LEAD PLANNER

Lead Planner - (PCD) GRANT FUNDED

Recruitment #2201-2613-001

Introduction


PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION (PCD)

***GRANT FUNDED***

The Community Development Lead Planner is a key position within the Housing and Community Development Department’s Planning and Community Development Division.  The Lead Planner oversees vendor solicitations, bid processes, and manages community development projects related to public facility construction and rehabilitation, community improvements, and other activities.

Qualified candidates will have prior experience overseeing City procurement activities, excellent documentation and contract management skills, and familiarity with HUD and City of Tucson compliance requirements. Prior experience administering Community Development Block Grant funds is preferred, but not required.

General Description

Leads planners in providing support for a variety planning projects. Reviews proposed projects for compliance with codes, area plans and policies.  Coordinates projects and collects technical information. Provides assistance to the public regarding zoning, land use, water, or other issues.

Essential Functions

This is a lead position affording guidance to other positions performing the same tasks. This lead position also reviews workloads, assigns work and coaches employees with specialized instructions and practices for job accomplishments. Lead personnel may contribute to other employees' performance evaluations, assist with the hiring process by interviewing and making recommendations and providing input to supervisory staff.

Reviews and evaluates plans and sites by analyzing development projects, deciding potential impact of proposals, reviewing proposed rezoning, annexations, and land sales/trades, visiting sites, preparing reports of potential impacts, making improvement recommendations, and meeting with applicants to discuss decisions.

Conducts analysis of complex urban issues utilizing geographic, demographic and economic data using ArcGIS.

Compiles and integrates geospatial data from a wide variety of sources for analysis.

Reads and interprets data from spatial and non-spatial databases.

Coordinates various projects by conducting research, collecting technical materials, and meeting with businesses and organizations. Presents multi-media materials, makes recommendations for programs, and coordinates special events to promote programs.

Provides assistance to the public by providing information on project issues, preparing maps and other digital information, logging complaints into a database, and communicating case information updates to related parties.

Testifies in court to present evidence, approves vendor payments, provides assistance with grant applications, assists with writing new area plans and policies, and provides technical assistance as needed.

Reviews and evaluates proposals such as plan amendments, zoning code text amendments, and various City standards by conducting    research, collecting materials, coordinating public involvement and making recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education Level & Type: Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Experience Qualifications: At least 3 years experience in community development planning

An equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position may be considered.

Special Job Requirements

· Exceptional customer service and documentation skills

· Excellent organizational skills to deliver multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities on time and in compliance with federal and local requirements

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Prior experience in public facilities or other community development project management

· Perform tasks relating to HUD and the EPA's environmental processes.

· Perform tasks relating to the City's Historic Preservation regulations.

· Assess and incorporate the appropriate mitigation measures relating to Asbestos and Lead Based Paint in determining the scope of work.

· Perform inspections to determine the necessary scope of repairs, develops work specifications and projects job cost estimates. This requires knowledge of construction and the ongoing knowledge of current building codes and ordinances.

· Underwrite and prepare loan and lien documents.

· Coordinate the construction with inspector/estimators to insure that the project proceeds as intended, process change orders as deemed necessary to insure that funds are managed appropriately

· Maintain project case files form inception to completion, including but not limited to IDIS open/close, lien and project database management.

· Perform general assistance to clients relating to intake, applications, eligibility and other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

At least three (3) years prior experience managing community development projects including oversight and administration of public facility contract processes

At least two (2) years prior experience managing capital improvement projects using HUD Community Development Block Grant funds

Direct Federal program administration experience related to housing and community development

At least one (1) year prior experience using HUD’s Integrated Distribution and Information System (IDIS).

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and GIS products

Selection Plan

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated on the education and work experience in their employment profile and the responses to their supplemental questions. The highest scoring applicants will then be invited to participate in a Virtual Oral Board Interview process.

  • Virtual Oral Board Interviews will be held the week of February 7, 2022 

Hiring Interviews may be conducted.

An applicant's placement on the list will be based on their final score which will be calculated as:

  • 10% of your rating for Training and Experience
  • 90% of your Oral Board interview

This recruitment will establish a civil service list that will be utilized to fill vacancies occurring within the next 6 months.

Veterans, Native American, or Disability preference points will be added to the final score for those that are placed on the Civil Service Employment List.  If you qualify for preference points as outlined in the Employment Profile, you may bring a copy of your documentation on the date of your oral board interview.  The DD214 must be a copy that indicates characterization of service.  

If you are in need of Americans with Disabilities Act-related accommodation during the testing process, please email neil.nickol@tucsonaz.gov  at least 48 hours prior to the evaluation.

**The City of Tucson values the safety of our employees, our residents, our community, and our visitors. In support of these values, if you are selected for this job, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the City of Tucson.**

Conclusion

You are highly encouraged to print this bulletin because it contains important testing dates and information that you will need to refer to later, as it will not be available after the closing date.

Communication throughout this process will be sent via email exclusively so please ensure your browser accepts emails from HCDDjobs@tucsonaz.gov and check your email account regularly.  Failure to respond or follow instructions will result in disqualification.  All email inquiries should be directed to Neil.Nickol@tucsonaz.gov.

Pre-employment Medical Testing Requirements

None

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To ensure accurate payroll information for tax purposes, the successful candidate will need to provide their original Social Security Card or original letter from the Social Security Administration with their social security number prior to beginning work with the City of Tucson.

The City of Tucson hires lawful workers only - US citizens or nationals and non-citizens with valid work authorization - without discrimination. Federal immigration laws require all employers to verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. In its efforts to meet the law's requirements, the City of Tucson participates in the E-Verify program established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to aid employers in verifying the eligibility of workers.

Retired City of Tucson employees receiving benefits from the Tucson Supplemental Retirement System who are considering reemployment with the City should be aware that pursuant to Section 22-37(g) of the Tucson City Code, retirement benefits shall be suspended during the period of reemployment with the City of Tucson unless you have been separated at least twelve consecutive months before returning to work AND you return to a non-permanent employment classification. Creditable service does not accrue during any reemployment period.