City Planner - Economic Development (Unclassified)

Posting Type: Open Competitive

Work Type: Full-Time

Nature of Work: This is advanced technical and professional planning and community development work involving the development and administration of planning projects, programs, and policies, in urban planning and in housing and community development. Work involves the responsibility for the preparation of preliminary planning studies and the administration of finalized ordinances, plans, and zoning laws.

It involves assessing neighborhood and community needs, and planning, developing, promoting, and administering programs to address those needs. It involves the responsibility for formulating, modifying, and administering a Planning Department project or a portion of the City Master Plan. It may also involve significant participation in technical aspects of planning programs.

It involves preparing materials, reports, research, housing studies, and the relocation of displaced individuals, families, and commercial businesses. An incumbent in this classification exercises considerable independence in the performance of duties, may supervise the work of a number of subordinates, and receives general guidance from a superior.

Education and Experience

The knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired through, but are not limited to, the following combination of education and/or experience. Bachelor's degree AND Experience in city planning, economic or community development, finance, real estate, environmental consulting, or sustainability

Special Qualifications: Must be able to transport oneself or coordinate transportation to sites throughout the City during the course of the work day.

Pay Range

$70,907.20 with step increases to $100,921.60 Annually

Benefits

Forty-hour work week. Paid leave per year: twelve days vacation; five days management; fifteen days sick; and fifteen holidays. Employee’s group health insurance, including major medical, vision, and dental, for individual or family. Defined benefit pension plan, plus Social Security, and more. See hr.cityofomaha.org for detailed information.

Who Can Apply: Any person who meets the qualifications and other requirements described in this posting.

How to Apply

Completed City of Omaha employment applications must be submitted using the online application from the City website. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to check and ensure that any and all required application materials and supplemental forms are received by the City of Omaha Human Resources Department by the stated deadline.

You may confirm receipt of any materials and forms by contacting the Human Resources Department. If the materials are not received in the Human Resources Department by the stated deadline, they will not be considered. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

Examination Information: The examination will consist of a training and experience form designed to assess job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position. The training and experience form will be given to candidates once their application has been received, reviewed by a recruiter, and accepted to test for the position.

The form must be completed and returned to the Human Resources Department by July 23, 2026 (passing score 60%). Final eligibility list will be the training and experience form weighted 100%.

Veteran Points: To claim five (5) points for veteran’s preference, you must submit proof of service (such as a DD-214) that includes the date of induction, date of honorable separation, and Social Security number.

(You must have completed more than 180 consecutive days of active duty.) To receive an additional five (5) points credit for disability, you must submit proof of eligibility from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs dated within the last 12 months. This information must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by July 23, 2026.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles of zoning and the methods used to administer and enforce related ordinances
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, regulations, features, and limitations in the planning of community development programs
• Knowledge of research, survey, and analysis techniques as related to community economic development projects
• Knowledge of real estate, loan and banking principles and practices, and property valuation methods
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of city planning and planning research, and of the municipal agencies and legal procedures involved in urban planning
• Knowledge of the legislation underlying master plans, zoning, and subdivision ordinances
• Knowledge of the principles of research, analysis, and the methods of preparing and presenting technical data with the ability to compile and analyze data
• Knowledge of the policies and practices of real estate and business and industrial relocation as prescribed by federal and local guidelines
• Knowledge of federal and local guidelines regarding community and economic development
• Knowledge of and ability to operate a computer or other technology using standard or customized computer or systems software applications appropriate to the assigned tasks, including maintaining files, entering and analyzing data, compiling reports, and computer mapping
• Knowledge of basic cartography and the procedures in use at the city, county, and state levels as they relate to the Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Knowledge of the contents of the city’s addressing ordinance
• Ability to prepare plans for municipal and private developments
• Ability to conduct surveys and to compile statistical data relative to urban planning
• Ability to maintain division files and to respond to questions regarding the files and other zoning related issues
• Ability to operate environmental testing equipment such as X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzers and radon testing equipment
• Ability to understand and interpret real estate financing and business related reports, including but not limited to: balance sheets, profit and loss statements, pro formas, and audit reports. Ability to understand the principles of return on investment, net operating income, debt coverage ratio, loan to value ratio, and cash flow analysis
• Ability to perform research and conduct surveys, analyze data, and compile reports according to local, state, and federal guidelines
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with architects, contractors, loan officials, leaders of community and neighborhood groups, private citizens, public officials, and other city employees
• Ability to perform loan underwriting functions and conduct loan closings
• Ability to prioritize workloads and manage work time to keep projects moving according to time lines and be completed by preset deadlines
• Ability to learn and adapt to advances in computer and electronics device technology and software.
• Ability to give presentations to groups of interested parties conveying complex plans and proposals to the public in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to formulate effective plans for urban development and redevelopment and to establish goals, policies, and deadlines for their implementation.
• Ability to prepare and present statistical and technical data and to compile reports of the progress of programs and projects
• Ability to interpret and communicate planning programs to interested groups and the general public
• Ability to plan, schedule, oversee, and evaluate the work of a number of subordinates
• Ability to coordinate or supervise the research and analysis of planning data, the preparation of detailed physical plans, and the implementation of projects
• Ability to read and interpret geographical information from aerial photographs, site plans, plat maps, property records, and legal descriptions
• Ability to perform mathematical and geometrical computations and to write legal descriptions of parcels of land
• Ability to understand written or oral instructions
• Ability to adhere to safety policies, procedures and guidelines
• Ability to reach, walk, or sit from 51 to 75% of the time; to stand from 26 to 50% of the time; and to climb, balance, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crouch, push, pull, lift, and type up to 25% of the time
• Ability to sit for extended periods, to use up to ten (10) pounds of force to move objects up to 33% of the time, and to use lesser amounts of force to move objects from 34 to 100% of the time

