Planner - City Of Birmingham

ATTENTION Merit System Employees: Do not apply through this site.

If you are a current Merit System employee, please click HERE to log into

the internal career site.

Grade 22

Click HERE for Salary Ranges

CLOSE DATE

09/29/2023

Summary

The City of Birmingham is actively seeking two well-qualified, motivated Planners to join their Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits. Planners are primarily responsible for researching and assisting in the development of plans and programs for uniform utilization of land and physical facilities of a city or county according to existing laws, codes, plans and ordinances. will collaborate with various stakeholders, analyze data, and formulate plans that assist in the growth and development of the city while considering factors such as infrastructure, zoning regulations, environmental impact, and community engagement. Reporting to the Zoning Administrator, Planners receive specific work assignments in the form of results expected, due dates, etc. They are expected to determine the best approach to performing job duties in accordance with local and state regulations, but unusual circumstances are reviewed with the supervisor. Responsibilities also include reviewing site plans, elevation drawings and building permits for conformance to applicable regulations, acting as a staff liaison to various committees and commissions, and processing cases/projects to ensure adherence to industry best practices. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive listing of essential job functions; the performance of other essential functions may be required.

About Birmingham

Adorning the name “The Magic City,” Birmingham, Alabama is a vibrant place of outstanding communities and unlimited potential.Consisting of a population of over 200,000 and serving as the central hub of a metropolitan area of over 1.1 million, the Birmingham is the largest city and the economic center of the State of Alabama.

Birmingham offers an array of advantages that make it a perfect place to start or grow your career.Today’s Birmingham serves as an economic, cultural, and societal leader for the Southeast. It is home to world-class universities and medical research facilities and professionals, a critically-acclaimed culinary arts scene bursting with eclectic restaurants, a thriving arts community, a diverse range of local music venues and events, national and international sports and athletic competitions, and a progressive business climate with a strong entrepreneurial spirt and a devotion to social justice.Sitting in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Birmingham also provides an abundance of natural and scenic wonders, beautiful parks, hiking and biking trails, and mild weather to complement virtually any lifestyle or adventure.Birmingham provides these amenities, along with a robust, diverse and inclusive lifestyle, all while remaining as one of the most affordable cities to live in the nation.

A Career with the City of Birmingham

With the motto of Putting People First, the City of Birmingham works to ensure employees and the citizens of Birmingham are the number one priority.Employment with the City provides an opportunity to work in an environment that fosters a culture of teamwork and community, supports equity and justice, promotes employee growth and development, and encourages individualism, while also emphasizing accountability to fellow coworkers and the community.Putting People First also means that, as an employer, the City of Birmingham strives to provide and maintain a highly competitive compensation structure, excellent health and medical benefits, and a strong and secure retirement and pension plan, along with other employee wellness benefits and programs.Working with the City of Birmingham provides not only the opportunity for a productive and secure career, but also a career that provides meaning and the opportunity to truly make a difference.

Minimum Requirements

To be considered for employment in this position, a candidate must possess the following:

Option A

• Experience operating computer programs (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel) to generate and create reports, and create and update documents, spreadsheets, and tables.
• Experience communicating with the public, customers and/or stakeholders in order to relay information, explaining policies and procedures, etc.
• Experience performing county or city planning-related activities (e.g., map interpretation, permit processing, zoning and/or subdivision regulations) within a planning and zoning department or as a consultant within the private sector.
• Driver's license.

Option B

• Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Environmental Management, or a related degree (e.g., Geography, Architecture, Landscape Architecture).
• Driver's license.

Preferred Requirements

In addition to the above, the ideal candidate will:

• Experience reading and interpreting local and state codes including zoning codes, Code of Alabama, etc.
• Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Experience reading and/or interpreting legal descriptions, survey and parcel maps.

Job Duties

Typical Planner job duties include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Processing cases or projects (e.g., re-zoning cases, subdivision cases, variances, etc.) by conducting research, analysis and findings of cases in order to ensure accuracy and adherence to best planning practices.
• Coordinating meetings with various stakeholders (e.g., residents, business owners, the general public, etc.) to gather information (e.g., existing conditions in the neighborhood, existing assets, etc.) for the development of the plan.
• Communicating with various individuals (e.g., contractors, realtors, engineers, developers, the general public, etc.) in order to answer questions and explain ordinances relating to flood plain, zoning, signage, subdivision, future land use, comprehensive plan, etc.
• Researching and analyzing (or assisting in researching and analyzing) various data (e.g., demographic reports, neighborhood revitalization plans) for strategic and long-range planning or ordinance revisions.
• Reviewing site and development plans for adherence to development regulations required through the Zoning Ordinance and, when appropriate, approving them.
• Acting as a staff liaison to various committees/commissions (e.g., Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Subdivision Committee, Zoning Advisory Committee, Historic Preservation, Planning and Zoning, Design Review Board, etc.) in order to gather feedback, relay information and make presentations.
• Reviewing drawings, maps, surveys, and applications to ensure compliance with departmental requirements and County/City ordinances.

Compensation & Benefits

The City of Birmingham offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Salary range: $47,799 - $74,152 (starting salary is commensurate with education and experience)
• Group Term Life & AD&D Insurance, Voluntary Term Life & AD&D, Whole Life Insurance, and Short-term Disability options
• Membership and admission benefits for City attractions such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, Southern Museum of Flight, and more.
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Vision insurance
• A City-sponsored pension retirement plan. The City of Birmingham provides a Tier 3“defined benefit” plan where employee retirement payments are computed using a formula that considers several factors, such as length of employment and salary history.
• Generous holiday schedule
• Excellent medical insurance with employee monthly contribution as low as $32.50/month
• Dental insurance
• Flexible work arrangements including remote/telework options for up to two days per week and alternative work schedules (e.g., four 10-hour days). Such flexible work arrangements must be approved by the Department Director.
• Behavioral health plan

To learn more about the City of Birmingham, please visit www.birminghamal.gov .

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Persons requiring special conditions to accommodate a disability when completing the application should contact the Personnel Board at 205-279-3500 before the announcement closing date. Qualified applicants who believe they will need reasonable accommodation in the examination process should complete and submit an Accommodation Request Form. You may obtain an Accommodation Request Form by contacting our ADA Ombudsperson at [email protected], or by accessing the "Request for Accommodation" form through the following website: http://www.pbjcal.org/

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Personnel Board of Jefferson County (Personnel Board) provides a public personnel system based on merit principles. The Personnel Board strives for the constant improvement of the public service by employing and developing the best qualified persons available. The Personnel Board provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, creed, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or genetics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Employment decisions are made by the Merit System municipality or governmental agency in which the position exists. Each Merit System municipality, agency, or jurisdiction administers its own equal employment opportunity programs in compliance with applicable state and/or federal laws and regulations.