Salary: $65,997.00 - $75,969.00 Annually Location : Austin, TX Job Type: Full Time Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid Job Number: 24-09493 Department: Planning And Budget Opening Date: 10/04/2024 Closing Date: Continuous Job Summary This is a professional position in Travis County's Economic Development and Strategic Investments Division of the Planning and Budget Office. The Senior Planner performs professional policy and planning work, including research, planning, and management of complex county projects, including economic development programs and policies and strategic planning of county resources. Tasks include research; data analysis; project management; facilitating public engagement; compliance monitoring; and creating and analyzing maps, materials, and reports to support all efforts of the office. This position is eligible for telework/hybrid work plan, with in-office work as necessary from a central office location as assigned (700 Lavaca). MUST LIVE IN or NEAR AUSTIN TX AREA. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This is the second in a series of three planner-related job classifications within the Planning and Research job family. This classification is distinguished by incumbents that typically have increased responsibility for planning, developing and implementing highly advanced complex projects and programs, and serving as project manager, and may make final decisions within areas of responsibility, and required additional education and experience. Duties and Responsibilities
- Plans, develops, scopes/phases, and implements new, enhanced, improved, or revised existing work, training, information systems or related technologies, or related short-range and/or long-range goals and objectives, strategies, strategic plans, standards, policies and procedures, continuous improvement, and budgets for highly complex advanced projects and programs. Serves as project manager and oversees major projects.
- Evaluates and coordinates projects and programs. Monitors project and program issues, and reviews plans and strategies for future project and program planning requirements.
- Manages highly advanced and complex projects and programs with broad scope, and major political, public health, safety, or welfare, transportation, parks, land development and the environment, community development, community health and/or strategic plan impact. Maintains responsibility for administration and recommendations for the complex research, rules, directives, policies and procedures, planning issues, operations, related budget issues and efficient methods, plans and designs. Oversees the analysis, operational issues, development and integration.
- Interprets and applies planning standards, principles, policies and procedures, practices, codes, Federal, State and Local applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations.
- Performs database management. Maintains databases and tracking and reporting systems.
- Performs complex project and program research and effectiveness evaluation, including statistical analysis, performance measures, goals accomplished, timetables, outcomes, and outputs to include selecting appropriate research design methods, techniques and procedures, setting up data for compiling and managing data, and data manipulation and analysis.
- Prepares and produces written summarizes, documents, and statistical and other reports to include conclusion and recommendations. Coordinates the development of and conducts presentations of complex analysis results before the public, Elected Officials and Commissioners Court.
- Interacts by working in partnership, on a regular basis, with community representatives or groups, departments, and outside agencies to obtain information, assessments, identify needs, and determine and ensure effectiveness and consistency of planning and meeting expectations. Ensures project phases are implemented according to timelines.
- Serves as liaison to various working groups, offices, governmental agencies and other departments. Applies skill and understanding to provide advice and problem solving assistance. Answers questions and projects and program goals and policy interpretation. Responds to difficult inquires and complaints.
- Uses complex computer applications and management information systems.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum RequirementsEducation and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Planning, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Public Policy/Administration, Government, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Business Administration or a directly related field AND six (6) years increasingly responsible experience with strategic planning, planning, research, project management, policy research and program development, including one (1) year of supervisory experience; OR, Master's degree in Planning, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Public Policy/Administration, Government, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Business Administration or a directly related field AND four (4) years increasingly responsible experience strategic planning, planning, research, project management, policy research and program development, including one (1) year of supervisory experience; OR, Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job. Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: None required. Preferred: Certification by the American Institute of Planners. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Knowledge of:
- Supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
- Public Administration and governmental agencies.
- Legislative process.
- Principles and techniques of planning.
- Modern planning research methods, data collection and analysis.
- Issues pertaining to area of assignment.
- Strategic planning techniques.
- Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
- Sources of information, current literature, and recent developments.
- Administrative and related business principles.
- Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, statistical packages, presentation/ graphics and related software applications.
- Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
- May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.
Skill in:
- Developing short-range and long-range comprehensive plans in development of innovative solutions.
- Program planning, developing and implementing.
- Statistical analysis and policy research.
- Analyzing and evaluating data, policies and technical issues.
- Creating and analyzing maps.
- Setting up systems for conducting analysis and compiling for reports.
- Coordinating the development and making presentations.
- Coordinating work of others.
- Conducting interviews and group meetings.
- Both verbal and written communication.
Ability to:
- Initiate and develop projects and programs.
- Apply knowledge to data, policy, and process analysis.
- Reach sound conclusions and make recommendations.
- Manage time well and perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
- Formulate broad perspectives.
- Interpreting planning and program objectives to groups and public.
- Bring together several viewpoints into a balanced position.
- Compile data and to write clear and comprehensive reports.
- Maintenance of appropriate records.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.
Work Environment & Other Information Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 5-20 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, occasional indoor/outdoor activities, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions. Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm Department: Planning & Budget Location: 700 Lavaca, Austin, Texas 78701 Criminal Background Check Required. This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position. Benefits Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment. FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees. Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits. Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction. Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit. Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family. Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction. Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs. Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year. Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County. The following benefits are employee paid:
- Dental
- Vision
- Supplemental Life, AD&D
- Dependent Life
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- Long Term Care
New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment. Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification. On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year. Parking A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex. Personal Holidays Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins: January - March 3 personal holidays April - June 2 personal holidays July - September 1 personal holiday October - December None New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment. Retirement Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees. Sick Leave Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis. Parental Leave Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work. Tuition Refund Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily. Vacation Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates: 0 to 5 years 4.0 hours per pay period 6 to 10 years 4.5 hours per pay period 11 to 15 years 5.0 hours per pay period 16 to 20 years 5.5 hours per pay period 21 plus years 6.0 hours per pay period Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis. Workers' Compensation The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work. 01 This position will lead the data analysis and visualization--including ArcGIS mapping--for decision making for a wide variety of community and economic development issue areas including but not limited to housing, transportation, amenities, etc. Please explain what interests you about this position and how you are uniquely qualified for this aspect of the role. 02 Briefly describe your philosophy of using community feedback to develop strategic plans. 03 Please describe any experience and/or training you have with group facilitation, public speaking, public engagement, teaching, presenting to governing boards and the public, and interacting with similar groups. 04 How many years of data analysis experience do you have?
- Less than one year
- One to three years
- Three to five years
- More than five years
05 How many years of ArcGIS mapping experience do you have?
- Less than one year
- One to three years
- Three to five years
- More than five years
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