PLANNER 2 or 3

Job Description:

PLANNER 2 or 3

Description

OVERVIEW

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced planner to assume a leadership role in shaping Kitsap County’s long-term growth, development, and environmental outcomes. The Planner 3 position serves as a senior technical expert and project manager, leading complex, high-profile planning initiatives that often involve sensitive policy issues, legal interpretation, and extensive public and interagency coordination.

There is also an opportunity to underfill the position as a Planner 2. This would allow for a skilled and motivated planner to contribute to meaningful community development work while continuing to grow professionally. The Planner 2 role operates at a project-lead level on moderately complex planning initiatives that directly shape land use, environmental stewardship, housing, and growth management across Kitsap County.

Kitsap County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) is nationally recognized for planning excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. With award-winning comprehensive planning efforts and a strong culture of professional development, DCD offers a compelling opportunity for senior planners seeking leadership influence, career advancement, and lasting community impact.

As a Planner 3, you will:

• Lead and direct complex planning initiatives by serving as a subject matter expert and providing technical leadership to Planner I/II staff and support personnel across multiple concurrent projects.
• Drive the research, interpretation, and application of complex and interrelated data, policies, laws, codes, and legislation to inform high-level planning, development review, and policy decisions.
• Design, manage, and implement higher-complexity planning projects with multiple dimensions, coordinating schedules, deliverables, and priorities across departments and partner agencies.
• Lead updates to County policies, codes, and plans, including community, neighborhood, transportation, and long-range plans, in response to regulatory changes, State requirements, and direction from the Board of County Commissioners.
• Manage and coordinate interdepartmental and interagency collaboration, facilitating meetings, technical review sessions, and public processes to advance planning and capital projects.
• Serve as program or project manager for multiple complex initiatives, aligning planning efforts with capital investment priorities and County strategic objectives.
• Direct the development and implementation of transportation, environmental, and natural resource programs, including grant-funded initiatives supporting asset management, habitat and ecosystem protection and recovery, and climate resiliency.
• Establish funding guidelines and priorities for planning and development programs; lead grant development, application, and compliance, managing budgets and reporting requirements.
• Act as a senior technical resource by identifying deficiencies, evaluating alternatives, and monitoring projects through implementation and post-implementation performance.
• Negotiate, administer, and oversee consultant and interagency contracts and agreements, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and performance expectations are met.
• Navigate complex planning issues by acting as a mediator and negotiator, balancing public and private interests while achieving equitable solutions aligned with County policies and goals.
• Investigate, prepare, and finalize complex and sensitive planning documents, including policies, ordinances, comprehensive plans, and subarea plans.
• Direct advanced research and analysis, preparing defensible reports and recommendations to support planning decisions and regulatory actions.
• Present and communicate complex planning information through professional reports, presentations, and public testimony to the Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission, advisory bodies, and community stakeholders.

As a Planner 2, you will:

• Lead and apply complex planning research, data, policies, laws, codes, and regulations to support development review, long-range planning, and regulatory decision-making.
• Design, review, and implement moderately complex planning projects, including policy updates, community and neighborhood plans, capital planning coordination, and environmental initiatives.
• Support and lead updates to County policies, codes, and plans in response to regulatory changes, Board of County Commissioners’ direction, and statutory requirements.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings, public outreach, and technical review sessions with County departments, partner agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders.
• Serve as project or program lead on multiple concurrent initiatives, coordinating priorities, schedules, and deliverables across departments and external agencies.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Planner I and support staff; review work products and ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with professional standards.
• Implement and support environmental and natural resource programs, including grant-funded projects, habitat and ecosystem protection, asset management, and climate resiliency initiatives.
• Act as a technical resource by identifying deficiencies, evaluating alternatives, monitoring project implementation, and ensuring follow-through.
• Support administration of consultant contracts and interagency agreements, including scope review, coordination, and performance monitoring.
• Prepare clear, defensible analyses and reports and deliver presentations to boards, committees, advisory bodies, and the public.
• Mediate and negotiate planning solutions that balance public and private interests while advancing County goals and policies.

What You Bring

Professional Credentials / Licensing

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is preferred and demonstrates commitment to professional standards and best practices.
  

Educational Excellence

• Bachelor's degree in Planning, Public Administration, Political Science, Public Policy, Geography, Environmental Science, or closely related field from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education.
  
• Planner 2: Education combined with a minimum of two (2) years of related planning experience.
  
• Planner 3: Education combined with a minimum of three (3) years of experience in planning, policy analysis, or a related field.
  
