Planner - Senior
Department: Community Development
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The City of St. Cloud is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Planner to join our Community Development team. This position is responsible for performing diverse and complex planning assignments that require extensive coordination with City departments, local and regional jurisdictions, and other agencies. The Planner plays a critical role in optimizing the effectiveness of the City’s land use, infrastructure, growth, and development while ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of our community.
What We’re Looking For:
Strong knowledge of land use planning, zoning, and municipal development processes.
Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
Experience collaborating with diverse teams, agencies, and community stakeholders.
Our Organizational Values:
At the City of St. Cloud, we are guided by our core values:
Accountability – Taking responsibility for our work and the impact on our community.
Empowerment – Encouraging employees to take initiative and make informed decisions.
Innovation – Developing creative and effective solutions to support growth and development.
Ownership – Taking pride in shaping a safe, sustainable, and vibrant community.
Why Join Us:
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the long-term planning and development of the City of St. Cloud. You will work in a collaborative environment that values professional growth, public service, and making a meaningful impact on the community.
The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.
- Manages multiple development applications and special projects as assigned. Involves continual coordination with applicant, intergovernmental agencies and other professional affiliates and organizations.
- Conducts planning and zoning review for building permits and development applications. Serves as planning liaison for intergovernmental review and coordination.
- Provides professional and technical assistance to public inquiries related to planning.
- Drafts technical and regulatory reports, including but not limited to ordinances, moratoriums, staff reports, interlocal and development agreements.
- Researches and analyzes data to help inform strategic developments using a variety of statistical resources, including but not limited to Census data and Geographic Information Systems.
- Makes presentations to City boards, stakeholder groups and the general public.
- Advises officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, and possible alternatives; and discuss the purpose of land use projects such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses.
- Prepares and coordinates amendments to the City's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
- Conducts field surveys and investigations, surveys, impact studies or other research in order to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory and physical factors affecting land use.
- Performs related work as assigned.
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in planning (A Master's Degree from a program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board is highly desirable) plus two (2) years of post-degree professional planning experience; or
- Bachelor's Degree (Master's Preferred) from an accredited college or university plus three (3) years of professional planning experience; or
- Possession of any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Preference will be given for possession of an active certification with the American Institute of Certified Planners.
- Must possess and maintain a valid Florida state Driver's License with an approved driving history.
General Knowledge and Skills:Principles, practices and trends of public planning; Statistical research methods as applied to the collection and tabulation of data affecting public planning; Working knowledge of laws and regulations governing planning in the State of Florida; Demonstrated computer skills, including proficiency in productivity applications.
Purposes and policies, procedures and regulations of municipal planning and zoning administration; Principles and techniques of gathering and analyzing data; Basic statistical methods and procedures used in preparation of planning studies; Techniques of public presentation; Demonstrated experience with geographic information systems applications.
Long range and regulatory planning practices; Thorough knowledge of laws and regulations related to and governing planning and zoning in the State of Florida.
Abilities:Collect, analyze and compile, organize and present technical statistical and related information pertaining to planning and zoning research; Interpret, apply and explain laws, rules, regulations and ordinances; Prepare concise written and oral reports; Participate in planning presentations before Committees/Boards/Councils; Provide services to the public in a courteous and effective manner; Participate cooperatively and effectively as a contributing team member; prepare rough charts, maps and other graphic illustrations; Apply laws and ordinances and conduct field investigations as may be required; Produce acceptable work within a reasonable timeframe; Input, retrieve and analyze data utilizing a computer.
Organize and present planning research studies; Collect, analyze, compile and arrange technical, statistical and related information for planning and zoning research; Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, officials and personnel from other departments and agencies; Interpret maps and aerial photos; Speak effectively before groups.
Present major planning studies analyses and report Committees/Boards/Councils; Complete complex assignments, determine alternative choices and make recommendations; Write, interpret, apply and explain complex rules, laws, regulations and ordinances; Prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports, ordinances, resolutions, and plans; Interpret and consistently apply provisions of laws, regulations and policies; Understand and relate to others the concepts, aims and principles of land use planning and zoning; Speak effectively before large groups; Provide leadership to team efforts; undertake a minor supervisory role as demanded.
Physical Environment:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
