Job Summary

If you are passionate about parks, trails and open space planning, development and stewardship this is a great professional opportunity. You will be working on projects throughout the county in a park system that is truly unique. Clark County Parks provide diverse recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike. The park system includes both urban parks, regional recreation focused facilities and more traditional natural resource-based parks in natural areas and along shorelines.

This position is located within the Public Works Department, Parks and Nature Division. If you are passionate about parks, trails and open space planning, development and stewardship this is a great professional opportunity. You will be working on projects throughout the county in a park system that is truly unique. Clark County Parks provide diverse recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike. The park system includes both urban parks, regional recreation focused facilities and more traditional natural resource-based parks in natural areas and along shorelines.

Planner III's perform the most highly skilled professional planning and development work in such areas as long-range park and trail system planning, park master planning, trail master planning, resource management planning and park development management to name a few duties.
Planner III’s are assigned to the most challenging projects and assignments, measured by a combination of the project’s complexity, scope, impact on the community or other relevant considerations. Examples would include major projects, controversial developments, those with the highest and most complex recreation system implications.

Employees in this classification may act in a lead capacity within area(s) of expertise and may direct the work of others within the Department that assist with assigned project(s). Being a highly competent journey-level planner with emphasis on a specific area is not sufficient alone to warrant classification at this level.

The Parks and Trails Planner III works under supervision of The Planning and Development Manager.

Clark County provides regional parks, special facilities, regional trails, greenways, and natural areas throughout the county, along with neighborhood and community parks and sports fields in or near the urban unincorporated area (Vancouver urban growth area). Additional information about the division can be found at -
https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/clark-county-parks

Clark County is the fastest growing county in the state of Washington. The county is home to over 525,000 people and continues to be a place where families choose to relocate when schools and housing prices are considered. The urban core of the county, the City of Vancouver, is situated on the north bank of the Columbia River just a few miles from downtown Portland. Vancouver has quickly become an appealing option to Portland given its modern Columbia River waterfront development along with its diverse collection of downtown shops and restaurants. Clark County also has vast access to natural areas including mountains, trails and countless miles of rivers for rafting, boating and fishing. For more information about Vancouver, Washington and Clark County go to www.visitvancouverwa.com.

This position is represented by Local 307CO - Washington State Council of County and City Employees.

Examples of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, develops and executes work programs, objectives, strategies and budgets for assigned programs and or projects where success or failure can affect general County activities, public concern, or the work of other Park and Trail Planners within and outside the Department.
• Interprets, applies, and thoroughly understands planning principles and practices, County code and state laws,  and the public outreach process.  Utilizes this knowledge within area(s) of expertise and provides highly technical advice and assistance to subordinates, other sections, County officials and staff.
• Possesses, applies, and thoroughly understands design skills within park and trail planning and development to provide highly technical advice and assistance to subordinates, team members, project partners, County officials and staff.
• Manages major project(s) with broad public impact or  highly controversial with the public/outside agencies or manages multiple projects that require a high level of proficiency within park and trail planning and development.  Projects managed may or may not require management of grants.
• Recommends Department policy within area(s) of expertise.
• Communicates both verbally and in writing highly complex planning issues in a professional and concise manner that is easily understood by all interested parties, i.e. peers, Board of County Commissioners, neighborhood associations, general public, etc.  Able to maintain this level of communication and maintain composure i.e. not take criticism personally, in a variety of controversial and emotionally charged situations.
• Develops and maintains effective relations with the public.  Represents Parks and Lands on various committees; at neighborhood organization and community meetings; public hearings; before governmental bodies and in legal process.
• Prepares complex technical planning and administrative reports, special studies; conducts assessments; prepares inventories and statistical information necessary for future park and trail planning; develops critical correspondence an comprehensive reports in support of planning projects and decisions.
• Prepares graphic presentations and comprehensive reports on community characteristics relative to zoning, environmental and development challenges.
• Participates in securing Federal and State grants.
• Prepares recommendations relative to departmental policy; assists supervisor in reviewing planning and design studies completed by other staff members and provides guidance and assistance to less experienced staff members.
• Prepares and completes reports in response to local, State and Federal requirements.
• Plans special projects; researches, develops, designs and writes proposals;  prepares and implements "proposals" and/or "bid" processes.
• Participates in Citizen Steering Committee and Stakeholder Groups, leads public meetings; participates in defining project goals and objectives, implementing strategies and/or alternatives, and formulation of priorities for development of projects within own area of expertise.
• Evaluates program accomplishments against established goals and timetables and makes recommendations based upon evaluation, concerning future park and trail plans.
• Responds orally or in writing to inquiries of a routine to highly complex nature concerning land use codes.
• May plan, schedule, assign and supervise the work of subordinate Park and Trail Planning and Development team members, trainees and clerical personnel.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in planning, landscape architecture, engineering, architecture or a related field; AND two (2) years experience in a planning position comparable to a Planner II; or a Master’s Degree in planning, landscape architecture (or other discipline appropriate to the assignment) AND one (1) year experience in planning in a position comparable to a Planner II; or substituting, on a month-for-month basis, experience related to the duties of the position for the required education.

Selection Process:

Resume and other documents must be attached together in the 'Resume Upload' section of the application.  Multiple files are allowed, but all applicant attachments must be uploaded simultaneously, as there is no way to edit or append uploaded materials after submitting the application.

Application Review (Pass/ Fail) - An online application is required.  Attaching a resume does not substitute for a completed application; incomplete applications will not pass the application review.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Practical Exam (Pass/Fail) - This recruitment may require a practical exam which will be job related and may include, but not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Candidates deemed most qualified will be invited to participate in the remainder of the selection process.

Oral Interview - The interview will be job related and may include, not limited to, the qualifications outlined in the job announcement.  Top candidate(s) will continue in the process.

Employment references will be conducted for the final candidates and may include verification of education.

It is general policy of the County that new employees should be hired at the lower steps of the applicable range and advance through the range at the normal progression.

First review of candidates will be June 18th. This recruitment may close at any time on or after the first review date with no additional notice.

About Clark County Parks and Nature

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