• Relevant work experience demonstrating required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for educational requirements. Work experience is essential and cannot be replaced by additional education.
  

Leadership / Management Experience

• Experience functioning at a project lead or program lead level, with Planner 3 candidates demonstrating one or more years of lead worker or supervisory experience.
  
• Proven ability to manage complex projects with high visibility, sensitivity, and regulatory significance.
  

Technical / Industry Background

• Knowledge of land use planning, zoning, development regulations, environmental review, transportation planning, and growth management.
  
• Experience applying state and federal laws, ordinances, and regulations within a local government planning framework.
  

Specialized Expertise

• Experience leading comprehensive planning efforts, major code updates, environmental or transportation programs, and grant-funded initiatives.
  
• Proficiency in data-driven planning, GIS applications, and policy analysis.
  
• Experience implementing process improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma is highly desirable.
  

Communication / Interpersonal Skills

• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including experience presenting to elected officials and quasi-judicial bodies.
  
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, mediate, and facilitate consensus among diverse contributors.
  

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience administering consultant contracts and interagency agreements.
  
• Ability to operate independently in complex and politically sensitive environments.
  
• Commitment to public service, equity, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
  

For the complete job description for Planner 3 visit: https://www.kitsap.gov/hr/JobClassifications/Planner%203.pdf
For more information about Community Development, please visit: Department of Community Development

Depending on experience and background, candidates will be brought on as a Long-Range Planner 2 ($80,875.23 - $103,465.54/YR) or Planner 3 ($86,535.42 - $110,706.75/YR).

This position is open until filled. The first review is scheduled for the week of February 2, 2026, then weekly thereafter.

OTHER POSITION RELATED INFORMATION

• Who May Apply : This position is open to the general public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills.
• This position is classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME 1308. Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions.

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:

• Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
• Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.
• Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration.

• Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.
• This recruitment is being used to fill an existing open position and may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.
• We offer a flexible work environment, with the option to work remotely or in a hybrid setup.
• Work hours for this position are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.
• This position has been identified to be eligible for reimbursement of moving expenses up to a total of $7,500 for those candidates whose relocation meets the IRS distance test and in accordance with the Kitsap County Personnel Manual, Chapter 3, Section G.

At Kitsap County, we strive to take care of our team! Our employees are the greatest asset of Kitsap County, and we take pride in offering a highly competitive compensation and benefits package to all eligible employees.

County Paid Benefits Include:
Medical - Kaiser Permanente (HMO) or Aetna (PPO)
Dental - Delta Dental or Willamette
Vision - VSP
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Life Insurance - Basic, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Voluntary Term Life Insurance (VTL)
MetLife Long Term Disability
Voya Voluntary Insurance
Transportation incentives
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Assistance Program
Wellness program https://spf.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Wellness.aspx
Benefits become effective on the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the employee is hired except if the employee's hire date is the first calendar day of the month, benefits begin on the day of hire. More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: https://spf.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Benefits.aspx or the Kitsap County Digital Benefits Guide .

*Voluntary benefit options also available at the employee's expense

Retirement:
Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation (IRS Plan 457b): tax-deferred savings program

Holidays
11 paid holidays and 2 additional floating holiday per year, 1 additional floating holiday after 10 years of service.

Vacation Leave
New employees are credited with 48 hours of annual leave upon hire and will be begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 360 hours from one calendar year to the next. Annual leave accrual will increase upon tenure, as follows:

Upon completion of 2 years: 15 days per year (10.00 hours per month)
Upon completion of 5 years: 20 days per year (13.33 hours per month)
Upon completion of 10 years: 25 days per year (16.67 hours per month)
Sick Leave
All new hires will be credited with 48 hours of sick leave upon hire and will begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 1200 hours from one calendar year to the next.

***Part-time employees benefit contributions and leave accruals will be prorated***

Additional compensation that you may be eligible for:
Shift differential
Overtime
Stand by pay
Call-back pay

Current County Employees
If you are transferring or promoting into this position you are responsible for reviewing these benefit changes; prior to accepting a position. In addition, it is your responsibility to notify the Auditor's Payroll Division of a change in union status.

Union Membership
This position is covered under AFSCME Local 1308 Courthouse Employees collective bargaining agreement. To view the bargaining agreement please visit our website: https://www.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements.aspx

NOTE: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Kitsap County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts or is incorrect with the provisions of the Personnel Manual, applicable laws, policies, rules or official plan documents they will prevail. The Personnel Manual is available at: https://www.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Personnel-Manual-2019.aspx

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$84,260.39 - $107,796.26 Annually