Land Use Planner

Job Summary:

AKS Engineering & Forestry has an immediate opening for a Land Use Planner in our Keizer, Oregon office. You will work alongside a team of experienced land use planners and other professionals providing support for a wide variety of site development and infrastructure improvement projects. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and love the challenges that comes with this type of consulting work, then this is an outstanding opportunity to work side-by-side with a well-respected and talented multi-disciplinary team of professionals in a dynamic organization.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in planning, landscape architecture, geography, or related field, or equivalent work experience is required.
• A minimum of 2-5 years of relevant experience performing land use planning/land development related activities.
• Experience interpreting and applying City and County Comprehensive Plans and Development Codes.
• Knowledge of Oregon’s Statewide Planning System.
• Work independently providing support to the Senior Land Use Planner(s) with minimal supervision while collaborating with other multidisciplinary team members.
• Ability to manage multiple and conflicting deadlines; and prioritize workload.
• Excellent written communication skills including letter and report writing, preferably land use permit applications.
• Excellent speaking skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with co-workers, clients, permitting agency staff, and other project team members.
• Displays critical thinking abilities and is a creative and realistic solution provider.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficient with word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and scheduling software (Microsoft Office Suite, Project, Adobe, etc.)

Job Functions & Responsibilities: This full-time position will provide support for site development projects by applying land use policy and regulations and managing the preparation of land use entitlement documents. Working with a Senior Land Use Planner, responsibilities will include:

• Performing timely and accurate property, zoning, and utility research by way of internet/GIS investigation and through telephone/in-person inquiries to ensure compliance with municipal land use regulations.
• Preparing, organizing, coordinating with project team members, submitting required materials (may include land use applications that require plats, rezones, conditional use, and site plan reviews) and coordinating pre-application conferences as necessary.
• Assisting with the preparation and submittal of high quality applications for complex technical land use permits and entitlements covering a diverse range of projects.
• Analyzing, assessing, and breaking down complex issues affecting property, transportation networks, utility infrastructure, etc. to respond to client inquiries, assessing the feasibility of property development, and creating a path forward.
• Effectively and efficiently coordinating with in-house engineering, surveying, and landscape architectural co-workers, permitting agency staff, and other project team members.
• Developing clearly written and detailed scopes of work for proposals.
• Coordinating with clients on project data and scheduling.
• Setting up, organizing, and attending neighborhood meetings.
• Creating, organizing, and maintaining project schedules, defining critical paths, and tracking milestone dates.
• Developing and maintaining effective positive working relationships with co-workers, clients, permitting agency staff, and other project team members.
• Taking personal responsibility for completing quality work within budgets and timelines.
• Able to travel out of town, overnight on occasion as necessary.