Planner Senior

Salary to be commensurate with experience

The hiring range for this position is $77,695 - $97,119/annually

The deadline to submit applications is August 4th, 2025. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION / DEPARTMENT

Senior Urban Design Planners are subject matter experts who not only support department projects but represent the city on regional, state and federal teams. Senior Planners are expected to work independently while keeping their supervisors, managers and the director updated on potentially contentious and/or changing conditions.  

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Urban Design
The position generally manages planning and urban design related projects within the Planning and Business Development Department.This is a senior-level professional planning and urban design position, which performs a variety of design related workforboth the development review and long-range planning divisions. This includes thereview of development proposals from an urban design and landscape perspective,and development of design guidelines, long-range planning documents, comprehensive plans, etc. and other supportive graphics. The position is a key contributor to the departmentregarding urban design concepts by performing specialized, professional planning work fordevelopment the vision for the city’s physical growth, land use, urban design, infrastructure development, and promotes the best use of the city's land and resources by serving as aprogram leader. 

Essential Duties:

Oversees the city’s urban design efforts through development and implementation of the city’sstrategic growth, land use planning, resiliency, economic development, housing, transportation, andsupportive codes as defined by the City’s implementation strategy, the Unified Development Ordinanceand the Aurora Places Comprehensive Plan. Responsibilities may include directing and coordinating activities such as:

• Taking ownership of urban design elements on projects in the support of staff, city officials, boards, commissions, the public, and other stakeholders.

• Development Review team staff support, regardingdevelopment review projects, landscape review, design policies, and graphic software operating procedures for overall effectiveness and development of new programmatic approaches. 

• Preparing a variety of documents and visualizations for decision-making or marketing purposes.

• Gathering, interpreting, and preparing data for studies, reports and recommendations.

• Coordinating department activities with other departments and agencies as needed.

• Facilitating public engagement in planning process and policy considerations.

• Monitoring adopted plans to promote and facilitate ongoing implementation and continued relevance. 

• Participating in planning activities of neighboring jurisdictions; coordinating work with other affected agencies; assisting in the development of regional plans, as assigned.

• Making presentations to city management, City Council, boards, commissions, civic groups and the general public. 

• Interdepartmental coordination and support on varying planning efforts.

• Assistingsupervisor, manager and director with departmental administration including establishment of work program, allocation of resources and setting of priorities.

• Monitoring adopted plans, regulations and policies for continued effectiveness and relevance.  

• Developing recommendations to Planning Manager and Director when the need for code revisions areidentified. 

• Serving as a member of regional committees and task forces composed of City, County, Regional or State groups and as a member of internal staff and otherinterdepartmental committees as assigned.

• Preparing graphics, demographics and maps for a variety of reports, plans, grant applications, publications or meetings.

• Attending professional development workshops and conferences to keep abreast of trends and developments in urban planning.

• Acting as the design program subject matter expert for the department and the city.

• Other duties as assigned.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstratesrequired knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture, land-use planning, urban planning/designor a closely related field. 

Experience:  

• 4 years professional design experience in public sector planning or private planning consulting involving public process; or

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in a related field

• AIA, ASLA, RLA or AICP certification

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of planning laws, including their formation, process of adoption, application, and enforcement. 

• Knowledge and experience in long-term planning, public input and visioning processes, comprehensive plan formation and adoption, and ongoing implementation and monitoring of adopted plans. 

• Knowledge of personal computers and program-specific applications.

• Knowledge of the principles of land use and real estate development including entitlements, phasing, design, construction, environmental issues, redevelopment and historic preservation. 

• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and practices used in planning, design, construction, and maintenance of buildings, or other structures considering aesthetic and functional concerns.

Skills: 

• Public engagement skills including one-on-one, small groups and workshop-style meetings.

• Skilled at developing project budgets, scope and schedules.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite including In-Design, AutoCAD, SketchUp and GIS

Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with architects, contractors, developers, owners, supervisors, employees, regulatory and policy making bodies and the general public.

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Essential Personnel: 

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.

Physical Demands:

• Sedentary work lifting 10 pounds with or without assistance.

• Occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing.

• Vision for data analysis and preparation

• Dexterity to operate computer system and other related equipment

• Endurance sufficient to sit or stand and work at a computer for long periods of time.

• Speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens

Work Environment:

• Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment

Equipment Used:

• Frequently uses standard office equipment including computer, calculator, multi-line telephones, copy/fax machines and postal equipment.

• This position may require the incumbent to regularly use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.