The Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department is looking to create an innovative and dynamic team of hardworking, committed individuals with a passion for discovering and carrying out community goals. The Planning Department is pleased to announce an opportunity for the position of Advanced Plans Division, Senior Planner.
This is a key position, responsible for working with community partners and stakeholders to develop civic plans that identify community goals and recommend actions to help achieve them. This work includes facilitating and attending community meetings; creating, deploying and reviewing results of surveys; and hosting special events such as pop-up engagement opportunities. This position also conducts research; prepares reports; develops draft policy changes with analysis; and provides public presentations in a variety of settings. In addition, this position will be responsible for tracking progress implementing official City and County plans; and developing annual work plans and implementation progress reports.
In addition to working on long-range plans. This position will also process a variety of current planning cases; including but not limited to administrative adjustments, conditional uses, vacations, and zoning change requests. The amount of current plans case assignments could vary significantly, depending on the volume of applications and staffing levels.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Department (MAPD) is a consolidated City-County Department, providing professional planning services to both local governments. The Department has an annual budget of approximately $2.3 million; 20 positions; and four divisions. Applicants are encouraged to review the department webpage at www.wichita.gov/planning for more information about the department and projects.
The Greater Wichita region is a fantastic community. With an aviation heritage spanning more than 100 years, it is a community built on entrepreneurship and innovation. The Wichita region offers an amazing quality of life with a low-cost of living. The region boasts wonderful parks, more than 100 miles of bikeways, multiple museums, fabulous dining opportunities, hundreds of annual events, and more. Check out www.choosewichita.com for more information.

Current Department Projects
Places for People Plan
In June of 2019, the City and County approved the Places for People Plan, the Urban Infill Strategy for the City and County. It recommends investment in areas largely established prior to the 1970’s The Planning Department is currently working with community stakeholders to recommend: updates to the zoning code based on this plan. Implementation of this plan to-date has helped result in the creation of the Wichita Land Bank and Wichita Affordable Housing Fund. On-going efforts include developing design standards for infill development and the resulting zoning code changes.

Zoning and Subdivision Cases
The Planning Department is responsible for administering the City and County processes for zoning changes and platting. This involves accepting applications, providing staff support to the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (and sub-committees), distributing public notices, and more. The public meetings for subdivision and zoning cases occur on alternating weeks throughout the year. The Planning Department processes approximately 500 cases per year.

More Information
Applicants are encouraged to review the department webpage at www.wichita.gov/planning for more information about the department and projects.

• Manages planning processes – including the preparation of neighborhood, area and corridor plans.
• Meets with and advises applicants, architects, developers, builders, attorneys, contractors, engineers, and the general public regarding City and County planning and development policies and standards.
• Manages and provides analysis of zoning, CUP, PUD, vacation, annexation or platting cases.
• Provides public presentations in a variety of settings.
• Prepares planning research analysis, and staff reports for a variety of audiences – including advisory boards, elected officials, staff, and members of the public.
• Reviews development proposals and applications for compliance with appropriate regulations and policies; negotiates solutions that balance the community’s values and private property owner concerns.
• Prepares land use control regulations, often based on previous examples.
• Coordinates professional and technical personnel in the gathering of information, data analysis, plans preparation, and resulting policy recommendations.
• Assists citizens with questions and issues regarding processes and programs.
• Meets with neighborhood, community and development groups as part of the planning process.
• Uses GIS software to look up information, assist stakeholders, create maps and analyze data.
• Ability to use and learn proprietary software programs to complete projects.
• Facilitates the implementation of comprehensive plan elements into specific initiatives/projects for public or private action.
• Develops grant applications.
• Monitors, administers and evaluates third party contracts.
• Draft RFQ’s and FRP’s when warranted.
• Participate on local and/or regional boards, representing the Planning Department as needed.
• Writes legal notices, creates property owner notification letters, prepares agendas, and writes minutes for various meetings.
• Completion of work assignments may require the operation of a vehicle.
• The examples of work performed are not intended to be all-inclusive.
• The City of Wichita reserves the right to assign additional duties as needed.

