Associate Planner

Description

Giffels Webster has an exciting opportunity for an Associate Planner to join our Oakland County office located in Birmingham, Michigan. As an Associate Planner, you will work with a wide variety of communities and public agencies on projects including community master plans, zoning ordinances, and development review.

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to work as part of a team on various planning projects and assist a wide variety of client types from small towns, rural communities, and large cities, to county governments and state agencies. Candidates should be able to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills and technical knowledge, attention to detail, problem solving and analytic skills.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Identify deficiencies in regulations and upholding development codes and zoning regulations
• Assist in master planning and provide plan review services on behalf of our clients
• Responsible for the oversight and development of less experienced planners and help lead the planning portion of a project, including limited billing functions
• Conduct field visits to understand proposed designs to inform plan reviews
• Research and analyze demographic, housing and development data and other relevant research and assessment duties to support land planning activities
• Prepare high-quality zoning ordinances, land use policies, administrative procedures, master plans, development review letters, economic development plans and special studies
• Review written materials and drawings and provide markups and/or instructions to team
• Mentor, teach, develop and empower less experienced staff and delegate responsibilities appropriately
• Prepare draft written correspondence, take meeting minutes, send transmittals and maintain organized project files
• Prepare written reports and recommendations, visual and graphic presentations to convey ordinance or master plan intent
• Attend and present at commission, council, planning and client meetings
• Communicate with contractors, architects, municipal engineers, developers and other consultants throughout plan reviews
• Review billing edits for specified projects

What we offer:

• Competitive Salaries
• Medical/Vision/Dental insurance
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off: Vacation, Sick time, Holidays, Birthday
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development and Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Employee Assistance Program
• Referral Bonus Program  

In-person collaboration and mentoring are paramount to the success of this position. With experience and the approval of your supervisor, you could earn the ability to work a hybrid schedule, up to two days per week remotely and three days in the office.

About us:

Come join our flexible and dedicated team, which was voted one of the Top Workplaces to work for seven years in a row (2017-2023) by the Detroit Free Press and most recently a Best Places to Work by Crain's Detroit in 2024.

Giffels Webster has a strong commitment to using multi-disciplinary approaches to making communities better. We are seeking team members who support context-sensitive solutions to project and client needs. If you are looking to put your skills to work with a highly motivated and qualified team, we want to hear from you!

Giffels Webster is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, age disability, veteran or any other legally protected status.

Note to Recruitment Agencies:

Only direct applicants will be accepted, unless a placement agreement is in place. If no placement agreement is in place at time of candidate submission, no fee will be due and no fee will be paid. Please do not forward resumes to our team members, partners or any company location.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Office Suite
• Degree in urban planning, urban studies or community development from a PAB accredited university or equivalent amount of applicable experience
• 3-5 years of practical experience in related work

Preferred Qualifications

• While not required, attaining an AICP accreditation is highly preferable