Position Overview

The City of Cranston seeks a Planner Technician, who, under the Planning Director, performs administrative and technical work supporting staff in the day-to-day operations of the department. This represents an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in the fields of community planning providing the ability to learn on-the-job in a team-oriented environment. The candidate will function as the office manager, performing a variety of tasks while interfacing with the public. The candidate will also assist staff in the site plan review process, drafting reports, along with other various professional planning pursuits.

General Duties & Responsibilities

• Assists with the day-to-day operations of the City Planning Department; conducts office management duties including, but not limited to, payroll, bookkeeping, scheduling, updating the departmental website, and directing public information requests;
• Attends all regular and special public meetings as directed, performs routine office tasks related to such meetings including, but not limited to, data entry, project file management, preparing agendas, and drafting meeting minutes;
• Maintains meeting calendar for City Plan Commission, Development Plan Review Committee, and Historic District Commission;
• Maintains the index and tracking system for all ongoing and completed projects and programs;
• Informs the public regarding active and ongoing subdivisions, land development projects, ordinance amendments, and other related items;
• Assists in the professional tasks related to the City’s long-range planning programs including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Plan, grant applications, and the work priorities of the City’s boards and commissions;
• Performs all other related work at the discretion of the Planning Director.

Qualifications

• Work competently with Microsoft Office Suite;
• Present information in concise oral and written formats;
• Learn and implement state and local regulations pertaining to zoning and land development;
• Serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity;
• Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with the public, coworkers, elected and appointed officials, and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds;
• Translate information from basic GIS maps.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in a municipal planning department or other comparable office environment.

Education Requirement

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT

• Associate degree from an accredited college or university.

PREFERRED

• Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BS, BFA, etc.) from an accredited college or university in such fields as Planning, Community Development, Sustainability, Public Administration, Political Science, Urban Affairs, Urban Design, Geography, Public Relations, Sociology, Communications, Environmental Science Management, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, English, History, Business, or other similar disciplines.

Civil Service Examination

An oral civil service examination will be administered to each qualified applicant. The city will allow video conference for this portion of the selection process, if requested. The weight of this examination shall be 100%, and the minimum passing grade shall be 70%. Qualified applicants will have appropriate seniority points added to a passing score.

Preference

Honorably discharged active-duty war veterans who have received a passing final grade of 70% shall have five (5) points added to their final grade and disabled active-duty war veterans shall have (10) points added to their final grade.   Full details in posting on City Personel webpage.

The City of Cranston encourages diversity in its workforce.  We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

In addtion to a resume and cover letter applicants must submit Cranston's "Municipal Employment Application" form found on the https://www.cranstonri.gov/cranston-open-positions.aspx