Senior Planner

SENIOR PLANNER – City of Lone Tree

At the City of Lone Tree, we are committed to hiring individuals who are passionate about community, eager to grow in their careers, and motivated to make a meaningful impact. Here, you won’t just take on a job, you’ll join a dedicated team working to shape a vibrant, forward-thinking City. Whether you’re driven by public service, energized by problem-solving, or simply seeking purposeful work alongside exceptional colleagues, you’ll find your place with us.

INTRODUCTION TO THE POSITION

Lone Tree’s planning team manages a wide variety of current development and long-range planning projects; this position will support that work with senior-level expertise. Additionally, this position will be responsible for completing project review and providing input and oversight in the areas of the public realm, including urban and natural public spaces, as well as parks, trails and open space systems. This position will conduct both development review and long-range master planning activities. Lone Tree has over 1,300 acres of dedicated open space, over 200 acres of parkland, over 75 miles of public trails, and other recreational and cultural assets, such as the Schweiger Ranch historic property. Additionally, Lone Tree’s open space system abuts the Douglas County Open Space system, which includes Bluffs Regional Park - an important recreational anchor for the Lone Tree community. Lone Tree’s public lands and recreational assets are projected to grow significantly in the next decade as the city continues to implement its master plans, in conjunction with collaborative partnerships with its metropolitan and service district providers. We look forward to welcoming a Senior Planner to the team to guide this important work.

INTRODUCTION TO PLANNING DIVISION

At the City of Lone Tree, we lead the way with exemplary service, collaborative partnerships, and continuous improvement. The City’s Six Big Ideas are demonstrated by our mission to do things the best way- not just the expected way, our ability to work together using all areas of expertise to achieve a common goal, and our commitment to fulfilling the needs of our community through thoughtful interactions. Our team members serve with integrity, respect, and work inclusively with an appreciation for individual differences and diverse backgrounds.  We achieve organizational goals through collaborative problem solving, planning, and decision-making.

Lone Tree’s Planning Division prides itself on a system of “perfecting planning through the process;” this means we apply a flexible and collaborative development review process when City regulations allow, and when such an approach will result in a better project for the community. Our goal is to develop plans that are visionary, resilient, innovative and practical, and that guide Lone Tree toward a vibrant future. Big-picture, outside-the-box thinkers thrive in this environment and find value in bringing new ideas to the table.

The Lone Tree Planning Division functions as a dynamic team; we work closely together to accomplish objectives and undertake projects large and small.  Successful team members possess excellent organizational and oral and written communication skills, as well as the ability to proactively solve problems, redirect priorities, and participate in process improvement.

We foster a fun, supportive environment that enables people to thrive professionally and personally. We work hard, we play hard, and above all else, we enjoy the support of a leadership team focused on employee health and providing a work-life balance.

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF POSITION:

Under the direction of the Planning Manager, this position is responsible for the following primary functions:

• Serving in a senior level planner capacity and conducting activities ranging from processing complex land use development applications, coordinating and building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, and leading the drafting and reviewing of plans.


• Ensuring a deliberate and coordinated approach to the planning and management of Lone Tree’s public realms, and implementing important community goals such as the preservation and activation of open spaces in a site sensitive manner;


• Implementing the Comprehensive Plan’s strategic action items associated with public lands management and public spaces, to include developing a Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan and associated design and maintenance standards;


• Engaging in public realm design with a focus on creating public spaces that provide opportunities for creative expression, social connection, business vitality and vibrant public life; and


• Supporting other current and long-range planning functions within the Planning Division as needed.

This position requires an understanding of the principles and practices of local government and current and long-range planning and development processes, to include an understanding of the functions and benefits of public lands and public spaces. This position reports to the Planning Manager and collaborates with the current and long-range planning teams to achieve Planning Division objectives. The ideal candidate will understand both current and long-range planning functions and will enjoy applying innovative ideas and progressive concepts to manage projects and implement city objectives associated with open space preservation, development of parks and trail networks, and the curation of innovative urban public spaces and amenities.

This position will manage complex projects and will make recommendations for action on land use projects and policy proposals to the Planning Commission and City Council. The ideal candidate will be innovative, collaborative, possess a background in public realm design and/or public lands and/or natural resource planning and development, have the ability to evaluate and apply current planning objectives within the context of long-range planning goals, and be capable of collecting and analyzing data and master plans to inform long-range planning decisions. Regional relationships are integral to Lone Tree’s success. Lone Tree relies on numerous service districts to provide park and open space programming and maintenance; the ideal candidate for this position is a diplomatic professional who understands the important nuances of relationship management and who can collaborate with numerous departments and agencies to innovatively solve problems and achieve shared objectives.

This job might be for you if:

• You want to serve a dynamic, growing community known for leading the region in innovation and collaborative solutions.


