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Senior Planner Planning Dept. Page 1 of 2 KLICKITAT COUNTY, WASHINGTON POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE: Senior Planner EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2010 REPORTS TO: Planning Director PAY GRADE: 71 DEPARTMENT/DIVISION: Planning Department FLSA STATUS: Exempt LOCATION: Goldendale POSITION STATUS: Full-time BASIC JOB PURPOSE/FUNCTION: Serves as a key member of the Department by providing advanced professional level planning duties to support the Director on a variety of projects and work to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Planning Department. This position performs in both land use planning, environmental review and fish and wildlife arenas. Duties can include coordination of land use application review, updates of comprehensive plans, ordinance updates, and providing staff support for the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and other Boards. Researches and analyzes technical data to apply development regulations to complex and/or highly sensitive development, construction and land use issues. Conducts short term and long range planning programs and projects. Performs other duties at the direction of the Planning Director. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES: 1. Reviews major land use applications and development plans for compliance with the County plans and local and state regulations. Develops recommendations regarding applications for development permits. Conducts land use pre-application conferences including but not limited to short plats, long subdivisions, conditional uses, variances, shoreline activities, boundary line adjustments, planned unit developments and binding site plans. Administers critical areas, shorelines, forest practices and flood plain review. 2. Provides staff support and makes recommendations to the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and Board of County Commissioners regarding specific projects and development plans. Provides technical advice and assistance to them in making decisions. 3. Coordinates processing and review of development plans and preparation of planning studies and reports with other County departments, local and state agencies to ensure consistency in the application of policies, regulations and procedures. 4. Conducts research and prepares reports requiring skills in research, analysis and development of statistical data, field studies, surveys and maps. Provides interpretation of state and local law to staff and the public. 5. Responds to inquiries from the public and provides information to property owners, developers and other interested parties pertaining to land use application review, ordinances or codes. 6. Researches plans, develops and implements Comprehensive Plan and Zone Ordinance updates. Remains current on information regarding growth management issues and incorporates into updates. 7. Insures that county policies are supported and recommends policy and procedural changes as necessary to meet policy objectives of state and/or federal laws. 8. Attends and participates in various meetings, conferences, and workshops and relates the County’s position and/or policy as appropriate. 9. Conducts site visits ---PAGE BREAK--- Senior Planner Planning Dept. Page 2 of 2 10. Primary responsibility for administration of critical areas ordinance including: interpretation of habitat information portrayed in GIS formats (Geographic Information Systems); field checking of the accuracy of the GIS information per site; visits properties that are the subject of land use applications; and coordination with natural resource agencies. 11. Assists in environmental review of projects per SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) and local environmental review regulations. 12. Primary responsibility for administration of shoreline regulations per the Shoreline Management Act and County Shorelines Plan. 13. Facilitates public comment and debate during public meetings and hearings. ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES: 1. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Planning Director. REQUIREMENTS/MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques and related tools/equipment to accomplish the basic function of this position, including any safety and/or legal requirements. This may, but not necessarily, include specialized skills. Training in or demonstrated knowledge of: basic principles of fish/wildlife biology; environmental impact assessment; ecological systems; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping; and software applications. Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the applicant with the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this job. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be Master’s Degree in planning or related field and two years planning experience; or Bachelor's Degree in planning or related field and three years professional land use planning experience. Licenses, Certificates, and Other Requirements Valid state driver's license in state of residence WORKING CONDITIONS: This position requires the ability to perform those activities to complete the essential functions of the job, either with or without reasonable accommodation. The work is primarily in an office setting, in the field over various field terrain and variety of weather conditions and requires attendance at meetings and/or hearings during day and evening hours. The position requires continuous and/or frequent talking, repetitive motions of hand/wrists, hearing, and handling. Mental activities required by the employee in this position include decision making, interpersonal skills, supervisory skills, teamwork, creativity, customer service, mentoring, use of discretion, presentations/teaching, problem analysis, negotiation, and the ability to perform math and to read, write, speak and understand English. Travel to/from night meetings and site visits/inspections in various weather conditions are required. Required physical activities can include frequent keyboard fingering, talking, repetitive motions of hands and wrists, sitting, hearing and lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying objects up to 25 pounds. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skills typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but is not and should not be construed an all-inclusive listing of responsibilities, skills, work requirements, or working conditions. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, individuals may perform other duties and Klickitat County, Washington reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties, and assign other duties as necessary, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the work load.