Planning Supervisor – Position #11780

The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission is seeking an experienced Planning Supervisor to join our planning team and help shape the future of one of the nation’s largest, most diverse counties. The Department provides land use planning for the physical development of Prince George’s County, Maryland. As the second most populous county in Maryland, Prince George’s has a population of approximately 900,000 residents and is home to The University of Maryland at College Park, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base. Prince George’s County is also home to many attractions such as FedEx Field, National Harbor, and Six Flags Amusement Park. Are you ready to make a difference in Prince George’s County? If so, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Planning Supervisor position.

We are looking for an experienced manager with outstanding supervisory skills to lead, support, and implement a variety of work programs and projects assigned to the Department. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of successful supervisory experience, strong management skills, effective stakeholder engagement experience, and the ability to work collaboratively within teams, across agencies, and with elected officials at all levels of government.

Job description:

The selected candidate will manage and direct the work program of a staff that includes Planner IVs, Planner Coordinators, Senior Planners, Planners, Principal Planning Technicians, and Senior Planning Technicians; prioritize the work programs and assist with budget preparations; serve as facilitator of multiple planning and implementation projects; monitor staff work performance and prepare performance appraisals; and represent the Planning Department on key issues and programs. The Planning Supervisor’s role will involve the supervision of work of significant complexity, responsibility, and technical and policy expertise.

The Planning Supervisor will play a leading role in overseeing the environmental review of various development applications that include, but are not limited to, detailed site plans, preliminary plans of subdivision, tree conservation plans, natural resource inventories and permitting. The selected candidate will also oversee staff’s support of various area and functional master plans as well. Additionally, the Supervisor will play a key role in the environmental policymaking and legislative decisions that affect development and planning in Prince George’s County. The position reports to the Division Chief and is part of the division management team.

Examples of Important Duties

1. Performs HR supervisory functions such as assigning work to staff; evaluating staff performance and preparing performance appraisals; recruitment and selection of staff; approving leave requests; recommending training; counseling and discipline; and ensuring adherence to Commission policies and procedures.
2. Prepares annual budget requests. Recommends work plan projects. Participates in consultant contract process including drafting RFPs, specifying contract language and processing change orders as necessary.
3. Develops policy and procedures for division in collaboration with the division management team to achieve work program goals and objectives.
4. Serves as project facilitator ensuring adequate resources to meet project objectives. Provides technical guidance on planning methodologies and approaches.
5. Manages regular communication with Department management and works with the Planning Board, County Council, and other high level public officials to keep them apprised of progress on planning projects and to elevate and resolve difficult planning issues in a timely and effective manner.
6. Responds to and/or oversees staff responses to sensitive and complex inquiries or requests for information from residents, community leaders, developers, attorneys, and public officials.
7. Reviews staff deliverables prior to submission including memoranda for development review and mandatory referral cases, correspondence with local and state agencies, environmental policy and infrastructure recommendations for countywide and community planning master plans and studies, and public engagement materials for various projects, among others.
8. Serves as a source of expertise in deliberations of the Planning Board, County Executive, and County Council. Serves on, or delegates staff to serve on, county and state committees.
9. Oversees Environmental Planning Section planning projects, including the review of development review applications, other various environmental applications, permit review, coordination with other agencies, preparation of the forest conservation annual report, and participation in the development of area master plans.
10. Serves as acting division chief when needed.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Urban Design, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Economics or any related field.
2. Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience that includes supervisory or project leadership and coordination experience.
3. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together totals ten (10) years.
4. Valid driver’s license (depending on area of assignment) in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations.  Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

Supplemental Information

Preferred qualifications:

• Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners.
• Proven ability to supervise, mentor, counsel and develop staff to meet work program objectives, in accordance with progressive planning principles and best practices.
• Knowledge and experience in environmental planning, specifically, woodland conservation or other aspects of natural resources protection; site plan review
• General understanding of the development review process, application of area master plan recommendations, and interpretation of county and state regulations.
• Strong communication skills, oral and written, and the ability to maintain collaborative relationships with elected officials and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to work with all levels of government and established communities in a diverse innovative planning environment.
• Experience in review of development applications

Supplemental information:

The Prince George’s County Planning Department is currently located in historic Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Free onsite parking is available for employees. The M-NCPPC offers a competitive salary range of $79,161 – $135,380 at the Planning Supervisor level with an excellent benefits package including generous leave, extensive health coverage, deferred compensation plan, employer’s retirement plan, and work-life programs. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. The Commission is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from underrepresented groups, females, and persons with disabilities.