Community Design and Development Planner

Firm: Mariposa County Planning Department
Locations:
Mariposa, CA
Remote Work Options available

Payment: Paid
Category: Urban Design
Contact: Mikey Goralnik
mgoralnik@mariposacounty.org

Posted: Sep 21, 2022

Mariposa's Planning Department is hiring a Community Design and Development Planner I/II. This position will be filled at the I or II level.
Only online applications will be accepted. Apply here.
DEFINITION
Performs responsible office and field work related to physical form, landscape performance, and community design functions; supports the planning, community engagement, design, and construction of new and existing public parks, open spaces, and active transportation investments; contributes to the county’s creative placemaking efforts, including cultural planning, public art development, and interactive storytelling; assists with the selection and management of landscape architects, community planners, artists, and other planning and design consultants to effectively deliver projects; helps build coalitions with partner organizations, public agencies, and the community to achieve equitable and representative community design deliverables; pursues and supports the administration of funding from public and private sources to support new planning and design initiatives; integrates community design and planning investments into regional economic development strategies.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
As part of the Community Design and Development Planner series, the Community Design and Development Planner I receives supervision during various stages of assignments and is the entry-training level classification in the series. The Community Design and Development Planner II has greater latitude and independence in performing more difficult assignments and projects. The Community Design and Development Planner II works with the least supervision and on complex assignments, which require independent judgment, initiative, and is the fully qualified, advanced level classification in the series.
Community Design and Development Planner I – This is the entry-level in the class series. Employees learn and perform routine office and field duties associated with the position. Employees are given an increasing scope of responsibility and authority making recommendations within the range of basic functions and responsibilities commensurate with the duties associated with this position but are subject to supervisory review before implementing recommendations. Employees in this classification receive close supervision within a framework of well-defined policies and procedures.
Community Design and Development Planner II – This job class functions at a journey level of classification in this series, performing duties independently and exercising a significant degree of independent judgment. Employees are given a scope of responsibility and authority to make recommendations within the range of basic functions and responsibilities commensurate with the duties associated with this position. Employees are accountable for the recommendations and actions selected. May be assigned to serve as the department’s representative for collaborating planning efforts; may oversee, coordinate, or direct support staff assisting on assigned projects; may assist in the training of Community Design and Development Planner I incumbents.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from the Senior Community Design and Development Planner, Deputy Planning Director, or Planning Director.
This position does not supervise, but does provide advice and guidance on work teams that are assembled for a specific project or activity.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Depending on assignment, may:
• Develop and strengthen community organizations to promote and advise on design-related topics, including placemaking and urban design.
• Present project updates and recommendations to various Planning Advisory Committees, the Planning Commission, and Board of Supervisors.
• Contribute to the pursuit of funding from a variety of sources to support community design and placemaking initiatives.
• With supervision, produce and review draft project deliverables, including illustrative and technical graphics, planning documents, and other community design and development outputs.
• Apply current digital graphic design and visualization software, including Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign), Sketchup, Rhino, and Lumion to create clear, compelling graphics for public view.
• Coordinate with design professionals in the production and implementation of deliverables such as concept designs, schematic design packages, interactive stakeholder engagement strategies, and community planning documents.
• Collaborate with senior staff and contractors to devise and implement innovative, equitable, and effective stakeholder engagement techniques is necessary.
• Identify opportunities to build innovative and effective coalitions among community groups, including non-profits, private businesses, educational institutions, and county agencies.
• Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to both process geospatial data relevant to site selection and analysis, and produce accurate, compelling graphic maps and other documents. May be assigned to serve as the Department’s representative for collaborative planning efforts.
• Performs other related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience and Education:
Community Design and Development Planner I
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or directly related courses, one year of experience in the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, and/or community planning and design, and prior work experience with diverse stakeholder groups and government agencies. Public sector experience is preferred.
If you are using educational experience to qualify, your degree or transcripts must be attached to your application.
Community Design and Development Planner II
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or directly related courses, two years of experience in the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, and/or community planning and design, and prior work experience with diverse stakeholder groups and government agencies. Public sector experience is preferred.
If you are using educational experience to qualify, your degree or transcripts must be attached to your application.

Additional Requirements:
Possession of a valid driver's license is required.
This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Incumbents may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Note: The level and scope of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this section are related to the job duties as defined under Distinguishing Characteristics.
Knowledge of:
• National and state-level grant opportunities for a variety of topics such as green infrastructure, active transportation and recreation planning and design, creative placemaking, and related topics.
• Each phase of the project delivery timeline.
• Existing coalitions between local community organizations.
• Sustainable building and landscape modification practices and certifications, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Sustainable SITES Initiative.
• Best practices for community parks, open space, and recreation operation and maintenance.
• A basic understanding of local environmental, topographic, hydrologic, and climatic conditions.
• Appropriate techniques for environmental analysis.
• Principles, accepted practices, and techniques of planning and environmental design.
• Current and historic trends in Federal, State, and local planning.

Ability to:
• Receive minimal supervision in the pursuit of opportunities to increase the quality of community design and dialogue in Mariposa County.
• Support the management of complex projects from start to finish.
• Work with a wide variety of experts and practitioners to arrive at holistic, interdisciplinary solutions.
• Communicate clearly, using written, oral, and graphic techniques, with a variety of stakeholders, including Planning Advisory Committees, the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors, and county staff.
• Use appropriate computer software in the preparation of presentations, reports, graphics, displays, and maps.
• Contribute to successful securing of funding such as grants and private investment from a variety of sources to supplement county budget for community design and placemaking initiatives.
• Coordinate with architecture and engineering contractors and consultants design efforts and assist in developing budgets and deliverable expectations from concept design through construction observation.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Carry out the departmental and County missions.