• Considerable knowledge of current land use trends and of landmark court cases on planning issues.
• Considerable knowledge of research methods and sources of information relating to metropolitan growth and development.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of metropolitan planning.
• Knowledge of municipal government administration.
• Knowledge of computer keyboards and ability to access, interpret, and record information through use of a video display terminal and electronic keyboard.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to lean and reach as needed to read and interpret plans and specifications from a print that may be as large as 36 by 48 inches with information printed as small as twenty characters per inch.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees of other Departments, representatives of outside agencies, City/County officials, and the public.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in oral and written forms.
• Ability to collect site photos, conduct site visits, and hold site meetings on a regular basis.
• Must be able to transport files and materials.
• May require ability to acquire and maintain a valid Kansas driver's license.
• An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

A master's degree in planning and a minimum of two years of related planning experience. Advanced degrees in architecture, civil engineering, geography, urban studies, public administration, law, economics or similar areas with ties to urban or regional planning may be considered. An equivalent combination of education, experience and training may be considered.

Candidates that do not meet the required qualifications for Senior Planner will be considered and position would be filled as an Associate Planner with the requirements of a master's degree in planning or advanced degrees in architecture, civil engineering, geography, urban studies, public administration, law, economics or similar areas with ties to urban or regional planning may be considered.

Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need of a sponsorship.

(Last Updated 1/21/2015)

CITY OF WICHITA

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
1. VACATION - Most employees with less than five years' employment earn 10 days of vacation per year. After five years, accrual rates increase at varying rates to varying maximums, depending on work schedule and/or union representation. Maximum accumulation is 30 work days.

2. HOLIDAYS - There are eleven paid holidays. One is a Personal Holiday granted after the first six months to be taken at the employee's option as scheduled with the supervisor.

3. SICK LEAVE - Sick leave accrual begins at one-half day per month. After five years, it is one work day per month (no maximum). Employees who use 24 hours (3 days) or less of sick leave in a calendar year earn a "Well Day." An additional "Well Day" can be earned following a year of perfect attendance.

4. HEALTH INSURANCE - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kandas provides two levels of medical and prescription plans. Both medical plan are PPOs that does not require selecting a physician or referrals for specialty care. Both medical plans include Vision benefits through Vision Service Plan. Pre-tax premium deduction is offered. The City contributes 80% of the premium, towards medical, Rx and vision premiums.

5. DENTAL INSURANCE - Two employee-paid Delta Dental plans are offered – Preferred and Traditional. DeltaPreferred requires using a dentist from a smaller network for a lower premium. Traditional allows use of any dentist, although benefits are higher using a dentist from the large Delta panel. Benefits under both plans are the same. Pre-tax premium deduction is offered.

6.LIFE INSURANCE – Low-cost term life insurance is available. Employees pay one-third of the cost. The amount of Basic Life coverage is twice annual pay (Members of SEIU and Teamsters: maximum of $150,000; all non-represented employees: maximum of $400,000). Dependent coverage is available ($4,000) for an additional $0.14 per pay period. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included. The plan is through The Standard.

7.SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE – Additional employee-paid term life insurance is available from The Standard at low group rates. Participation in Basic Life is required. This plan is portable.

8. LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE – This employee-paid group disability plan from Lincoln Financial replaces a selected amount of pre-disability income for work- or non-work-related disabilities. Premiums are determined by income and age.

9.VOLUNTARY ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT - This employee-paid plan from The Standard offers coverage for accidental death and dismemberment in addition to that included in Basic Life.

10.RETIREMENT - The City offers two retirement plans - Wichita Employees (WER) Plan 3, and Commissioned Police & Fire Plan C-79. The WER plan is a defined contribution plan; Police & Fire is a defined benefit plan. Both are contributory - employees and the City share the cost.

11.FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS – Employees may elect to make pre-tax deductions for dependent care and unreimbursed medical expenses, reducing the cost of these expenses by eliminating taxes on the amount deducted.

12. LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE – This plan from UNUM offers facility and home care benefits for employees, spouses and some other family members. Several options for benefit amount and duration, and specific plan features, are available.

13.MORE BENEFITS & SERVICES
Deferred Compensation Investment Program
Emergency Leave (for immediate family death)
Training Programs
Longevity Pay
Credit Union
Employee Assistance Program
Injury Leave (on-job injury)
Direct Payroll Deposit
La Petite Discounted child care center 265-1037