Planning Technician

The ideal candidate will perform a variety of technical planning functions supporting the review and approval of building permit documents and planning cases. They will respond to questions and inquiries from the general public regarding planning policies and regulations.

We currently have one vacancy in the Development Services Department in which hiring will begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies, which will be filled as they occur.
 

• Review building plans for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with applicable zoning codes; contact applicants to advise them of additions, deletions and/or corrections necessary to ensure conformance with current codes.
• Receive telephone and in person inquiries regarding City zoning ordinances, applications, and other related matters.
• Maintain manual and computerized records of planning cases; organize data for easy accessibility to planners and others; prepare maps, charts, graphs and statistical exhibits for inclusion in planning reports and publications; perform plan checking for conformance to City ordinances.
• Assist in the preparation of studies and perform other tasks as assigned in support of professional planning staff; collect, verify and compile land use data from existing descriptions, maps, field surveys, reports and records from other agencies.
• Receive, review and process applications for conditional use permits, variances, zone changes and other planning cases; check for accuracy and completeness; interpret City codes and other policies and standards.
• Make field surveys and investigations related to planning and zoning projects.
• Assemble packets for Planning Commission members; assemble and post agendas for meetings and legal notices for publication.
• Use of GIS to create mailing lists and labels.
• Distribute planning packets to appropriate City staff for review; assemble and mail applicant letters and development review memos for new cases; create mailing address lists to be used in mailing public notices.
• Participate in various special projects involving research, data collection and analysis as required.
• Perform related duties as required.

The following minimum qualifications are required to be met at the time of application.
 
Combinations of relevant work experience and education that are equivalent to the following are acceptable.* 

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Supplemental college level course work in planning, construction, management, civil engineering, or a related field

*One year of additional relevant work experience can be substituted for the college level course work requirement.  

Experience:

• One year of planning permit review experience

*One year (30 semester/45 quarter hours) of college level course work in planning, construction, management, civil engineering, or a closely related field, may substitute for the required relevant work experience.  

License:

• Valid driver's license

To Apply:
Please submit your completed application and all additional information/documentation requested online at www.reno.gov/jobs by April 16, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If a computer or mobile device is not available to you, suggested locations to complete an online application submittal include: the City of Reno City Hall 2nd floor computer kiosk or 5th floor Civil Service Offices, any locations of Nevada Job Connect or any local library or educational facility.
 
If you are having difficulty logging into your governmentjobs.com profile, please call the applicant support line at 855-524-5627.  
 
Examination Process:
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire. The examination will consist of online assessments which include a Written Skills Test, Cognitive Abilities Test, Employee Personality Profile, and a Workplace Productivity Profile; along with a Training and Experience evaluation (T&E) weighted as follows:
 

• Training & Experience Evaluation (T&E) = 40%
• Written Skills Test = 40%
• Cognitive Abilities Test = 20%
• Employee Personality Profile = Informational purposes only
• Workplace Productivity Profile = Informational purposes only 

Online Assessment Details:
Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the online assessments once the recruitment has closed. These tests will be self-administered with no proctor, which means candidates will be able to complete them online at their convenience during the designated testing window.
 
The instructions and guidelines will be emailed to qualified applicants after the recruitment closes on April 16, 2023. Please make sure to check for emails around this time, including your spam folder so that you do not miss this testing opportunity. All assessments must be completed within the designated testing window to move forward in the hiring process.
 
Subject areas that may be included on the online written skills test include:
Computer Skills
Oral Communication
Customer Service
Written Communication

Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) Details:
The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "QUESTIONS" on the job announcement page. The
T&E must be submitted online at the time of application.
 

• Responses to your T&E questions should be consistent with the information given in your application details. Answers are subject to verification.
• Failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question.
• In order to receive credit for education or training, you must attach copies of your transcripts, diploma, or relevant certificates to your online application.
• Resumes or questionnaires uploaded as attachments to the application will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question online.
• "See Resume" or "See above," etc., are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.
• Changes or corrections to your responses cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.
• TIP: It may be more efficient to develop your responses in a word processing document and then paste them into the online questionnaire to be submitted.

Notification: 
Applicants are notified by email of their examination results. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will also be notified.
 
Testing Accommodation: 
If you wish to identify yourself as an individual with a disability and will be requesting an accommodation, that request must be made to the Chief Examiner no later than the closing date of this announcement.
 
Employee/Veteran Preference (In the event of Tie Scores):
In the event of tie scores resulting from an open competitive examination, employees will be provided a rank preference in the following order: employees with established veteran status shall be given the first preference, non-veteran employees second preference and non-employee veterans third preference. This preference will only be administered in the event of tie scores. Documentation must be submitted at time of application.
 
Appointment and Certification: 
Appointments to positions in the City's Civil Service system are made on the basis of examination. Scores resulting from a competitive examination are used in determining a person's rank on an eligible register. The department may hire any of the persons referred. The names of those persons not hired may be considered when the next vacancy occurs, for as long as that register is viable.
 
Health & Safety Statement: 
The health and well-being of our employees, our families, and the community we serve is of utmost importance to the City.  Please be aware that many roles at the City of Reno include interacting with members of the public, including close contact with vulnerable individuals. The City of Reno has implemented numerous strategies to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and other contagious diseases. Vaccination is recognized as an effective method for reducing the likelihood of infection, and limiting the severity of disease. While we have lifted the vaccination requirement for new employees, the City of Reno encourages all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which includes boosters recommended by the CDC.
 
QUESTIONS/UPDATES: 
Questions about the information on this announcement and updates to application information should be directed to Civil Service at (775) 334-2223 or civilservice@reno.gov.
 
The City of Reno is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association, or any other protected class status applicable under federal or state law or City Charter.