City Planner Job Description

City planning is how a municipality turns policy into physical reality. A City Planner translates the goals of a comprehensive plan into enforceable zoning ordinances, reviewed development proposals, and actionable staff reports that guide what gets built, where, and under what conditions. This role sits within a Community Development or Planning Department, answering to elected officials, appointed commissions such as a Plan Commission or Zoning Board, and the public at large. What makes it demanding is the breadth: one week may involve drafting subdivision developer agreements; the next, presenting mixed-use entitlement findings to a City Council.

As the City Planner, you lead the administration and continuous evolution of the municipality's land use planning and zoning framework, ensuring that development review, policy recommendations, and long-range planning align with adopted community goals. You operate across current and long-range planning functions, coordinating with department staff, outside agencies, developers, and appointed bodies to move projects from application to decision.

Career Impact: Earning AICP certification while managing complex entitlements and comprehensive plan amendments builds the kind of public-sector planning credential that advances careers across municipal, regional, and state planning agencies.

Business Impact: The land use decisions this role shepherds directly shape the tax base, housing supply, and infrastructure capacity of the municipality, outcomes that affect every resident and business within city limits.

Growth Opportunity: Experience owning both current planning (development review, code enforcement oversight) and long-range planning (comprehensive plan updates, area-wide studies) positions you for advancement to Community Development Director or regional planning leadership.

• Manage development review for routine to complex mixed-use, commercial, and residential projects from application through final decision.
• Review proposals for conformance with zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and adopted policies, preparing staff reports and recommendations.
• Present planning findings and policy recommendations to the City Council, Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and other appointed bodies.
• Administer the municipality's comprehensive plan through coordinated policy updates, ordinance amendments, and short-range planning initiatives.
• Confer with architects, engineers, attorneys, developers, and community groups on city development standards and entitlement procedures.
• Conduct site visits related to new development applications, building permit activity, and land use code enforcement matters.
• Coordinate with department leadership on budget preparation, work program development, and interdepartmental planning projects.
• Mentor and guide planning staff in decision-making, technical writing, and stakeholder engagement across division work products.

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Geography, or a closely related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of professional city planning or land use planning experience, with demonstrated exposure to development review or long-range planning.
• Working knowledge of zoning codes, subdivision regulations, and applicable federal, state, and local land use law.
• Ability to prepare and present clear written reports, ordinance drafts, and graphic displays for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Skill in managing multiple concurrent projects under time-sensitive deadlines with accuracy and independent judgment.
• Ability to facilitate discussions among stakeholders with competing interests and build consensus toward mutually acceptable outcomes.
• Valid driver's license or ability to obtain one, as required for site visits and inter-agency meetings.

• AICP certification or active candidacy, demonstrating commitment to professional planning standards and ethics.
• Master's degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• Experience supervising or mentoring planning staff, including task delegation and performance evaluation.
• Familiarity with multimodal transportation planning or corridor-level land use studies within a public agency context.

• Development review cycle time, measuring how consistently applications move from completeness determination to decision within adopted timelines.
• Staff report accuracy rate, reflecting the percentage of recommendations upheld without material revision by the reviewing body.
• Comprehensive plan amendment completion rate, tracking adopted policy updates against the annual work program.
• Code enforcement case resolution rate, measuring the share of open violations brought to compliance within the target period.
• Public hearing preparation score, assessed through commission and council feedback on report clarity and presentation quality.
• Typical tools: GIS platforms (commonly ArcGIS or similar); document and presentation software (commonly Microsoft 365 or Adobe Suite).

• Base Salary Range: $70,000 to $105,000 annually, depending on seniority and municipality size.
• Bonus: Merit-based step increases or performance bonuses common in public-sector compensation structures.
• Equity: Not typically offered in municipal government roles.
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; public-sector plans typically employer-subsidized.
• PTO: 15 to 25 days annually, plus standard public holidays and sick leave accrual.
• Common Perks: Pension or defined-contribution retirement plan, tuition reimbursement for planning credentials, and flexible scheduling.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment in this role is contingent on successful completion of a background check. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire.

The City Planner owns production scheduling and demand forecasting to satisfy customer orders in fast-paced manufacturing operations. Reporting to supply chain leadership, the planner coordinates with sales, engineering, and suppliers, resolving scheduling issues and inventory discrepancies to improve customer satisfaction and service levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform forecasts of product demand and plan production schedules to satisfy customer demand.
• Interface with sales to acquire information on future orders, market trends, and extraordinary circumstances.
• Reconcile incoming distribution orders with the order book and production schedule.
• Communicate production delays and respond to lead time, pricing, and shipment date inquiries from sales units.
• Maintain planner/buyer fields in systems and databases.
• Access systems for data and current inventory levels in warehouses.
• Resolve and document inventory discrepancies.
• Procure product from suppliers and vendors using engineering specs.
• Resolve scheduling issues with suppliers and perform service level evaluations of suppliers and vendors to meet customer needs.
• Establish sales price and communicate to sales and customers for made-to-order product.
• Perform monthly and quarterly reporting.
• Communicate effectively with the channel managers, leads, and management on any changes and/or issues that need to be resolved.
• Communicate and interface with engineering, sales, and supply chain to improve customer satisfaction.