• You have the desire and capacity to help build enduring, sustainable, equitable and vibrant public spaces. You have passion, skills and experience that you want to apply to building innovative, accessible and dynamic public spaces and to manage public lands to protect environmental resources and preserve such lands for the benefit of future generations.


• You are a public spaces nerd. Do you find yourself drawn to parks or public plazas when you travel? Do you look for native plants on your hikes? Does conducting a trail user assessment sound exciting? Does your heart pound for equitable engagement?


• You geek out on research and analysis. You love to find and communicate the story behind the data.


• You enjoy communicating ideas visually. You have skills and appetite to make our maps and presentations eye-catching and easy to understand through graphics and crisp design.


• Collaboration is your jam. You enjoy working closely with teams. You are comfortable playing a support role on some projects while collaborating as a leader or manager on others.


• You want to bring people together. You love community engagement and get excited thinking about ways to get more people meaningfully involved in shaping the future of their public lands and spaces.


• You have an eye for detail and the customer service skills required to guide developers in refining project design to achieve the community’s vision.


• You have project management chops. You are organized, love checking boxes off your to-do list, and are excited by complex projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following essential job functions and examples of duties are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.  Duties may be modified, added or deleted at the discretion of Planning Manager.

• Communicate with a variety of internal and external customers, prepare professional reports, and provide presentations to community organizations and elected officials.

• Process/oversee landscaping, parks, open space and trails development applications and construction documents.


• Draft, review, implement and update parks, open space, trails, placemaking, wayfinding and landscaping plans and design standards and guidelines for the City.


• Serve as liaison to parks, open space and trails service providers.


• Review and process applications for murals and art installations and work with the Lone Tree Arts Center to implement and oversee the land use elements within the Public Art Master Plan.


• Analyze a variety of complex data to evaluate potential impacts on current and future properties, including parks, trails and open space lands, and make recommendations concerning future planning to promote quality and maximize value to the Lone Tree community.

• Articulate and embody the core values of the organization. Seek to connect current work assignments to the goals and objectives of the organization. 


• Establish positive working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies and associations, City management and staff, and the public.

• Coordinate with developers and special districts on pending land use applications and development plans to ensure city parks, open space and trails objectives are achieved and high-quality civic spaces are created.


• Collaborate with the Public Works Department on mobility and accessibility planning efforts. Oversee the Planning Division’s implementation and application of the mobility and accessibility master plans.


• Serve as liaison to the city’s Recreation Advisory Committee.


• Coordinate public lands and natural resources management/conservation efforts and policies with internal and external stakeholders, to include those associated with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.


• Support the current Planning team by guiding/mentoring their review of parks, open space, trails, landscaping, art and/or public lands and natural resource design elements within development applications, and by reviewing and processing such development applications as needed.


• Serve as project lead on land development applications, including site improvement plans, subdivisions, park master plans, and other land use entitlements by acting as the applicant's main point of contact and identifying and facilitating discussion about any development conflicts and issues. Ensure smooth and efficient processing of applications through effective communication, negotiation and facilitation. Conduct referrals to internal and external agencies, prepare staff reports graphic exhibits and present findings and recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council. Ensure proper follow-up of all approval criteria, conditions, plans, and inspections and coordinate resolutions, if needed, to achieve project compliance.

• Review and analyze major development projects for conformance with municipal, state and local laws, regulations, and design standards and guidelines.

• Analyze environmental, land use and development data and issues pertaining to the use and/or preservation of parks, trails and open spaces.

• Conduct research and/or special studies as directed by the Community Development Director or Planning Manager, or as issues require.


• Provide support to the Planning Manager as requested.

CORE COMPETENCIES: 

The successful candidate will possess the following competencies: 

• Time Management – Uses time effectively and efficiently;

can independently prioritize tasks; can attend to a broad range of activities; makes decisions in a timely fashion.

• Technical Learning – Picks up technical concepts

quickly, takes initiative to ask questions, and comfortable learning new information and processes quickly as necessary to complete tasks. 

Perseverance – Pursues tasks with curiosity, energy, and persistence. Organizational Agility
– Ability to organize tasks and people to get things done. Uses interpersonal skills and relationships to work through available processes and resources, using both informal and formal channels to achieve results.

• Patience
  – Is tolerant and sensitive with people and processes. 


• Teamwork / Independent Work– Works effectively in teams as well

as independently with limited supervision.    

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES TO SUPPORT SUCCESS:            

Interpersonal and Technical Skills:

• Strong interpersonal, oral and verbal skills.  Must have the ability to interact effectively with individuals of varying cultural, economic, professional and educational backgrounds.


• Demonstrated personal effectiveness, professionalism, integrity and credibility, thoroughness, flexibility, and collaboration skills.

