Assistant Planner

Assistant Planner – Permitting \& Compliance

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and our dynamic team of professionals seek a motivated Assistant Planner to provide support to the Permitting and Compliance Department.

The Assistant Planner is responsible for providing planning support to the department while maintaining positive customer relations via customer contact over the telephone, and through e\-mail to answer questions and provide solution\-oriented advice. The Assistant Planner will work with applicants to ensure their projects incorporate adopted plans by meeting code requirements while also helping to guide them effectively and efficiently through the environmental review and permitting processes, and to work directly or through memoranda of understanding with partner organizations to help them implement adopted plans. Extensive contact with the public is required.

Essential Functions, Roles, and Responsibilities

• Review plans and ordinances for consistency with the Regional Plan and evaluate potential environmental impacts.
• Directly or through a memoranda of understanding, collaborate with partner organizations to help them implement adopted plans.
• Work with applicants to ensure their projects implement adopted plans by meeting code requirements while also helping effectively and efficiently guiding them through the environmental review and permitting processes.
• Assist customers at the public service counter, over the telephone, and through e\-mail to answer questions and provide solution\-oriented advice.
• Manage assigned projects, including effectively scoping, scheduling, planning, and executing.
• Act consistently with TRPA’s goals and objectives as developed by the Governing Board while providing service of the highest level to our customers\- internal and external.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local jurisdictions, environmental organizations, business interests, and other agencies.
• Use sound judgment to determine when to make independent decisions and when to seek direction from management or other staff.
• Work on special projects or perform other duties as required.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in urban or regional planning, hydrology, geography, environmental science, natural resources management, or other closely related field and 1\-4 years related work experience.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to interact with the public in a positive, non\-confrontational manner. Capacity to manage conflict to an effective and positive outcome.
• Excellent organizational and record\-keeping skills. Has oversight and responsibility for project approval of multiple complex projects. Effectively interprets data dealing with complex problems and situations.
• Demonstrates critical thinking and analysis capability, synthesizes complex facts and issues in order to propose successful solutions tailored to competing interests.
• Has the organizational savvy to build allies and relationships across the Permitting \& Compliance department, other TRPA departments and programs, and partner agencies.
• Uses allies to build consensus and create results, is appropriately diplomatic, understands others’ roles and perspectives, and promotes projects and ideas across the Division, Agency, and the Tahoe Basin.
• Able to influence and motivate via oral and/or written communication. Demonstrates the willingness and availability to represent the Permitting \& Compliance department, and /or the Agency at public events and meetings as needed.
• Demonstrates initiative and personal motivation to be successful in the challenging and stimulating environment of the Tahoe Basin.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook and Adobe Acrobat. Working knowledge of GIS and experience with other computer database programs.

Physical and Mental Demands

*Physical Demands*: The essential function of the position requires the mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, mouse and keyboard; this position also works in the field (outside) and requires walking job sites, inspecting buildings, and other structures. May require frequent sitting, occasional standing and walking between work areas and property inspections may be required; driving to and from job sites; repetitive use of both hands, light grasping with dominant hand, finger dexterity in both hands is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard and to operate standard office equipment; visual acuity to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the phone or computer virtual software platform; occasional bending, stooping, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information; seldom lifting/carrying, pushing/pulling of 25lbs or less.

*Mental Demands:

• The essential functions of the position requires the ability to read and write both simple and complex material, perform simple and complex math calculations, and the ability to perform simple and complex tasks; complete forms, perform clerical tasks, analyze, synthesize and compile information, supervise, instruct and influence others; work with precision, follow instructions, meet time requirements, memorization and problem solving skills, and use of independent judgment. This position also requires the ability to verbally engage with a variety of individuals in person and/or over the phone and email and may involve heated discussion/disagreements and the ability to resolve conflicts.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in both an office environment with moderate noise, lighting and temperature conditions, and outside field work with exposure to heat, cold, wind, sun, uneven surfaces, and slippery surfaces and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Work includes the use of computer equipment. Work may be performed alone, with others, around others, and with verbal and face\-to\-face contact. Work may include extended days.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range is $61,068 to $91,603\. Starting pay is generally between the minimum ($61,068\) and the middle ($76,336\) of the range, with some flexibility, depending on experience.

TRPA’s excellent employee benefits package includes the following:

• 27 days Paid Time Off (PTO) annually for sick sick and personal time away. Accruals increase with longevity.
• 13 paid holidays annually.
• Money Purchase Pension Plan – in lieu of Social Security, the Agency contributes a dollar amount equal to eight percent of your annual salary towards your retirement. This plan has immediate participation and 100% vesting.
• Supplemental Retirement Plan – the Agency contributes a dollar amount equal to seven percent of your annual salary towards your retirement. This plan has immediate participation and 100% vesting.
• Group Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• A choice of four (4\) medical plans, with 100% employer\- paid premiums on select employee\-only coverage plans and partial coverage for dependents.
• High Deductible Health Plan with a contribution by TRPA to the employee’s HSA account.
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Short\-Term Disability.
• Long\-Term Disability (Voluntary).
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan (Voluntary).
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (Voluntary).
• Dog\-friendly employer.

THE AGENCY

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)—created in 1969 by a Compact between the states of Nevada and California, then ratified by the U.S. Congress—protects and restores the environment of Lake Tahoe. The Agency is the nation’s first and oldest Bi\-State regional environmental authority. TRPA is a one\-of\-a\-kind organization, not purely federal, state, or local, but a unique hybrid organization. The Agency works at the intersection of private and public interests to protect and restore Lake Tahoe, its environment, and its communities for generations to come.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Please visit our website at https://www.trpa.gov/contact/employment/ to read more about our Agency and to complete an employment application through our Career Center. Within the Career Center site, select the "Apply for Job" link. Please attach a resume of your qualifications, and cover letter describing your interest in the position in one document when you are completing the application.
• RECRUITMENT COMMUNICATION: Human Resources may contact you at various stages of the recruitment process if you meet the qualifications for the position. This contact will be via email or phone only. Please make sure your email address and phone number are accurate.
• We do not accept walk\-in or hand delivered application materials nor applicant calls regarding open, pending, or closed positions.

TRPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences within our workforce.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case\-by\-case basis.

All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.