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Planning Branch Manager (Planner V)

Fairfax County Government
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Join the Park Authority and our nationally recognized team of professionals! This position leads the Planning Branch in one of the most highly regarded park systems in the country. With over 420 parks and 23,000 acres of parkland that includes recreation and nature centers, golf courses, lakefront parks, and more, FCPA is an exciting organization to be a part of and there are many opportunities to make a difference. Provides oversight of the Long-Range Planning and Development Review Sections, who direct, guide, and manage complex planning and development work to inform park development across the county. With a focus on equity and One Fairfax, this position manages multi-discipline professional staff or planners and landscape architects in a team environment, collaborating with other county agencies and entities to conduct plan review and analysis, create site specific park master plans, long range park and strategic plans and report on park planning issues and projects to Park Authority Board, elected officials, and the Planning Commission. This position is an experienced leader who must be able to operate independently and collaboratively, exercising professional judgement and political savvy, and think creatively about how to influence the future of park planning in the county. 

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

  • Plans, supervises, and directs the work of a group of planners, technicians, administrative assistants, and/or inspectors in land use planning, zoning, research, public facilities planning, environmental planning and related projects;
  • Coordinates responses to complex planning, zoning and/or development review questions received by the Branch, Division and/or the Department;
  • Supervises report production and distribution, legal advertising, scheduling of public hearings, and/or posting of property;
  • Participates in negotiation sessions, meetings and conferences with the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, developers and/or citizens);
  • Prepares and presents reports to County Boards and other groups; Provides policy guidance and interpretations of documents and materials relevant to the specific
  • Division, such as the Comprehensive Plan and/or the Zoning Ordinance;
  • Presents staff's position at public meetings before the Board of Supervisors, Planning
  • Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and other bodies;
  • Reviews and/or edits complex documents land development proposals including land use, design, transportation, engineering, architectural, design, building plan components and/ or proposals in Commercial Revitalization and other special areas, including the capital improvement program, public facility site selection review, and trail planning efforts;
  • Assists in the establishment of policies, procedures and priorities for the operating programs of the Division;
  • Participates in the formulation, implementation, and maintenance of the Department's Strategic Plan;
  • Completes semi-annual and annual performance evaluations;
  • Hires new employees, including formulating questions, interviewing, and selecting employee;
  • Trains and mentors/coaches new employees within the Branch;
  • Reviews and edits all written documents produced by the Branch;
  • Represents the Division Director at meetings with County staff, developers, applicants, and citizen groups;
  • Represents the Department and the County in negotiations with applicants, citizens, County staff and others on specific areas of expertise as it relates to the position;
  • Provides expert testimony in a court-of-law regarding planning and/or zoning issues;
  • Reviews contract management tasks performed within Branch;
  • Authorizes payments to consultant contractors for professional services.

 

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

  • Thorough knowledge of the Zoning Ordinance, the adopted Comprehensive Plan and County policies and procedures as they relate to planning and zoning applications;
  • Thorough knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of urban planning and zoning;
  • Thorough knowledge of local government areas of specialization, including planning or zoning, management procedures, and principles of supervision;
  • Ability to write, proofread, edit, and rewrite documents effectively and to critique and edit the work of others in the series;
  • Ability to apply interpersonal skills to resolve conflicts and to maintain effective communication with staff;
  • Ability to supervise and coordinate the work of assigned staff, including making equitable assignments and assuring that deadlines are met;
  • Ability to identify process/ programmatic problems, to envision and propose effective solutions, and to apply consistently sound judgment in a variety of situations;
  • Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, elected and appointed officials, development representatives and citizen groups;
  • Ability to coordinate the preparation of comprehensive planning and technical zoning reports;
  • Ability to apply principles of leadership, creative problem solving, collaboration, decision making, and team building;
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
  • Ability to communicate Department's mission, goals, and values to staff, elected officials, and citizens.

 

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in a planning related field; Plus, seven years of experience in a planning-related field including two years increasingly responsible experience with leading teams, project management and/or staff management.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

  • Master's degree in planning, landscape architecture, urban design, environmental science, or related area. Professional Landscape Architect (PLA) or Certified Planner (AICP) preferred. 
  • Experience leading a team of professional staff including developing work plans, mentoring, and coaching junior planning staff, and overseeing a broad range of planning work from long range planning and master planning to development reviews and zoning evaluations. 
  • Experience incorporating racial and social equity into planning and design for parks, trails, and/or public spaces. 
  • Experience leading public engagement efforts on highly complex plans.
  • Experience independently performing park planning work including special studies, master plans, and development review cases for public land. 
  • Proficiency using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), online survey and public input software, and Microsoft Productivity software including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams. 
  • Familiarity using and updating databases is also preferred. 
  • Must have strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.


 

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

None
 

 

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Position is generally sedentary in nature; however, site visits may require individual to walk through parks, stream valleys, and environments that are rough or uneven terrain. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
 
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.
 
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.
 
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
 
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov  EEO/AA/TTY.