction of a Planning & Zoning Division Deputy Director and in collaboration with team members, the Planner II will participate in one or more planning or zoning initiatives and manage limited planning or zoning initiatives to support the City’s long-term goals. As part of a team, the Planner II will prepare and draft planning analysis and recommendations, along with supporting documents.

As is essential to any planning review, comprehensive planning or zoning effort, the Planner II will engage the community, other constituencies, and public agency departments to solicit input and feedback for recommendations on the above referenced tasks. This includes maintaining community relationships and advising City staff and the public regarding regulatory processes and procedures.

Responsibilities

*The general duties and responsibilities of the position are included in but not limited to the information listed below*

• Convey and interpret information about current planning or zoning initiatives to community members and help advance planning goals, achieve community consensus, and resolve issues.
• Participate in and support planning and community engagement processes, including daytime, evening, and weekend public meetings. Create supporting materials for specific initiatives; guide others in the creation of supporting materials for specific initiatives.
• Develop, manage, and conduct comprehensive and strategic planning, zoning, land use, site, and regulatory analyses for citywide and community-specific planning projects and special planning districts. Conduct policy research.
• Conduct planning, urban design, and site technical analyses, including analysis of case data, mapping, and zoning test fits.
• Draft or update new or existing plans, thoroughly evaluate proposed policy recommendations with internal and external stakeholders and prepare planning and regulatory documents for presentation to the BPDA Board, Zoning Commission, and other relevant boards for approval.
• Develop clear and engaging presentation materials to communicate planning recommendations and assess the potential impacts of proposed changes.
• Assist in consultant selection and subsequent management of consultant work and budgets for planning and zoning initiatives. Assistance includes pre-planning activities such as drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for consultant services. Oversee consultant contract services.
• Research, formulate, and draft staff recommendations for the Zoning Board of Appeal regarding zoning appeal cases and zoning variances based on pertinent planning issues.
• Prepare and present analyses of the planning context in support of the Planning Department's regulatory review of development proposals under Article 80 and other review processes.
• Provide regular updates on workflow and progress on assigned projects to a Planning & Zoning Division Deputy Director.
• Advise City staff and the public regarding planning and zoning issues.  
• Prepare briefings for senior Agency staff or City officials.
• Assist in training, guiding, and supervising interns.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

• Work requires completion of a Master's degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field; Juris Doctor or paralegal certification; with a minimum of two (2) years of work experience in comprehensive planning, land use planning, zoning, transportation, or community development. Candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field with a minimum of four (4) years of work experience in zoning and/or land use may also apply.
• Prior experience in conducting or actively participating in a planning process is highly desirable.
• Work requires the ability to solve land use and zoning problems; to analyze and interpret planning issues; to communicate clearly in written, verbal, and graphic form.
• Full command of Microsoft Office and Google Suite programs is required.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Geographic Informational Systems (GIS) to design and assemble graphically compelling (clear) presentations and/or experience drafting zoning text amendments is highly desirable.

Please submit a cover letter and work sample demonstrating experience with land use planning, neighborhood planning, zoning, transportation, and/or legal research as well as written and graphic communication. Work samples should be combined as a single PDF with the applicant’s cover letter.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary/Grade: EXM/($75,000-$105,000)

Hours per week: 35