City Planner - Choctaw

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:       City Planner

Department: Development Services & Planning

Reports to:     Development Services Director

FLSA Status: Full Time Non-Exempt

Salary:            Step One $66,416.00 annually based on experience and education

Revised:         August 18, 2025
JOB SUMMARY

The City Planner position reports to the Development Services Director and assists in any operations within the Department. The position will perform day-to-day development and management related tasks for planning projects and programs that could involve inter-agency and/or multi-jurisdictional entities. The position is responsible for both current and comprehensive development and planning activities, researching related  topics, preparing reports, preparing presentations, preparing maps, overseeing site designs, updating, and managing relevant municipal codes and retrieving data. The position will provide support to staff, management, contractors, consultants, other agencies, entities, and the general public. Must have the ability to perform complex assignments, deal with multiple projects, spend time working in the field to verify data input, maintain and update data, participate in inspections and other development reviews as certified or licensed. Further, it may be required to perform other related work or duties as assigned by the Director and/or City Manager.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. 

·      At the direction of the Development Services Director may be assigned a supervisory role in the Development Services Department assuming supervisory duties during the Director’s absence.

·      Provide customer service to the public in any form of communication, including answering the telephone and responding to questions and requests regarding fees, codes, and general citizen inquiries.

·      Investigate complaints received regarding the municipal code, state and/or federal laws.

·      Research specific topics to inform administration of policy recommendations.

·      Prepare written, verbal, and visual materials for general meetings and public meetings.

·      Organize events while offering community outreach to ensure adequate public process is occurring.

·      Assist in developing RFP, RFQ, and NOI’s.

·      May assist the Events Coordinator with data and materials.

·      Conduct field visits and inspections to study specific planning issues or development codes.

·      Utilize GIS data to analyze specific development/planning issues as assigned.

·      Perform tasks to support ordinance proposals and updates.

·      Perform and coordinate training and/or training events as needed.

·      Maintain office archiving and record management.

·      Operate a variety of office equipment including telephones, computers, copy machines, and facsimile machines.

·      Operate a variety of office software including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

·      Regular attendance of scheduled work hours is required.

·      Attendance of any activity that is the responsibility of the Development Services Department or a work-related assignment given by the Development Services Director.

·      Other duties as assigned at the direction of the Director or City Manager..

QUALIFICATIONS

Possession of

·      Strong skills in oral and written communications.

·      Time management skills.

·      Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team or external partners.

·      Knowledge in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word), and other software used within the City.

·      Creative problem-solving skills.

·      Ability to review plans and apply provisions of the ordinances and codes to determine compliance.

·      Knowledge of general office procedures, methods and computer equipment; and

·      Knowledge of proper telephone and email etiquette 

Ability to 

·      Make complex decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.

·      Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

·      Communicate city codes and ordinances to the general public.

·      Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizens inquiries and complaints by email, telephone, and/or in person.   

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

Education and/or Experience 

·      Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning, landscape architecture, architecture, public policy, engineering, or related field is preferred.

·      Two (2) years of professional work experience in City development and planning is  preferred and advanced education may be considered in lieu of experience. 

License or Certificate

·      Possession of, or ability to obtain, an Oklahoma valid driver’s license.

·      AICP preferred.

·      Other job-related certificates or licenses as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

 Working Conditions

·      The position may, at times, be exposed to extreme heat/cold, wet or humid conditions, bright/dim lights, dust or pollen, and traffic.

·      Subject to local travel on a daily basis; and

·      Requires attendance of events and monthly meetings after regular business hours.

Physical Requirements 

·      Requires light work involving standing or walking, bending, crawling, twisting, reaching and exerting a weight ranging from 10 to 50 pounds of force on a regular basis, and moderate dexterity in operating machinery, tools, or office equipment.

·      The position may require normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of taste, sense of smell, depth perception, or texture perception.

·      Mobility to enable the continuous movement of oneself from place to place when conducting field surveys and inspections.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

City of Choctaw Application must be completed, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The City of Choctaw is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and employee and is subject to change by the City as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change. 

*** Applications must be completed and are available online at www.choctawcity.org.******