Residential Plan Review Senior City Planner

Note: This posting will accept applications until December 10th, 2023. Please apply as soon as possible.  

Are you an innovative and collaborative leader experienced in regulatory planning (including zoning code research/review/drafting) who has excellent project management and customer service skills, and thrives in a productivity oriented, dynamic, and fluid work environment with ever changing priorities? Do you enjoy identifying opportunities, challenges, and providing solutions to improve day to day processes and short/long-term strategy? Are you looking for a role that gives you autonomy in leading a wide variety of special projects, while also exposing you to many internal and external stakeholders, and helps to elevate the customer experience which has a positive impact on the departmental goals and your community as a whole? If so, this may be the role for YOU! The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and organized Residential Plan Review Senior City Planner to join the Residential Plan Review Team under the Development Services division.  We offer work/life balance, unmatched benefits (including over three weeks of PTO and 12 paid holidays), and a pension plan for life. Apply today and join the CPD family!

Development Services staff helps to make the city's vision a reality.  This is where building projects are reviewed, permitted, and inspected. It's also the home for neighborhood inspections, ensuring quality-of-life standards for Denver's communities. Through each of these critical roles, Development Services helps to implement the city's vision for an outstanding Denver.

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! 

Residential Plan Review Senior City Planners are typically project managers who develop and contribute to interdisciplinary planning initiatives. The ideal candidate will offer experience in project management, zoning code maintenance amendments, and administration of zoning codes. You will be expected to develop an in-depth understanding of the Denver Zoning Code and development review procedures to serve as a subject matter expert for internal and external partners. In this position, you will be a key member of the residential plan review team, serving as one of the zoning code technical leads on the team.

Schedule: Hybrid, must work at least 3 days in office per week.  9/80 flex option available after successful completion of 6-month probation.

Responsibilities include:

Project Management:

Serve as a zoning code technical team lead on the residential team. Support external customers and internal staff in the administration of Denver's zoning code

Coordinate and manage a variety of short-term and long-term special projects, which may include business process innovations; implementation of new regulations; updating internal and external document, guide, and website language

Ensure consistent application of zoning rules and business practices by staff, which will include developing training materials and training programs, leading trainings, performing quality control reviews, making zoning administrator determinations, and assisting other staff with the preparation and review of work products

Serve as the residential team lead and representative on interdisciplinary special projects with an emphasis on planning and zoning regulatory projects.  Prepare, review, and comment on proposed zoning code text amendments.  Participate and may lead advisory meetings, stakeholder meetings, and committee hearings.  Work towards implementation of new regulations by updating processes, documents, guides, and training materials. Represent the residential team in weekly zoning technical meeting and meetings reviewing staff recommendations for variance cases

Zoning Reviews:

Review zoning permit applications for the construction of one and two-family residential buildings and associated accessory structures, with an emphasis on complex zoning projects, and projects requiring a variance, administrative adjustment, or zoning permit with informational notice. Review of one- and two- family applications that are referred to the residential team including rezoning applications, landmark reviews, site development plans, large development reviews, and vacation requests. Conduct zoning records research to verify zone lots, and existing permitted uses and structures

Review, examine, and interpret a wide range of construction documents and permit application materials for compliance with applicable codes, policies, and standards which include The Denver Zoning Code and Former Chapter 59 (the “old” Zoning Code)

Generate plan review notices (comment letters) that clearly outlines deficiencies in the permit application submittal and the corrections that are required to demonstrate compliance.  Comment should reference an applicable code and code section

Update the permitting system, Accela, according to department procedures and policies, including but not limited to creating and filling out permits, relating records, updating workflow, and invoicing fees

Assist one-and two-family customers with inquiries at the residential permit counter, via pre-application meetings, and via the general residential phone number and email.  This involves advising contractors, architects, engineers, builders, homeowners, and the public on the permitting process and code requirements

Interpret and explain a wide range of code requirements, permit application procedures, policies, and standards to the public, professional design consultants, project managers, contractors, city managers, and elected officials

About You

We value diverse perspectives and encourage candidates to apply even if you don't have all the desired skills. If you meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for the work, we encourage you to apply and to consider joining our team! 

To be successful in this role, you will have excellent customer service and interpersonal skills and an innate ability to deal with challenging situations and people with enthusiasm and calmness.

Our ideal candidate will have/be:

Experience reviewing and examining construction documents for conformance with zoning code regulations and/or drafting zoning regulations

Project management skills that include a strong attention to detail and being highly organized, with the ability to work independently and be accountable for overall function, program, and project performance

Strong research and analytical skills, especially in relation to zoning and other land use regulatory tools

Proficient with using MS Office Suite, Bluebeam, Adobe Acrobat, and experience using electronic permitting systems and programs, such as Accela

Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills; Ability to communicate effectively – verbally and in writing

Efficiently demonstrates excellent time/work management skills

Self-starter who is adaptable and has strong leadership skills

Problem solver that can envision various outcomes and plan accordingly to mitigate risky outcomes

Process improvement experience

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: Five (5) years of professional planning experience

License/Certifications: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment

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 multiple attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

Resume

Cover letter, telling us about yourself, your interest and relevant experience

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CE0429 City Planner Senior

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$74,417.00 - $122,788.00

Starting Pay

$75,000-100,000/year, based on experience and education

Agency

Community Planning & Development