Job Summary
Bring your planning expertise to the forefront of community development with El Paso County! As an Associate Planner, Planner, or Senior Planner, you will help shape the future of our communities by guiding development projects from concept to completion. In this role, you'll review zoning applications, plats, and development plans to ensure alignment with County codes and the Master Plan while serving as the primary contact and project manager for complex projects.
You'll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, present recommendations to boards and decision-makers, and play a key role in balancing growth, innovation, and community vision. This position offers the opportunity to solve complex challenges, mentor fellow planners, and grow within a clearly defined career progression path.
If you're ready to make a lasting impact where planning meets possibility, El Paso County, CO is the place to build your future. Every great community starts with a planner. Are you ready to be that person?
All candidates must provide a Staff report you have composed or compiled and/or a project you have reviewed at the time of application submission.
Associate Planner
Hiring Range: $62,000.00 - $70,000.00 Annually
Planner
Hiring Range: $74,000.00 -- $81,000.00 Annually
Senior Planner
Hiring Range: $83,000.00 - $90,000.00 Annually
This position has an anticipated work schedule of Monday -- Friday, 7:30am -- 4:30pm; subject to change.
Please be advised this position may close without advance notice, should we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications.
This planning position primarily focuses on providing information to the public regarding development regulations either in person, by telephone, or via email, and secondarily focuses on the review of land use applications for consistency with County policies and the Land Development Code. This position independently reviews and analyzes applications, plans, regulations, and other information and has the discretion and independent judgment to formulate recommendations regarding applications for moderately complex and occasionally controversial Site Development Plans, Uses by Special Review (USRs), subdivisions and other land development matters. Provides front counter assistance to walk-in customers regarding various land use questions and requests. Provides customer service as a member of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT). Employment is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies detailed in the Personnel Policies Manual (PPM). This position requires regular in-person presence as an essential job function.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
Independently reviews and analyzes data and formulates recommendations with respect to site development plans, USRs, replats, land development, and other planning issues.
Serves as Project Manager and provides the MDT members and customers with feedback on project requirements at Team Early Assistance meetings, including approvals required, project feasibility, distribution needs, application cost, and timeline estimates.
Responsible for reviewing projects for consistency with all applicable adopted plans, codes, and standards, identifying any related issues, and making appropriate recommendations. Identifies acceptable options for project design and clarification on code interpretations and specific code language.
Responsible for actively participating in and making agreements, decisions, or commitments within the regulatory framework for an assigned project.
Responsible for being fully prepared for a project meeting, including understanding the project, researching current and historical information, and evaluating applicable Codes, County policies, and regulations.
Responsible for briefing their replacement when they cannot attend a scheduled project meeting.
Serves as the single point of contact for the customer and staff and keeps the team members informed of separate discussions and decisions with the customer when the team member is not present.
Responsible for the project team meeting the project schedule, including completing assignments by the established deadlines.
Responsible for inputting accurate information into the project tracking system.
Facilitates communications with public and private entities and individuals regarding land development, planning goals, and specific projects.
Prepares for public hearings by researching and preparing written reports to be submitted to the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, and Board of County Commissioners.
Facilitates the presentation of projects to the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, and Board of County Commissioners.
Advises engineers, site planners, and others engaged in development on proper land use and conformance with the Land Development Code.
Assists in special projects, including revisions to the Land Development Code.
Provides front counter, telephone, and web-based assistance and project scoping to customers regarding various land use questions and requests.
Works independently with Planning Customers and Clients.
Performs other duties as required
Additional Planner Functions:
Responsible for coordinating projects from pre-application assistance to project close-out; reports project needs and solutions, as well as code shortcomings.
Assembles appropriate MDT to perform team-based project Early Assistance for the customer; organizes and facilitates the functions of MDTs.
Provides MDT and the customer with accurate feedback on project requirements at Team Early Assistance. Schedules and chairs project meetings, requests assignment of appropriate MDT members, and ensures the appropriate levels and functions of staff are present at project meetings to facilitate decision-making. Responsible for moving projects in meetings to decision-making. Documents meeting results; prepares a tailored "road map" to assist the customer with processing a future application.
Coordinates processing and review of sketch plans, rezoning, preliminary plans, final plats, and related administrative and construction applications through the development review system.
Coordinates processing and review of administrative actions and related construction permits, consisting of complex Type B or simple Type C projects through development review system.
Coordinates input of technical review agencies and the public; meets with customers and staff of various agencies and County departments to ensure that issues are resolved, an efficient process is followed, and projects are reviewed within agreed upon timelines.
Independently reviews and analyzes data; formulates recommendations relating to occasional complex and controversial zoning applications, new subdivisions, land development, and other planning issues.
Responsible for reviewing projects for consistency with applicable adopted plans, codes, and standards, as well as preemptively identifying any related issues.
Identifies and proactively presents acceptable options for project design and clarification on code interpretations and specific code language.
Reports project needs and solutions as well as code shortcomings.
Communicates with public and private entities and individuals regarding land development, planning goals, and specific projects.
Prepares and presents staff reports to the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and the Board of County Commissioners for items being processed through the development review system.
Advises engineers, site planners, and others engaged in development on proper land use and c
