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Grade 26
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CLOSE DATE
12/31/2023
SUMMARY
The City of Birmingham is looking for two well-qualified and motivated Senior Planners to join their Hazard Mitigation Services and Long Range Planning divisions. Both divisions are located in the Planning, Engineering and Permits department. Learn more about Birmingham, the position, and the tremendous benefits of being a part of the City of Birmingham team below.
The City of Birmingham is actively seeking Senior Planners to join their Hazard Mitigation Services (i.e., HMS) and Long Range Planning (i.e., LRP) divisions. The Senior Planner in the HMS division will focus on assisting in the management of hazard mitigation/disaster recovery programs and watershed/floodplain planning programs, including developing management plans, protocols, and procedures. The Senior Planner in the LRP division will focus on reviewing submission documents such as drawings, maps, surveys, and applications related to development projects to ensure compliance with City and department requirements and ordinances. Individuals in the Senior Planner job class also act as liaisons for the department to various committees, commissions, and citizens to communicate activities taking place, and to provide information related to project development within the community. The work of a Senior Planner is performed under the general direction of a supervisor and is reviewed for completeness and adherence to policies and procedures. 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.
Ideal/Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the minimum qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will have substantive planning experience specializing in any of the following:
- AICP Certified.
- Experience writing grants to fund public programs or projects.
- Certified Floodplain Manager.
- Experience writing hazard mitigation grants (e.g., FEMA, ADEM, EPA).
- Knowledge of how to read Hydrologic & Hydraulic reports.
Minimum Qualifications
To be considered qualified for employment consideration as a Senior Planner, a candidate must possess the following minimum qualifications:
Option A:
1. Driver's license.
2. Experience writing, developing, or preparing long-range planning elements, such as land-use planning, environmental planning, transportation planning, economic development, and demographics.
3. Experience collecting and analyzing data (e.g., demographic, land-use survey, market, census) in preparation for a planning study and presenting to a Board or Commission.
4. Experience writing, developing, preparing, and interpreting current planning functions or development regulations, including zoning and subdivision regulations.
5. Experience implementing long-range and short-range plans and/or hazard mitigation plans and developing appropriate regulations to specific situations.
6. Experience developing and delivering presentations to the public, public bodies, and other stakeholders (e.g., civic and business organizations, neighborhood associations, public hearings).
Option B:
1. Driver's license.
2. Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Environmental Management, or a related degree.
3. Experience writing, developing, or preparing hazard mitigation plans and/or long-range planning elements, such as land-use planning, environmental planning, transportation planning, economic development, and demographics.
4. Experience developing and delivering presentations to the public, public bodies and other stakeholders (e.g., civic and business organizations, neighborhood associations, public hearings).
THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO CLOSE AT ANYTIME.
JOB DUTIES:
Typical Senior Planner job duties include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Reviews drawings, maps, surveys, applications to ensure compliance with departmental requirements and ordinances.
- Communicates with various individuals (e.g., contractors, realtors, engineers, developers, general public, etc.) in order to answer questions and explain ordinances relating to flood plain, zoning, signage, subdivision, etc.
- Processes cases or projects by conducting research, analysis and findings of cases.
- Acts 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.).
- Manages Federal and State project-based grants to include defining and managing the project scope and deliverables, troubleshooting problem areas, and overseeing project budgets, timelines and contingency plans.
- Manages hazard mitigation/disaster recovery programs and watershed/floodplain planning programs, including developing management plans, protocols, and procedures.
- Researches and analyzes (or assists in researching and analyzing) various data (e.g., demographic reports, neighborhood revitalization plans) for strategic and long-range planning or ordinance revisions.
- Researches other adopted city or county long-range plans to ensure the site development plans/projects are consistent with the stated goals of the long-range plan.
- Reviews site and development plans for adherence to development regulations required through the Zoning Ordinance and, when appropriate, approves them.
- Conducts or participates in neighborhood or public involvement meetings to inform citizens about projects in their community and to obtain feedback.
- Interprets codes and ordinances to ensure compliance with applicable federal regulations and programs.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range: $55,328.00 - $85,820.80 (starting salary is commensurate with education and experience)
- 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.
- A City-sponsored pension retirement plan. The City of Birmingham provides a Tier 3 a“defined benefit” plan where employee retirement payments are computed using a formula that considers several factors, such as length of employment and salary history.
- Excellent medical insurance with employee monthly contribution as low as $32.50/month
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Behavioral health plan
- Group Term Life & AD&D Insurance, Voluntary Term Life & AD&D, Whole Life Insurance, and Short-term Disability options
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- Generous holiday schedule
- Membership and admission benefits for City attractions such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, Southern Museum of Flight, and more.
Website:
To learn more about the City of Birmingham, please visit www.birminghamal.gov .
COMPETENCIES:
- Adaptability & Flexibility.
- Computer & Technology Operations.
- Creativity & Innovation.
- Customer Service.
- Heavy Equipment & Vehicle Use.
- Leadership & Management.
- Mathematical & Statistical Skills.
- Oral Communication & Comprehension.
- Planning & Organizing.
- Problem Solving & Decision Making.
- Professionalism & Integrity.
- Researching & Referencing.
- Reviewing, Inspecting & Auditing.
- Self-Management & Initiative.
- Sensory Abilities.
- Teamwork & Interpersonal.
- Technical & Job-Specific Knowledge.
- Technical Skills.
- Training & Facilitation.
- Written Communication & Comprehension.
CRITICAL KNOWLEDGES:
- Knowledge of the principles of basic urban planning.
- Knowledge of laws, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to urban planning and land-use.
- Knowledge of basic grant writing principles.
- Knowledge of geographical information systems (GIS) computer system operations.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is conducted mostly indoors in an office setting, with periodic field visits to external indoor or outdoor locations.Work involves use of standard office equipment, such as computer, phone, copier, etc.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Job is primarily sedentary involving sitting for long periods of time, but may involve occasional walking or standing for brief periods. May involve occasional light lifting of items or objects weighing up to 25 lbs.
DISCLAIMER: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required to do the job and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.
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 ADAO@pbjcal.org, 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.
