Facilities Planner I

Work Year Calendar and Hours

12-month position (260 days / year), 7 hours per day

For more information about employee benefits please go to : www.fcps.org / benefits

Salary

Support Salary Scale Grade S11 : $27.84 per hour; starting

Under the Fair Labor and Standards Act this position is non-exempt from overtime. Actual salary placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Frederick County Public School System.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under the supervision and direction of the Supervisor of Facilities Planning, the Facilities Planner I primarily assists with the annual Educational Facilities Master Plan review and update, reviews residential development plans submitted to the County and Municipal planning offices on behalf of FCPS, prepares school adequacy tests as required by the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, and performs research and prepares planning documents.

This is a professional position requiring broad knowledge of the procedures, laws and technical requirements associated with data analysis as well as the principles and practices of planning.

The Facilities Planner I must use professional judgment and have the ability to provide professional technical assistance to the Capital Programs Department in the areas of statistical analysis, land use planning, zoning, urban design, transportation planning and environmental planning.

The position involves frequent contact with the general public, school Principals and officials, contractors, engineers, architects, attorneys, and local and state officials.

These duties require strong written and oral communication skills, and as necessary, the ability to present before boards, community groups and elected officials.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reviews residential development plans submitted to the county and municipal planning offices on behalf of FCPS to ensure safe pedestrian access to school facilities and / or bus stops, ensure compliance with local and state regulations, and to identify appropriate future school sites.

This includes but is not limited to, review of adequacy of school facilities, environmental regulations such as forest conservation, floodplains, soils and steep slopes, road design, requested variances and exceptions and adjoining land uses.

Prepares and presents detailed technical comments to county and municipal planning staff and elected officials regarding proposed residential developments.

Reviews comments with the applicant and may suggest modifications of the applicant’s plans.

Prepares and presents school adequacy tests as required by the county and municipal Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances.

This involves the collection of a variety of statistical data, analysis of the data consistent with each ordinance, preparation of the written report and presentation of the report to planning staff and Planning Commissions.

• Assists with the annual update to the Educational Facilities Master Plan including compilation of facility and enrollment data, and the preparation of planning studies, reports, tables, charts and figures.
• Performs research and prepares facility planning reports, as assigned by the Supervisor of Facilities Planning, in support of enrollment projections, redistricting studies, acquisition of school sites and preparation of the annual Capital Improvement Program.

This position is expected to independently complete routine planning assignments including written reports, memos and letters, which are reviewed by the Supervisor for technical soundness and conformance with FCPS policies.

• Prepares feasibility studies and facility assessments for the modernization of aging schools and submits documentation to the State for review and approval as part of the Capital Improvement Program.
• Assists in community engagement activities, and responds to citizen’s questions and concerns.
• Capable of performing the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

The above list is a summary of the essential functions of the job, not an exhaustive comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The following identifies some of the physical requirements of this position. Candidates should be capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• The following physical requirements are frequently part of the position and an essential function of the position : sitting, walking or standing, seeing close work (e.

g., typed print), hearing conversations or sounds, communicating through speech, hearing via radio or telephone, and communicating by writing / reading.

• The following physical requirements may be experienced occasionally and are still considered essential to the position : distinguishing colors, grasping with hands.
• The following physical requirements may be present but are not essential to the position : fine manipulation with finger, squatting, kneeling, bending, twisting, pinching with fingers, lifting / carrying up to 25 pounds, pushing / pulling 25 pounds, seeing objects at a distance, seeing objects peripherally.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

The following knowledge, skills and abilities detailed below will make a candidate successful in this position.

• Ability to review residential subdivisions, site plans and other planning documents to determine impact on pedestrian safety and capacity of public schools and evaluate future school sites.
• Ability to prepare planning documents and read ordinances, laws, codes, contracts, deeds and easements.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, zoning, subdivision and land use.
• Knowledge of research methods employed in the collection, evaluation and presentation of planning data, in particular for the analysis of demographic and socio-economic trends.
• Knowledge of the literature of the field and of technical resources relevant to planning and related fields.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills to explain issues and proposed solutions to FCPS team members and as well as local and state officials, and to explain rules and procedures clearly to the public.
• Knowledge and skill to utilize computers and software such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Cloud including InDesign, GoogleDrive and geographic information software.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education / Training / Experience :

• Graduation from a four-year accredited college or university, in the field of planning, civil engineering, public administration or a closely related field
• 1 year of experience reviewing or creating residential development plans

Certification / License :

None

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education / Training / Experience :

• AICP or ability to obtain certification
• More than 2 years’ experience with land use planning, development review, community engagement or school facilities planning.

FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO INDICATE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK PERFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE HOLDING THIS POSITION.

IT IS NOT WRITTEN TO INCLUDE OR BE INTERPRETED TO INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF ALL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF THE EMPLOYEE.

NOTHING IN THIS DESCRIPTION RESTRICTS MANAGEMENT’S RIGHT TO ASSIGN OR REASSIGN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OR ADD REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT ANY TIME.