Job Details

Principal Planner – Current Planning / Development Review

Join our team and help guide DeLand's growth from concept to completion.

Annual Salary Range: $76,045 – $100,000

Step into a dynamic role as a Current Planning / Development Review Principal Planner with the City of DeLand, where you will serve as a collaborative lead working alongside senior planning staff to guide exciting development projects from concept to completion! This non-supervisory position puts you at the center of DeLand's growth, where you will conduct comprehensive development reviews, lead site plan evaluations, and coordinate with developers, engineers, and community members to ensure projects align with the City's vision and regulatory standards. This is the ideal opportunity for an experienced planning professional who enjoys fast-paced, detail-oriented work, thrives on problem-solving, and wants to play a crucial role in shaping the development of our unique community!

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages the development review processes and current planning activities including platting, voluntary annexations, land use and zoning amendments.
• Coordinates the scheduling of the Technical Review Committee and weekly Pre-Application meetings.
• Serves as planning manager on highly complex current planning projects.
• Provides guidance on the development of planning proposals, including Comprehensive Plan amendments, Land Development Code amendments, zoning map and text amendments, annexation and development plan review requests.
• Works with other departments outside of Community Development to coordinate review and issuance of development permits.
• Coordinates the preparation, training, and implementation of new or revised policies, standards, and regulations.
• Attends City Commission, Planning Board, Technical Review Committee and other Community Development meetings.
• Coordinates the gathering of information, preparing of formal reports and oral presentations on departmental activities.
• Writes, reviews, and edits official documents.
• Acts as technical advisor to the Director and other department heads on planning matters.
• Takes a proactive approach to customer service issues.
• Makes process improvement changes to streamline procedures.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, or related field. A master's degree is preferred.
• Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in community development, planning, and/or redevelopment.
• AICP certification preferred.

Language Skills

The applicant must have the ability maintain effective working relationships with others, including County, State, and Federal agencies, civic groups and the public. The applicant must be able to clearly and effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. The applicant must also be able to communicate effectively with developers, team members, and citizens.

Reasoning Ability

The applicant must have the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram forms. Applicant must also be able to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations when immediate guidance from the supervisor may not be available.

Other Skills & Abilities

• Conducts public outreach and community meetings.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices of planning and economic development.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices of electronic permitting and GIS.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles and practices of creating affordable housing.
• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with other City officials, employees and the general public.
• Demonstrates ability to present facts and recommendations effectively in oral and written/electronic form.
• Demonstrates ability to analyze facts and exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Conducts operations in a manner which displays tact, courtesy, thoroughness and dependability.

Anticipated Current Planning Projects

• Play a key role in a full update to the Land Development Regulations.
• Serve as project manager for large-scale complicated, and complex development applications for industrial, commercial, multi‑family, and single‑family developments that involve annexation, land use, and zoning amendments.
• Provide planning support for economic development initiatives.
• Participate in weekly pre‑application meetings.

Benefits

• Employer Provided Insurance: Medical, Long‑Term Disability, and Basic Life Insurance.
• Optional Insurance: Dental, Vision, Short‑Term Disability, Supplemental Family Life Insurance, Supplemental Health Plans.
• Leave/PTO: Sick, Vacation, Executive Comp, Personal Days (2), (11) Holidays.
• Front‑loaded 40 hours sick leave at hire
• Ten days of vacation per year
• Executive comp time up to 80 hours
• City pays for professional associations and CEUs.
• Retirement plans: Nationwide Retirement 401A - 5% employee pay, 7.5% city match Supplemental 457 - employee cost
• Wellness center, gym, clinic, etc. specifically for employees.
• City Employee (and insured dependents) access to city's Health Clinic at no cost
• 6 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave after 1 year of employment.

Application Process

First review of applications: October 10, 2025.

For more information on this position:

Jeremy Wiggins, Human Resources Director
...@deland.org
386-###-####

The City of DeLand is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check. Veteran's Preference.