Required Qualifications

• APICS CPIM Certification strongly preferred.
• 2 - 5+ years of related experience in production control, materials management, production planning, material scheduling, or purchasing in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment subject to rapid changes.
• Analytical capabilities, including data analysis to optimize performance and inventory levels.
• Proficient computer skills including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to maintain critical attention to detail despite changes in work scope or focus.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks based on demand.
• Ability to strategically plan at a high level and execute on tactical implementation while solving the challenge at hand.
• Problem-solving ability in a cross-functional and multicultural environment.
• Open-minded, collaborative, and team-oriented attitude with the ability to think outside the box for solutions to complex challenges.
• Self-motivated and strong work ethic with a passion for being hands-on in their work.

Embedded within a multidisciplinary planning team spanning transportation, land use, and urban design, the City Planner delivers research, analysis, and synthesis materials supporting multimodal transportation and land use planning projects. Working closely with public agencies, stakeholders, and firm leadership, the City Planner builds strong interpersonal relationships to advance business development and communicate technical findings through compelling written and visual formats.

Core Functions

• Support research and analysis work efforts to support integrated multimodal transportation and land use planning projects in a team environment.
• Develop synthesis materials in written, visual, and presentation formats.
• Develop strong interpersonal relationships to advance team-based problem solving and work product development.
• Support business development efforts firmwide with research, content creation, technical writing, and editing.
• Actively engage in professional organizations and continuing education within the field.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Planning, Engineering, Public Policy, or relevant field required.
• Master's degree is preferred.
• Certification or licensure in related fields (AICP, CTP, PTP, and/or PE) preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in transportation or community planning is required.
• A conceptual understanding of multimodal transportation and land use planning within the public decision-making processes necessary to create systemwide, subarea, and corridor-level plans and project priorities.
• Technical expertise in one or more of the following: transportation planning, transportation engineering, city planning, public policy, environmental studies, or other related disciplinary expertise.
• Proficiency in writing compelling content in multimedia formats that clarify key findings and include adequate technical depth.
• Adept at synthesizing complex technical information into clear, engaging presentations for a wide range of audiences.
• Proficiency in utilizing Microsoft Suite and Adobe Suite software programs for documentation.

Reporting to city leadership, the City Planner leads the review of development proposals for conformance with zoning regulations, covering mixed-use, commercial, and residential projects. Partnering with architects, engineers, contractors, and the City Council, the City Planner advises on development policy and presents recommendations that support quality real estate development citywide.

Primary Duties

• Manage routine to complex development projects including mixed-use, commercial, and residential.
• Review development proposals for conformance with appropriate regulations and consistency with established policies.
• Prepare reports and recommendations.
• Confer with and advise architects, builders, attorneys, contractors, engineers, and the general public regarding City development policies and standards.
• Perform site visits relating to new development applications, building construction, and code enforcement issues.
• Prepare staff reports and graphic displays.
• Research and draft ordinances for review.
• Make presentations to the City Council, Environmental Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, developers, community groups, and outside agencies.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in housing, urban planning, or a closely related field.
• A master's degree in a directly related field may be substituted for six months of the required experience.
• A member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
• Two years of increasingly responsible professional experience similar to the Assistant Planner position.
• One year of professional planning, housing, or closely related experience is required.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid driver's license.

Combining oversight of planning and zoning with building inspection and code enforcement, the City Planner leads administrative direction of the Community Development Department, guiding policy for long-term and current city planning. Operating across City Council, boards, commissions, and community stakeholders, the City Planner facilitates quality real estate development and serves as a key liaison to the Planning Commission.

Duties

• Manage the City's comprehensive plan through policies and ordinances of building and property inspections and zoning while coordinating short-term and small-scale planning initiatives.
• Assist the Community Development Director in tasks necessary for the Development Services Department, including preparation of a work program, goals, policies, and annual budgets.
• Plan, organize, direct, lead, and evaluate the work of the departmental employees in implementing the expressed goals and policies of the department, while leading and assisting with research, planning, and development for programs, policies, and projects.
• Promote and demonstrate a high level of customer service.
• Prepare memoranda, reports, and other documents for a range of audiences to support policy and plan recommendations, and present recommendations to the Council, Planning Commission, and other policy-making bodies.
• Administer program budgets, financial reporting and billing, and monitor contracts and billing from consultants and other third parties.
• Interpret and evaluate staff reports.
• Provide land use planning expertise to the community and stakeholders and manage the preparation of subdivision developer agreements.
• Keep immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing work process.
• Attend meetings, conferences, workshops and training sessions and review publications and audiovisual materials to become and remain current on the principles, practices and new developments in assigned work areas.
• Establish and maintain business and other outside relationships for the City and support the City's Mission/Vision/Values by personal example, encouraging others to do so.
• Manage and direct the review of complex development projects, neighborhood and area-wide plans and agreements submitted by public agencies, community groups, developers, designers and private applicants.
• Prepare and present accurate and reliable reports, containing findings and recommendations.
• Promote, pursue, and encourage teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Division while guiding staff in decision-making, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Requirements

• Knowledge of current practices in the operations of land use planning, housing, neighborhood development, permitting and inspections and code enforcement.
• Knowledge of appropriate federal, state, and local laws about community development.
• Demonstrate a high level of problem-solving, public presentation, and technical project management skills.
• Ability to analyze budget and technical reports.
• Ability to translate policy decisions into technical concepts and operating results.
• Has exceptional communication skills both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language.
• Ability to supervise, train, mentor, delegate, evaluate, and lead the work of others.
• Ability to resolve differences among competing points of view and develop commitment to mutually acceptable goals.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability to demonstrate integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.