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Department:

Planning and Development Services

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Are you ready to make an impact in a dynamic role where your work will directly shape the County’s development? As a Zoning Counselor (Planner II), you’ll support the Zoning Administrator in managing and enforcing the County’s Zoning Ordinance. You’ll be at the forefront of handling public inquiries, researching zoning revisions, and assisting with impactful presentations to the Planning and County Commissions.

This position offers exciting opportunities for collaboration and growth. You’ll represent the Zoning team in key meetings, work closely with developers and neighborhood associations, and help streamline processes to enhance team efficiency.

We’re looking for someone with a Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Geography, or a related field, along with at least four years of professional planning, zoning administration, or code enforcement with public agencies work experience (or a combination of education and experience). A Florida driver’s license is required, and skills in GIS and zoning laws are a plus! Strong communication, customer service, and project management skills are essential for success in this role. If you’re passionate about zoning and want to be part of a forward-thinking team, we’d love to hear from you; apply today !

About the Position

In this professional and technical role, you will be supporting the Zoning Administrator with daily operations related to the development, maintenance, and enforcement of the County’s Zoning Ordinance. This position involves significant public interaction and plays a key role in supporting the Zoning team’s mission.

Job responsibilities include...

Administration:

+ Act as the primary point of contact for Zoning inquiries, offering guidance on property usage, setbacks, and related regulations.

+ Conduct research and assist in drafting revisions to the Unified Development Code (UDC), including preparation of presentations for the Planning and County Commissions.

+ Support the review and processing of public and private text amendments to the UDC.

+ Assist in researching and analyzing Board Assignments to provide informed recommendations.

+ Draft Zoning Letters of Determination and support appeals, development reviews, and Board of Zoning Appeals activities under the Zoning Administrator’s supervision.

Public Involvement/Citizen Engagement:

+ Represent the Zoning team at bi-weekly Development Review Coordination Meetings.

+ Attend workshops, educational programs, and meetings with developers and neighborhood associations.

+ Assist Code Enforcement Officers by assisting with violation issuance and ensuring proper code citations.

Business Planning/Implementation:

+ Support efforts to meet zoning team performance targets and goals.

+ Help monitor the daily workload and productivity of Zoning Plans Reviewers.

+ Track and evaluate processes to identify and implement efficiency improvements.

About the Schedule

Work Hours:

+ Full-time, 40 hours per week.

+ Typical Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ( no weekends!)

As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.

About You

To be considered for this role, you must have the following:

+ Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Planning, Geography, or a closely aligned/related field -with- Four (4) or more years of related professional planning, zoning administration, or code enforcement with public agencies work experience.

+ -OR- Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for one year of the required work experience.

+ -OR- Planning experience can substitute for education on a year-of-year basis (totaling eight (8) or more years of experience), depending on the type of experience and at management discretion.

+ Valid Florida driver's license by date of hire.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:

Please note that these are not requirements but bonuses for your consideration.

+ GIS Mapping experience is a plus!

+ FEMA Training, AICP Certification, or other AICP similar certification acceptable based on management approval.

+ Strong knowledge of legal terminology, zoning laws, ordinances, and enforcement procedures related to zoning.

+ Advanced project management skills, including interpreting architectural, engineering, and legal documents such as site plans, property deeds, and easement agreements.

+ Exceptional customer service skills with the ability to maintain accuracy, efficiency, and professionalism in a timely manner.

+ Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to explain complex policies to diverse groups and work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

+ Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams), County Land Information Management System, and GIS, with strong organizational and multitasking abilities.

Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay Range: $61,734.40 - $70,012.80, based on experience.

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents (http://www.scgov.net/home/showpublisheddocument/66596/638617478290291353) . You will need to present the following items on your first day:

1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

+ If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)

2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)

Benefits:

+ Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! C hoose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!

+ For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net (https://www.scgov.net/government/human-resources/employee-health-and-benefits) for additional information.

+ Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.

+ Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.