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Principal City Planner - Zoning Amendments - Community Planning and Development

Are you a passionate and creative planner ready to lead zoning reform in a major city committed to advancing equity and building community? The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is seeking a motivated, inspiring, and accomplished leader with city planning and regulatory experience to fill a full-time Principal City Planner position on our Planning Services Division’s Regulatory Planning team. We are removing barriers to accessory dwelling units, advancing equity in rezoning, enabling more housing options, improving design outcomes through neighborhood overlays, and so much more! Apply today!
 
Working for the City and County of Denver (CCD) is so much more than a job. It’s a chance to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of people around you. Click here to find out about all the amazing benefits and reasons to work for the city that you love! 
 
The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD works with Denver’s communities to prepare plans, as well as regulations for land use and design, that guide the city’s growth, enhancement, and preservation. Our staff also reviews, permits, and inspects development applications to ensure that future construction meets the community-led regulations laid out in Denver's zoning codes as well as meets the rigorous standards of the city's building, fire, and energy codes. We're working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Visit www.DenverGov.org/CPD. We are committed to cultivating a city of equity, diversity and inclusion and this commitment is woven into our daily work as we support the growth of Denver. Our residents and co-workers are our customers, and we aim to have employees who are as diverse as they are. We believe we are stronger and better public servants when we have different perspectives and unique ways of thinking. 
 
The Principal City Planner is the subject matter lead for text (zoning) amendments, which implement the vision and goals of Denver’s adopted long range plans through changes to zoning codes. Reporting to the Code and Regulation Supervisor, in this position you will be responsible for coordinating the zoning code text amendments in our work program, serving as principal-in-charge of zoning code text amendment projects, and leading text amendment process improvements. You will share your planning and zoning expertise by providing strategic support to other planners and being an expert resource for elected officials and members of the community. Your relationship skills will shine as you cooperate with agency partners in Development Services, Housing Stability, Parks & Recreation, and more to advance regulatory change. 
 
Schedule:  The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Employees work where needed, at a city site and/or in the field at least three days a week and may telecommute remotely at a designated workplace within the State of Colorado the remaining days. Flexible hours, Monday-Friday. May be occasional evening/weekend work (for example city council meetings or neighborhood meetings). 9/80 flex option after passing 6 month probation.
 
Key responsibilities of this Principal City Planner include: 
·      Coordinating how we achieve the text amendment work program, including tracking future projects, and measuring and reporting on outcomes, in close collaboration with the Code and Regulation Supervisor 
·      Guiding project managers as principal-in-charge of text amendment projects (may include managing some text amendments) 
·      Assisting project managers to develop scopes of work, timelines, budgets, outreach and engagement plans, and code drafts 
·      Preparing and reviewing work products for complicated text amendments such as strategy documents, annotated outlines, code drafts, staff reports, and presentations  
·      Innovating processes and procedures to streamline text amendment work with attention to improving quality and consistency 
·      Collaborating with other disciplines, residents, business owners, community leaders, and industry professionals 
·      Communicating with varying audiences about technical principles of development and public processes  
 
This position is not expected to directly supervise staff. 
 
 

About You
 
Our ideal candidate has: 
·      Experience that demonstrates a multi-disciplinary approach to planning and development regulations 
·      Leadership skills in building and supporting strong teams and managing complex planning projects 
·      Experience managing zoning code updates, including drafting code language 
·      Commitment to the values and principles of Denver’s long-range plans, including integrating equity into planning and zoning processes and outcomes 
·      Ability to thrive in a team-based culture 
·      Excellent written, verbal, and graphic communication skills 
·      Strong familiarity with long range planning principles, land use and development law, and zoning procedures 
·      Demonstrated success in identifying issues, brainstorming solutions, evaluating alternatives, public engagement, drafting regulations, and building consensus 
·      Excellent interpersonal, political, and customer service skills 
 
We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:
·      Education: Bachelor’s Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Engineering, or a related degree
·      Experience: Six (6) years of professional planning experience
·      Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education
·      Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements
 
To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):
·      Resume
·      Cover Letter
·      Please provide a short (no more than 10 pages), previously-prepared document (i.e., a staff report to city council or a planning commission) that demonstrates your written communication skills