The Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Department is seeking a highly motivated Planning Manager to join our dynamic leadership team. Under the guidance of the Director, the Planning Manager will lead the County's long-range Community Planning Division.

CPED is a fast-paced work environment dedicated to accountability, consistency, and transparency.

What you will be doing
The Planning Manager will use their skills and experience to provide leadership and direction on challenging issues of county-wide importance that will impact our community’s present and future.

The Planning Manager will be working with the Community Planning Division to develop, coordinate and monitor work programs, policy documents, and division budget. The Planning Manager plays a lead role in shaping the work of the Community Planning Division.

Being a great communicator is key for this position. You will be providing advice to appointed and elected officials on public policy issues, planning procedures, comprehensive and special plans, as well as regulatory ordinances. You will administer and maintain agreements and contacts with public agencies, funding agencies, and private organizations, and be interacting with executives and administrators of other organizations at the request and on behalf of the department director, the County Manager and the Board of County Commissioners as assigned.

This position is a good fit for experienced Planning Managers, or those who believe they have what it takes to be a Planning Manager and are ready to take the next step in their career.

You will be joining a diverse and dedicated team
The Community Planning Division is a diverse 20-member team planning for our future. The team includes members with expertise in public engagement, habitat conservation, planning and growth management, hydrogeology, geology, marine biology, wetland science, and more. The experts of Community Planning are on the leading edge of major issues affecting the Thurston County community including:

• Development of Washington’s first large scale federal Habitat Conservation Plan including private property
• Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan
• Climate Change
• Rural Water Availability Planning
• Conservation Futures, Agriculture, and Open Space Planning
• Joint Planning with the Cities in Thurston County
• Shoreline Plan Update

Why CPED is a great department
The team members of Community Planning and Economic Development make it a wonderful place to work and effect change. It is a department of highly motivated professionals working for the Thurston County community and planning for its future. We are working to make sure history is preserved, buildings are safe and energy efficient, and plans for our future balance development with the preservation of the County’s rural character, natural areas, agriculture, and open spaces.

Why you'll love it here
You will enjoy a high quality of life here. Thurston County is located at the south end of the Puget Sound roughly halfway between Seattle and Portland, and less than a two-hour drive to the Pacific Ocean, temperate rainforest, mountains, urban city, or farmlands. With year-round art festivals, parades, theater shows, concerts, and community events, Thurston County and its cities have something for everyone. Locals enjoy hiking, kayaking, biking, fishing, as well as great locally raised and grown food.

As the state capital, our County is home to a unique blend of industries, including state government, health care, retail, military, education, construction, farming, fishing, and logging. You'll enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family, as well as generous leave programs.

For parents, the County boasts some of the best schools in the nation and the renowned Hands On Children's Museum. Our innovative schools are highly rated. Thurston County is also home to South Puget Sound Community College and two universities, The Evergreen State College and Saint Martin's University. Discover more about life in Thurston County at experienceolympia.com.

What we offer our employees:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual’s lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit our 2023 Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans website for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made 120 qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Please see the Planning Manager class specification for more information.

• Bachelor's degree in urban or regional planning, environmental studies, public administration or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Six years of experience within a planning organization with emphasis on review of complex development proposals, urban or regional plans, comprehensive plans, environmental review or other facet of community development, at least two years of which are in a supervisory capacity.
• Ability to operate a personal computer with applicable software to successfully perform essential job functions of the position.
• Current Washington State Driver's License or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.

• Leadership
• Program Management
• LEAN Certification
• Creative Problem Solving
• Glass All Full Mentality