Essential Functions

Any one position may not perform all of the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all of the duties that may be performed in positions allocated to this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• City Planner- Economic Development: Coordinates day-to-day operations related to economic development activities, including but not limited to, the city's business recruitment, retention and expansion efforts, as well as general city marketing and media communications
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets financial documents
• Conducts research, including site surveys and detailed demographics analyses, noting the physical, social, and economic traits and features of neighborhoods, and prepares plans for neighborhood development and rehabilitation projects
• Develops and implements neighborhood plans and notifies neighborhood leaders of these plans and of the potential to improve sites, either through rehabilitation of existing properties or the demolition and replacement of residential and commercial buildings
• Accepts applications for admission to community economic development programs, determines which program best meets applicants’ needs, and explains the features, obligations, and limitations of the program
• Underwrites project financing by reviewing and assessing application information, credit reports, property titles, insurance, and the financial strength of applicants
• Assesses legal and regulatory issues, composes ordinances, resolutions, grant and loan agreements, mortgage releases, trust deed assignments, repayment agreements, and other documents to ensure needed approvals are acquired and all aspects of the projects to be implemented are binding upon the concerned parties
• Provides technical assistance to applicants pursuing economic development projects and programs
• Assists organizations that have received funding in the design of their programs, monitors their progress, and recommends changes to enable them to better serve the community and citizens for whom their programs are designed
• Monitors funded projects to ensure compliance with federal, state, and city program regulations
• Monitors ongoing projects by reviewing client files, financial plans, project cost feasibility, developer capacity, program guidelines, and project compliance
• Coordinates and oversees individual projects, i.e. program eligibilities, reporting requirements, and documentation requirements
• Compiles, analyzes, and presents economic data to quantify the impact of economic development programs, including impacts on neighborhood property values, the short and long range impacts of Tax Increment Financing projects on property tax revenues, the city's general economic growth, and employment levels
• Monitors and evaluates proposed new state legislation related to the economic development programs of local governments and provides city administration with policy advice and recommendations
• Writes and/or generates contracts, agreements, agreement amendments, memorandums of understanding, loan modifications, loan subordinations, and releases of loans
• Facilitates and/or maintains the main data system including all form and application updates, income and eligibility updates, construction compliance reports, and reporting spreadsheets and documents; generates reports that include statistical, geographical, and demographic information
• Maintains regular job attendance in accordance with a schedule established for the position by the supervisor
• Performs other related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates within the scope of this classification

Conditions of Employment: Candidates must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, permanent residence, or authorization to work without sponsorship. The City of Omaha reserves the right to conduct pre-employment inquiries or evaluations of candidates for employment as it deems appropriate for the particular position.

Pre-employment inquiries may include, without limitation: verification of employment history and educational attainment; review of driving, credit, and criminal convictions; hearing, drug, functional capacity, psychological, vision, and medical tests; and/or any other relevant background information deemed appropriate to determine the suitability of the applicant for the position.

Failure to provide the information requested in the application and hiring process in a truthful, timely, accurate, and complete manner may result in disqualification, revocation of a conditional offer of employment, or termination.

Reasonable Accommodation: The City of Omaha does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you need a disability-related accommodation during the job application or selection process, advise the Human Resources Department at least 48 hours prior to the need by emailing employment@cityofomaha.org.

For a complete description of this job classification, visit hr.cityofomaha.org

Contact Points

City of Omaha Human Resources Department

1819 Farnam St, Suite 506

Omaha, NE 68183

Phone: (402) 444-5300

Fax: (402) 444-5314

Website: hr.cityofomaha.org

Email: employment@cityofomaha.org