• Must have outstanding presentation and public speaking skills including the ability to present information concisely at public meetings.


• Precision and attention to minute details when analyzing data, and when reviewing master plans, development proposals, maps and reports.

• Excellent writing skills: the ability to prepare clear, concise, and complete technical documents, reports, correspondence, and other written materials using proper spelling, grammar, and style.


• Critical and creative thinking skills with a focus on systems thinking: the ability to assess complex planning issues and problems, analyze data, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective courses of action regarding zoning policies, land use ordinances, public lands management, and community planning.

Knowledge of:

• Objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information services, and trends in the field of parks/open space planning and public lands management.


• Land use, urban design, demographic, environmental, and social/economic concepts and principles as applied to local government planning.


• Special districts, to include a basic understanding of how special districts function, as well as the relationship between special districts and local governments in providing services to communities.


• Working knowledge of GIS and/or graphic programs such as SketchUp.


• Research, mapping and data collection techniques.


• Terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in planning, urban design, site plans and plats.


• Purposes, roles, and authorities of councils, commissions, and others involved in the planning process.


• Requires solid knowledge of the federal, state and local regulations related to planning.


• Citizen involvement principles and techniques.

Ability to:

• Manage project stakeholders, deliverables and deadlines.


• Prepare, revise, and evaluate technical land use reports and plans.


• Coordinate and participate in major projects including the collection and analysis of data, and preparation of reports and recommendations pertaining to the planning process.


• Interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, regulations, specifications, site and building plans, environmental impact reports, data, and maps to development proposals.


• Ability to negotiate solutions among groups with diverse and conflicting needs.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Planning Manager.    

SUPERVISION EXCERCISED

Provides daily technical assistance and general oversight to other planners on staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience

Any combination of education and experience, which demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the Senior Planner’s essential duties and responsibilities is qualifying. Common ways to demonstrate such capabilities include:

• Master’s degree in Land Use Planning, Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a closely related field, AND a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible work experience in local government or private sector planning. Direct experience in urban planning and/or long-range planning strongly desired.


• Bachelor’s degree in Land Use Planning, Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a closely related field, AND a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience in local government or private sector planning. Direct experience in urban planning and/or long-range planning strongly desired.  


• Associate’s degree in Geography, Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related field, AND a minimum of eight (10) years of progressively responsible experience in local government or private sector planning. Direct experience in urban planning and/or long-range planning strongly desired.


• American Institute of Certified Planners Certification (AICP) strongly preferred.

Equipment Used, Work Environment and Physical Activities:

• Driving: Must be physically capable of operating motor vehicles safely in the normal course of assignments.


• Office equipment: Daily use of a copier, scanner, and printer.


• Computer equipment and software: Daily use of a personal computer, MS Office software, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and virtual meeting and presentation software. Experience with Esri GIS software platforms (either online or desktop) strongly desired. Experience with Smartsheet, Bluebeam and Accella preferred.


• Physical activities: Primarily sitting, standing and walking. May bend, stoop, reach, climb, carry and lift for varying periods. Requires continuous and repetitive arm-hand-eye movement. Field work includes walking in construction sites, developed and undeveloped sites, and conducting walking assessments of parks, trails and open space areas that may have varied topography and grades.


• Requires continuous and repetitive arm-hand-eye movement.


• Lifting: May involve lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. for short periods of time.


• Vision and hearing: Must have visual acuity to see and read paper and electronic documents; must be able to answer telephones, communicate conversation and respond to verbal inquiries.


• Exposure to environmental conditions: Work is mainly in an office setting, but some outside fieldwork is required.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is an exempt, full-time position. The City of Lone Tree’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Actual work schedule will be determined upon hire and will require availability to work evenings and weekends. Flextime and hybrid remote work schedules are offered for employees at the discretion of managers, consistent with City policies; the Planning Division offers a hybrid schedule (three days in the office, two days remote work, typically following orientation period) that is coordinated by the Planning Manager to ensure daily in-office.

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range (Starting Salary): $83,662 - $92,946

Full Salary Range: $76,140 - $114,156

Anticipated closing date is February 17, 2026, however, applications will be continued to be accepted until the position is full.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

At the City of Lone Tree, we understand the value of investing in our employees’ well-being and financial security. That’s why we offer a robust benefits package designed to support you and your family.

Our benefits include:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and supplemental health plans.


• Work-Life Balance: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness initiatives to support your overall well-being.


• Financial Security: Employer-paid basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and voluntary life insurance options.


• Retirement Planning: Multiple retirement savings options, including 457, 401(k), and Roth IRA plans, as well as participation in PERA and FPPA pension plans.


• Commuter Perks: Enjoy the convenience of an RTD EcoPass for public transportation.

The City of Lone Tree provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] within three business days' notice.