Sr Planner



Sr Planner

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

10001

Department

Commissioner Precinct 4

Opening Date

03/16/2023

Closing Date

4/16/2023 11:59 PM Central

Max Number of Applicants

175

Position Description

The Senior Planner position offers an opportunity to be at the forefront of planning infrastructure holistically via data-driven and inclusive engagement approaches. The position will be responsible for managing planning initiatives, coordinating agency, stakeholder, cross-department/division workshops and meetings, supporting community engagement and public policy efforts, compiling data using Geographic Information Mapping (GIS) datasets and other GIS products, organizing presentation materials for the Infrastructure Division at Harris County Precinct 4 and represent the precinct on any appropriate boards and commissions related to planning and development.


Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

Requirements

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree in urban/regional planning, geography, public policy, civil engineering, landscape architecture, or a related field of study.

  • Three (3) years of project management experience in urban planning, public administration, civil engineering, landscape architecture, or a related practicing discipline.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of planning theories, principles, practices, research methodologies, quantitative and qualitative data and policy analysis related to transportation, housing, parks and greenspace, economic development, land use, water resources/conservation, urban resilience, regional science, and/or land development planning.

  • General knowledge related to transportation programs at the federal, state, and local level and best practices in transportation planning, economics, and design.

  • Knowledge of principles and practices of project management and community engagement best practices.

  • Ability to utilize data analysis and data visualization systems to create databases and summarize data analyses.

  • Ability to use basic to intermediate features of Microsoft Office Suite, primarily MS Excel and MS Word.

  • Ability to work with sociodemographic data and utilize ArcGIS Pro or ArcMap.

  • Ability to work in Adobe Creative Suite and adherence to best practices in visual communications.

  • Effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to organize, synthesize, and analyze information to prepare recommendations.

  • Support project tasks and meeting scheduling and maintain a professional demeanor in stakeholder and working group meetings.

  • Ability to design survey instruments and deploy platforms.

  • Ability to contribute to a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.



NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Education:

  • Master’s degree in urban/regional planning, geography, public policy, civil engineering, landscape architecture, or a related field of study.

Experience:

  • Five (5)+ years of professional experience in urban/regional planning, public administration, civil engineering, landscape architecture or a related practicing discipline.

  • Experience coordinating project tasks, data collection, meetings and communications, and instructing junior level staff.

  • Experience drafting scopes of work for professional services and coordinating the procurement process and contracts, including deliverable review and invoices.

  • Experience drafting project reports, staff reports, technical memos, grant applications, and communications for presentations within the organization or with community groups.

Certifications:

  • Credential by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Professional Engineer (PE), Professional Landscape Architect (PLA) or ability to acquire professional certification within 1 year of hire in the candidates’ field of study or practicing discipline.

General Information

Physical Demands:

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 sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; and talk and hear. 

  • The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. 

  • The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

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.

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

  • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


Employment may be contingent on passing a drug test and meeting other standards.

 

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

BENEFITS
Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.
 
The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Wellness
  • Life Insurance
  • Long-term disability
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 10 days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service. Accrual rates increase based on years of service.
  • 10 county holidays plus one (1) floating holiday
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
  • Healthcare Reimbursement Account
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:
  • Retirement pension (TCDRS)
    •  Flexible schedules (varies by department)
      • Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:

01
Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?
  • High School or GED diploma
  • Associate Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree or higher
  • None of the above
02
If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?
  • Urban/Regional Planning
  • Geography
  • Public Policy
  • Civil Engineering
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Other Related Field
  • Unrelated Field
  • N/A; No Degree
03
Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.
04
Which of the following best describes your verifiable project management experience in urban planning, public administration, civil engineering, landscape architecture, or a related practicing discipline? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)
  • Less than three (3) years
  • Three (3) years but less than four (4) years
  • Four (4) years but less than five (5) years
  • Five (5) years or more
  • I do not have this experience
05
Please provide details about your verifiable project management experience in urban planning, public administration, civil engineering, landscape architecture, or a related practicing discipline. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
06
Do you have experience coordinating project tasks, data collection, meetings and communications, and instructing junior level staff?
  • Yes
  • No
07
Please provide details about your verifiable experience coordinating project tasks, data collection, meetings and communications, and instructing junior level staff. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
08
Do you have experience drafting scopes of work for professional services and coordinating the procurement process and contracts, including deliverable review and invoices?
  • Yes
  • No
09
Please provide details about your verifiable experience drafting scopes of work for professional services and coordinating the procurement process and contracts, including deliverable review and invoices. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
10
Do you have experience drafting project reports, staff reports, technical memos, grant applications, and communications for presentations within the organization or with community groups?
  • Yes
  • No
11
Please provide details about your verifiable experience drafting project reports, staff reports, technical memos, grant applications, and communications for presentations within the organization or with community groups. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
12
Are you able to work with sociodemographic data and utilize ArcGIS Pro or ArcMap?
  • Yes
  • No
13
Are you able to work in Adobe Creative Suite and adherence to best practices in visual communications?
  • Yes
  • No
14
Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced: A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate: A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic: A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level: A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.
  • Advanced
  • Intermediate
  • Basic
  • Entry Level
  • Not proficient

Required Question

Agency
Harris County
Address
1111 Fannin St
Ste. 600
Houston, Texas, 77002
Phone
713-274-5445