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Pinellas County Government

Principal Planner

Nature of Work

Prepares and maintains elements of the Quality Pinellas Community (QPC) Plan and development of initiatives and strategies in response to Plan policies; QPC Plan implementation and monitoring; Conduct, and help manage, planning programs and special studies.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in urban planning, government, law engineering, design, economics, social science, geography, statistics or a related field and 5 years professional experience in urban planning management; or
• Master’s degree with major course work in urban planning, government, law engineering, design, economics, social science, geography, statistics or a related field and 2 years of professional experience in urban planning; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.

Appointing Authority May Also Require

• Florida Driver’s License or Florida Commercial Driver’s License and endorsement, if any.
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
• Other highly desirable knowledge, skills, abilities and credentials relevant to position.

Position Requirements

• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written form and in public speaking.
• Ability to produce professional reports and presentations.
• Firm knowledge of public planning principals.
• Knowledge of Florida planning law.
•  Knowledge of strategic planning.
• Efficient in use of basic Microsoft Office software products.

Highly Desirable 

• Ability to facilitate development, and assist in the preparation, of various elements of the Quality Pinellas Community (QPC) Plan through data collection and analysis, policy development, and coordination with staff from various County departments, outside agencies, and the public.  Ensure that the requirements of the Florida Community Planning Act are met when developing the Plan elements and that the tenets of sustainability are incorporated in issue analysis and policy development.
• Ability to assist in development and implementation of initiatives and strategies in response to the adopted QPC Plan elements and the strategic priorities identified by the Board of County Commissioners.
• Ability to conduct, and help manage, planning programs and special studies.  These could include, but would not be limited to, the County’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) program; responding to challenges of climate change, floodplain management, and post-disaster redevelopment; the preparation of community revitalization plans; adoption of community overlays; and the development and refinement of population projections and other demographic data.  Manage consultant contracts, as assigned, for these projects and special studies.
• Ability to coordinate and prepare work products with limited supervision and minimal editing.

Illustrative Tasks

• Facilitating development, and assisting in the preparation, of various elements of the Quality Pinellas Community (QPC) Plan through data collection and analysis, policy development, and coordination with staff from various County departments, outside agencies, and the public.
• Ensure that the requirements of the Florida Community Planning Act are met when developing Plan elements and that the tenets of sustainability are incorporated in issue analysis and policy development.
• Assist in development and implementation of initiatives and strategies in response to the adopted QPC Plan elements and the strategic priorities identified by the Board of County Commissioners.
• Conduct, and help manage, planning programs and special studies (i.e., County’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) program; responding to challenges of climate change, floodplain management, and post-disaster redevelopment; the preparation of community revitalization plans; adoption of community overlays; and the development and refinement of population projections and other demographic data.  Manage consultant contracts, as assigned, for these projects and special studies).
• Coordination with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on processing amendments to the Quality Communities Plan elements.
• Assisting staff in reviewing and analyzing proposed Future Land Use Map amendments and re-zonings.
• Coordination and preparation of work products with limited supervision and minimal editing.

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles and practices of local and regional planning, methods of collecting and analyzing planning data and preparing planning reports and studies.
• Ability to interpret and administer within delegated authority, applicable legislation, rules and regulations.
• Ability to assist in preparing new rules and regulations and initiating research and physical planning techniques in local and regional planning.
• Ability to address civic organizations and committees and present ideas and findings clearly and concisely.