Job Information
City of Mishawaka Associate Planner in Mishawaka, Indiana
POSITION: Associate Planner
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Community Development
2025 SALARY: $2,464.51
WORK SCHEDULE: 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., M-F
JOB CATEGORY: PAT (Professional, Administrative, Technological)
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The City of Mishawaka provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job, unless those accommodations would present an undue hardship.
This is a newly created position that serves as Associate Planner for the City of Mishawakas Planning and Community Development Department. The position was created specifically to assist with City downtown redevelopment efforts initiating contact and coordinating with local property owners. The position will be responsible for working with the Mishawaka Business Association and INSPIRE Mishawaka writing grants, community promotion, and related activities. The position will also be responsible for providing technical assistance to the staff and providing professional planning assistance to the Department including coordinating reviews for land use, subdivision and site plans.
DUTIES:
Draft grant proposals, oversee and provide staff support to newly established downtown grant programs. Responsible for contacting business owners and property owners to build consensus and momentum on City goals and objectives relative to downtown growth and City wide redevelopment efforts.
Contributes to the preparation of staff reports for the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), and Historic Preservation Commission cases and develops reports including conducting site investigations, digital photography, and preparation of graphics necessary to convey information and recommendations.
Assists with the distribution of plans and proposals to the various department heads for comments.
Provides information to the public relating to zoning, rezoning, annexation, vacations of public right of way, subdivision regulations, sign control, floodplains, and historic buildings.
Issues Improvement Location Permits for Construction including evaluating construction projects relative to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Conducts limited enforcement duties including conducting site investigations and writing letters regarding violations of the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Control Ordinance and Sign Ordinance.
Assists with the preservation and maintenance of maps, records and files for the department.
Assists with preparation of fiscal plans associated with both voluntary and involuntary annexations and applicable property owners, tax information and other records. Assists the Executive Director in coordinating smaller construction projects not typically associated with the Engineering or Community Development departments and in the preparation and revision of land use codes and ordinances as determined by the Executive Director.
Assists in the preparation of Historic Preservation Districts including ordinances, maps, preservation guidelines and standards. Performs related duties as assigned.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Undergraduate degree in urban planning, government affairs, landscape architecture, or appropriately related field with land use planning and site design experience preferred.
Knowledge of department computer programs, applications and GIS programs including ArcGIS, ESRI and AutoCAD.
Ability to meet all employer and department hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other City departments, and the public with a variety of conversations occurring at once.
Ability o provide public access to, or to maintain confidentiality of, department information and records according to State requirements.
Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
Ability to think creatively, critically, and analytically and maintain organization, and good judgment.
Ability to count, compute and calculate and to perform arithmetic operations.
Ability to work alone with minimum supervision or with others in a team environment.
Ability to work on several tasks at the same time sometimes under time pressure.
Ability to read, understand, memorize, retain, and carry out oral and written instructions, regulations, legal documents, and legislation.
Ability to operate standard office equipment, such as computer, projector, copier, scanner, tele-phone, cell phone, calculator, digital camera, and fax machine.
Ability to plan and design assigned work projects, read and interpret detailed prints, specifications, property legal descriptions, plats, maps and aerial photography and to review construction drawings for the built environment.
Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate/hostile persons.
Ability to occasionally work extended hours and evenings.
Possession of valid drivers license and demonstrated safe driving record.
DIFFICULTY OF WORK:
Incumbent applies a broad scope of knowledge principles to complex situational demands to accomplish goals and objectives. Incumbent follows standard operating procedures and policies and procedural manuals and exercises independence of judgment in planning, administering, and executing assignments.
RESPONSIBILITY:
Incumbent performs duties according to customary practices of the department and general instructions from supervisor. Work product is reviewed for soundness of judgment and compliance with department policies and procedures. Work is reviewed for technical accuracy and soundness of judgment.
PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:
Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other City departments, and the public for the purpose of explaining and interpreting policies and procedures.
Incumbent reports directly to Executive Director.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment, involving sitting/standing/walking for long periods, sitting/walking at will, depth/color perception, keyboarding, speaking/hearing clearly, handling/grasping/fingering objects, pushing/pulling objects, crouching/kneeling, bending, reaching, driving, close/far vision, and lifting/carrying objects weighing under 25 pounds.
Incumbent is required