State of Maryland

18 

Planner IV – Advanced is the advanced level of professional work in the field of land use, environmental, community development or transportation planning. Employees conduct research and prepare analyses, studies or background reports on issues regarding growth and demographic trends and projections and best practices on state, regional and local plans. Employees specialize in such areas as physical design, survey and research, or community relations work. Employees in this class do not supervise, but may provide guidance to lower-level Planners and planning consultants.

Employees receive general supervision from a Planner V or other designated administrator.
Positions in this classification are evaluated using the Classification Job evaluation methodology. This method compares the position’s assigned duties and responsibilities to the job criteria defined in the Nature of Work and Example of Work sections of the class specification.

Planner IV – Advanced is differentiated from the Planner III in that the Planner IV – Advanced performs the most complex planning projects as the sole planner on a multi-disciplinary team, while the Planner III performs the full range of planning work under general supervision. The Planner IV – Advanced is differentiated from the Planner V in that the Planner V has full supervisory responsibility for lower-level Planners.

Prepares and researches various phases of planning projects related to the development and use of land, water, transportation, community or natural resources by obtaining and analyzing information concerning demographic, socio-economic, political, cultural, geographic and land-use trends;
Advises and assists community, regional, and State planning and development agencies and organizations in the technical aspects of various planning and development projects;
Conducts meetings with public officials, local, regional and State planning commissions, civic groups, community agencies, associations and general public to initiate comprehensive planning programs and to provide advice and technical assistance in the development, review and administration of smart growth plans and urban renewal;
Participates in planning, promoting, scheduling, and coordinating programs designed to assist subdivisions of the State in initiating and executing comprehensive planning programs;
Organizes conferences and seminars to present, discuss and resolve issues regarding the laws and regulations in zoning, urban renewal, housing, transportation, natural or and community resources;
Performs complex assignments in connection with State and federal planning programs;
Plans and prepares books or manuals on various accomplishments and objectives of community development and planning;
Provides technical advice and guidance to members of a team engaged in a specific planning project;
Collects, creates, edits, maintains, analyses, distributes and plot GIS data and performs mapping and data analysis tasks including producing graphic and tabular data;
Performs other related duties.

Prepares and researches various phases of planning projects related to the development and use of land, water, transportation, community or natural resources by obtaining and analyzing information concerning demographic, socio-economic, political, cultural, geographic and land-use trends;
Advises and assists community, regional, and State planning and development agencies and organizations in the technical aspects of various planning and development projects;
Conducts meetings with public officials, local, regional and State planning commissions, civic groups, community agencies, associations and general public to initiate comprehensive planning programs and to provide advice and technical assistance in the development, review and administration of smart growth plans and urban renewal;
Participates in planning, promoting, scheduling, and coordinating programs designed to assist subdivisions of the State in initiating and executing comprehensive planning programs;
Organizes conferences and seminars to present, discuss and resolve issues regarding the laws and regulations in zoning, urban renewal, housing, transportation, natural or and community resources;
Performs complex assignments in connection with State and federal planning programs;
Plans and prepares books or manuals on various accomplishments and objectives of community development and planning;
Provides technical advice and guidance to members of a team engaged in a specific planning project;
Collects, creates, edits, maintains, analyses, distributes and plot GIS data and performs mapping and data analysis tasks including producing graphic and tabular data;
Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles, practices, procedures and objectives of local, regional, federal, State and transportation planning programs and for compiling various planning data;
Knowledge of the social and economic objectives of planning and land-use, in relation to natural resources, community resources and transportation resources;
Knowledge of the methods and procedures available in preparing a plan for the maximum efficient use of available resources;
Knowledge in conducting mapping research and maintaining and updating databases using GIS computer aided drafting and other software;
Skill in producing, collecting and analyzing research data;
Skill in drafting, engineering designs and principles concerning the preparation of comprehensive planning reports, studies, subdivision plans, zoning maps and related documents;
Skill in performing complex statistical, economic, and planning research;
Ability to prepare and present clear and concise reports;
Ability to plan and make sound recommendations;
Ability to give advice, guidance and supervision to a group of employees engaged in one phase of a planning project;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, community representatives and the general public.

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Planning.

Experience: Three years of experience in planning.

Notes: 1. Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Architecture, Public Administration, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Public Finance, Political Science, Sociology, Regional Science, Regional Science, or Urban Affairs and one additional year of experience in planning for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Planning for two years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Architecture, Public Administration, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Public Finance, Political Science, Sociology, Regional Science, Regional Science, or Urban Affairs and one additional year in planning for the required degree in Planning.

4. Candidates may substitute an additional Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Architecture, Public Administration, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Public Finance, Political Science, Sociology, Regional Science, or Urban Affairs for one year of the required experience.

5. Candidates may substitute a Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in Planning, Architecture, Public Administration, Engineering, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Public Finance, Political Science, Sociology, Regional Science, Regional Science, or Urban Affairs for one year of the required experience.

6. Candidates may substitute a Ph.D. from an accredited college

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

10/1/2014

Director, Division of Classification and Salary