The Town of Chapel Hill is seeking a collaborative urban planner and land use professional to serve in the Planning Department. 

This position primarily supports development proposals moving through the Town’s review processes, but there are opportunities to get involved with long-range planning, policy, and other activities of the Planning Department. The work of this position is accomplished through evaluating development applications, engaging with the public, participating in project teams, and supporting Advisory Boards. The ideal candidates will be motivated self-starters with the ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders and work in a collaborative team environment. This position is eligible for flexible work arrangements, including telework.

About Town of Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a progressively minded university town of approximately 60,000 residents.  We are the home of national champions, academic scholars, community activists, musical trend-setters, authentic local businesses, and much more.  The town is situated in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, one of three corners in the famed Research Triangle, and a few short hours from the eastern coastline.  We thrive on teamwork, collaboration, engagement, and open dialogue.  We are working toward building an inclusive, equitable, and resilient community for all who live, work, and play here.

The posted salary information represents the hiring range. The full salary range for the Planner II position extends up to $90,174.

Hiring Range:

Planner I: $52,058 - $69,792

Planner II: $54,661 -$72,418

Essential Functions

The list below describes typical key responsibilities of the position. Duties may be added or modified to match the skill sets of the selected candidate.

Development Application Review: Reviews development application materials using Town of Chapel Hill governing documents and development standards. Works with staff from other departments and organizations as part of Technical Review Team.

Customer Service and Community Engagement: Provides planning information as needed to community stakeholders, development applicants, and others. Engages community stakeholders and the general public in planning initiatives to share information and solicit input.

Project Management: Supports various planning-related projects according to departmental work plan. Executes specific tasks as part of a project team. Examples of projects include small area plans, text amendments to regulations, and other policymaking work.

Construction Coordination: Consults with development teams on compliance with Town Code before and during construction. May participate in zoning inspections of completed work for consistency with approvals and requirements.

Staff Support: Provides primary or backup staff support to Town Advisory Boards, committees, and the Town Council.

Data Research and Analysis: Gathers planning-related data and prepares analysis for staff review as directed by supervisor.

Report Preparation and Presentation: Evaluates data and prepares plans and reports for distribution and presentation to the Council, Advisory Boards, Town departments, and/or the general public.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of planning, zoning, land use, construction management, inspections, and/or code enforcement
• Town's land use related regulations and design standards
• Federal, state, and local laws
• Computer software for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers, stakeholders, and supervisors
• Read and interpret ordinances, statutes, plans, maps, and blueprints
• Read and understand development and planning related documents, technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents
• Develop presentations and present information in a public setting
• Plan, organize, manage, and carry out multiple projects effectively and simultaneously
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Meet deadlines 
• Follow policies and procedures of the Town and the Planning Department
   Model behaviors that are consistent with our value of RESPECT
• Promote a culture of workplace safety

Minimum Qualifications

A candidate for this position may be at a level of qualifications such that the initial offer is for a Planner I, or Planner II position. 

Planner I: Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in planning, architecture, civil engineering, or a related field and two years of professional work experience, or equivalent.

Planner II: Minimum qualifications include a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in planning, architecture, civil engineering, or a related field and two years of professional work experience, or equivalent.

For either of the positions above, the Town will consider any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this job. This could include, but is not limited to, degrees in other fields with additional relevant work experience.