Job Description
Position Type: Civil Service/Full-Time/Non-Bargaining Unit
Date Posted: 8/18/2025
Location: Urbana City Building
Date Available: When filled
Closing Date: When filled
Join Our Team! Planner I
Annual Salary Range Full Salary Range: $50,210.91 - $ 77, 826.92 ($24.1399 - $37.4168) Starting Salary Range Starting Salary Range: $50,210.91 - $ 64,018.92 ($24.1399 - $30.7783) Compensation and Benefits The City of Urbana offers competitive compensation and benefits to our employees. The starting hourly rate for this position is $24.1399. The City of Urbana provides its employees with a robust benefits package that includes the following options:
- Health insurance through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, including a no-cost premium option for employees
- Dental insurance options through Delta Dental
- Vision, Voluntary Life, Short/Long-term Disability, Accident, and Critical Illness insurance options
- Flexible Spending Plan option
- Paid holidays
- Generous vacation and unlimited sick leave accruals
For more information about City benefits for this position, please visit Non-Union Benefits | City of Urbana Careers | Urbana, Illinois
. Department/Division : Community Development Department - Planning Division
Position Summary : The Planner I provides technical support, assistance, and project management in carrying out both current and long-range planning functions for the City. Provides project coordination for both current planning activities and long-range planning studies such as the Comprehensive Plan, neighborhood-planning efforts, and special planning and zoning studies as needed.
Duties supporting current planning functions include review of site plans for zoning conformance, plan and map preparation, and data gathering on land use and planning issues. Coordinates review by multiple departments of applications and requests, including annexation agreements, rezonings, subdivision plats, and special use permits. Explains zoning and other regulations to applicants and the general public, including consequences and effects of zoning and variances. Reviews permit applications for conformance with the Zoning Ordinance and develops amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. Shares responsibility of enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance in consultation with Principal Planner and Zoning Administrator.
The Planner I serves as staff support to various boards and commissions including the Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic Preservation Commission, Design Review Board, and other special steering committees and intergovernmental committees as assigned, often by providing expert recommendations to inform public decision making.
Ideal Candidate: - Critical Thinking, driven by curiosity and problem solving.
- Proactive communication, the practice of anticipating potential issues and addressing them before they escalate.
- Must be comfortable with public speaking, and public engagement
- Organized and protocol oriented, respectful of structured processes.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: - Assists with the preparation, implementation, amendment and update of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
- Manages long range and area planning studies with various entities including other planning staff, multi-jurisdictions, and neighborhood organizations.
- Prepares and presents staff reports to the City Council, Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and design and development review boards as required. Attends Commission and Council meetings as needed and/or as directed by the Planning Manager. Attends other meetings as requested.
- Prepares and manages Plan Cases in land use, subdivision, rezoning, Zoning Ordinance amendments, annexation agreements and petitions, and other issues through the approval process as assigned.
- Assists with the enforcement of the zoning ordinance and responds to complaints of zoning ordinance violations by investigation and by citing violations if necessary. Coordinates with other divisions and departments on zoning enforcement issues when applicable.
- Responsible for answering public's questions regarding the zoning ordinance, its application, and identifying the zoning of properties.
- Prepares and summarizes information using maps, graphs, reports, field studies, etc.; prepares statistical reports, tabulations, computations, graphs, charts, and computer illustrations to illustrate planning studies.
- Assists in the development and maintenance of the Geographic Information System (GIS) and produces maps, graphics, and statistical analysis utilizing GIS as needed.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required / Minimum Qualifications: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
- Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Urban Studies, Environmental Studies or Design, social sciences, or related, and one year of municipal planning experience or Master's degree in same. Other related public experience or other planning experience may substitute for municipal planning experience if the candidate demonstrates the skills, knowledge and abilities required.
- Knowledge of principles and practices of urban planning and land use.
- Ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and graphic presentation skills.
- Possesses strong technical skills including experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the ability to apply GIS technology to municipal mapping and planning needs.
- Must possess a valid Illinois driver's license within 15 working days of hire and have a safe and responsible driving history.
For a complete list of duties and qualifications, please refer to the job description. July 2025_Imagine Urbana Comprehensive Plan.pdf
To Apply: Click the red "Apply" button on the upper-right hand side of this page. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply prior to this date for priority consideration.
Selection Process: The application will serve as the Civil Service exam; applicants meeting or exceeding the passing score will be placed on an open competitive register to fill current and/or future vacancies that may occur within approximately the next two years; this register may be extended or voided as needed by the Civil Service Commission. Questions may be directed to Ranija Turner, Human Resources Coordinator, at: jobs@urbanail.gov or call (217) 384-6295. The City of Urbana provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities; if you need information, please contact the Human Resources Division at the number or e-mail above.
What happens after I submit my application? You will be contacted by e-mail regarding your status once a decision has been made in the selection process. Once you apply, almost all communication regarding the status of your application will be by email through the City's applicant management platform, so please add the domain "@applitrack.com" to your address book to prevent any emails from going to your Spam/Junk folder.
The Organization The City of Urbana, founded in 1833 and the county seat of Champaign County, is a home-rule municipality situated in east central Illinois, approximately 135 miles south of Chicago and 45 miles west of the Indiana border. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the state's flagship university, is located in both Urbana and Urbana's twin city of Champaign. Urbana's population is estimated at 38,336 and 11.9 square miles are within the City boundaries. The City is led by Mayor DeShawn Williams and operates under the mayor-aldermanic form of government. On average, Urbana employs 260 full-time personnel. For more information about the City of Urbana, visit:
About the Urbana Community Award-winning dining. Cutting-edge technology. World-class education. Gigabit-speed fiber network. Urbana is a city where artists, thinkers, and innovators thrive. And we're just getting started!
Urbana boasts a history built on innovation. From the famed Morrow Plots, a National Historic Landmark, to the groundbreaking research conducted every day on the flagship campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana embraces creative thinking and diversity to drive innovation and advancement. We're connected to each other and the world thanks to an award-winning mass transit district, Amtrak rail, a regional airport, and three major interstates. Prefer to get around on two wheels? We are proud to be the first Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community in Illinois. Our West Urbana neighborhood has been named of the 10 Great Neighborhoods in America by the American Planning Association, and together with our twin city Champaign, we've been recognized as the Greatest Food Town in the Midwest by Midwest Living Magazine, as well as an AARP Age-Friendly Community. Led by Mayor DeShawn Williams, Urbana's progressive values include civic engagement, celebrating entrepreneurs and innovators, smart growth, and transparent governance. Award-winning schools, outstanding parks, a mosaic of diverse and engaged neighborhoods, a robust array of businesses located throughout the city, and reliable public services committed to the best possible quality of life for residents serve to make Urbana a great place for all to thrive.
The City of Urbana Welcomes Diversity!
We foster an environment that values and encourages mutual respect, inclusion of all people, and utilizing differences and similarities as an organizational asset. EOE.
Attachment(s):
- Planner I_II JD (2021).pdf
Job Tags
Hourly pay, Full time, Temporary work, Flexible hours,