Planning Supervisor - Planning & Zoning - Public Service & Zoning Administration

Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

What are we looking for?
We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:
This is advanced professional level planning work carrying out a variety of special administrative or functional responsibilities in the Department of Planning and Zoning's Public Service and Zoning Administration Division.

STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$36.49 - $49.22
$75,903 - $102,386

CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Performs intermediate supervisory and advanced level professional planning and zoning work under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes directing the collection, analysis, and compilation of technical data into plans to meet the County's needs; providing expertise in specialized areas of planning, zoning, development and preservation. Acts as project leader or work group leader and assists the division chief in carrying out the administrative responsibilities of the unit.

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Assists the Division Chief with supervision of the Zoning Administration section, which consists of reviewing zoning petitions including Conditional Uses, Variances, Non-conforming Uses, Temporary Uses, Administrative Adjustments, and Zoning Regulations/Map amendments for compliance with the Zoning Regulations/County Code, and consistency with the adopted General Plan.

Assigns work to subordinates, monitors for compliance with deadlines, reviews for accuracy and completeness and edits as needed.

Serves as project manager for the review of assigned zoning petitions.

Monitors the progress of all assigned cases and plans with respect to compliance with all deadlines for posting and legal advertisement.

Completes field inspections to verify site features and the posting of the property.

Communicates extensively (in writing, on the telephone, via email and in meetings) with attorneys, property owners, engineering consultants, and Subdivision Review Committee agencies.

Prepares technical staff reports for zoning petitions, including compiling the review comments generated by the various agencies of the Subdivision Review Committee.

Conducts administrative hearings in accordance with the Zoning Regulations.

Makes oral presentations in front the Planning Board and Zoning Board.

Assists the public at the Front Service Counter and responds to email/telephone inquiries.

Develops, directs, or participates in amendments to existing regulations concerning zoning, subdivision and land development.

Independently completes special projects assigned by the Division Chief or Director.

Assists the Division Chief with the management and training of subordinate review staff and with interviewing candidates for Division vacancies and performing employee performance evaluations.

Updates division applications, checklists, brochures and form letters, etc.

Makes contributions for policy and procedure formulation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position directly supervises multiple subordinate planning staff members.

Bachelor's Degree and four (4) years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Master's or Bachelor's degree in planning, environmental science, public administration, or similar field. Increasingly responsible experience in land planning or a related discipline.

Increasingly responsible experience in land planning or a related discipline.

Demonstrated ability to work independently.

Experience with the Howard County Zoning Regulations and/or administering, implementing, and drafting Zoning Regulations.

Considerable knowledge of principles, practices and goals of urban, regional and community planning.

Experience and strong skills in writing technical staff reports and presenting findings to the public. Supervisory experience and knowledge of supervisory methods and techniques.

Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of public administration.

Ability to interpret maps, plats, legal documents and development plans.

Ability to interpret and apply the various statutes, codes and regulations applicable to land use requests.

Ability to coordinate objectives from several sources with overall goals and ability to present the results of research and analyses in oral, written and/or graphic form.

Ability to compile, collect and analyze complex information and data relative to the review of proposed subdivisions and development plans.

Ability to analyze and evaluate the planning implications of social, economic and physical data.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read and interpret regulations and manuals, professional journals, technical procedures, environmental reports, and legal documents. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information to and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. Possession of a valid driver's license.