Planning Manager
Salary
$99,100.00 - $153,600.00 Annually
Location
One Exchange Plaza 219 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Job Type
Full-Time
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
2026-00547
Department
Project Support and Strategy
Opening Date
07/20/2026
Closing Date
8/3/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Work Hours
Monday - Friday; 8:30 am - 5:15 pm
Hiring Range
$99,100.00 - $126,300.00
Job Description
Raleigh Planning and Development is seeking a Planning Manager to lead the Operations section within the department's newly established Project Support and Strategy Division. The division includes three core functional areas:
This position leads the department's ongoing operational business needs by ensuring strong alignment and support across internal units, including Business Operations, Communication and Engagement, and Technology, and by coordinating departmental planning efforts to maintain consistency with the City's Strategic Plan, the departmental Business Plan, and emerging initiatives.
About You:
The ideal candidate brings strong business operations skills, a solid grounding in communications principles, and proficiency in GIS and data analytics. Advanced experience with data-driven decision making that guides process change and continuous improvement will help you succeed in this role. Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills are essential to maintaining effective working relationships with staff, other departments, elected officials and the public. Excellent project management skills, including skill in planning, organizing, evaluating, analyzing problems, making decisions, time management and implementation plans will make you successful in this role. Qualified candidates will clearly exemplify the City's organizational values of Accountability, Collaboration, Equity, Ingenuity, and Integrity.
About Us:
Raleigh has a long history of planning, from its intentional establishment as the Capital of North Carolina in 1792 to its growth into the second largest city in North Carolina. We have grown from our initial William Christmas-planned 400-acre grid to over 150 square miles of corporate limits supporting a population of over 500,000. Raleigh Planning and Development oversees the development process throughout more than 180 square miles of corporate limits and planning jurisdiction; from the legislative beginning of the process including maintaining the City's Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance; through to completion of individual buildings, including site planning reviews, building permit issuance, and inspections.
Planning and Development has a vision "to partner with the community to plan for and develop a safe and sustainable built environment supporting a healthy and prosperous Raleigh." This vision is supported by the City's Comprehensive Plan, maintained by our department, as well as our mission "to provide timely, predictable, and customer-oriented services," which is a key focus area of this role.
Duties and Responsibilities
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Lead and manage the Operations section, advancing business operations, communication and engagement, and technology priorities while ensuring alignment with the department's mission, vision, and strategic plan
Oversee core business operations functions, including support for internal and external meetings and events; coordination of boards and commissions agendas, minutes, and quality assurance processes; and management of departmental travel and training activities
Manage departmental human resources and personnel functions, including onboarding and offboarding, position management, and wellness programming; serve as the department's liaison to the Citywide Human Resources Department
Oversee communications and engagement functions, including graphic design, website content management, social and digital media, news releases, publications, creative concepts, media information, and other materials designed to inform and engage internal and external audiences
Organize resources and staff for engagement events and special projects, and represent the department at events as needed. Oversee administration of the department's Planning Academy, a public education program designed to help community members understand Planning and Development. Manage event coordination, logistics, and course content.
Oversee departmental technology support, technical system assessments, and system enhancements; manage lifecycle and asset management responsibilities for more than 800 assets; and serve as departmental liaison to the Citywide Information Technology Department
Manage, prioritize, and fulfill requests for data analytics, GIS analytics and mapping from internal and external stakeholders, including departmental staff, cross-department partners, the City Manager's Office, and City Council
Advance the department's use of data analytics and data visualization to support strategic, business, and operational decision making. Maintain and communicate performance dashboards and reports on timeliness, workload, and customer experience, using data to inform decisions and improve outcomes
Supervise, manage, and evaluate assigned employees and make decisions about hiring, discipline and/or termination of employees; prioritize and assign work; develop and oversee employee work schedules and approves time away from work; provide and/or facilitate employee training and development; address employee concerns and/or problems; counsel and/or discipline as appropriate; complete employee performance appraisals; determine or make recommendations regarding new hire salaries and salary changes; and act as liaison between employees and management
Serve as a representative and advisor to management, City officials, boards, commissions, authorities, external agencies, the public, and other organizations on matters related to assigned responsibilities; attend and facilitate meetings
Contribute to the preparation and monitoring of division accounting, budget, and fiscal operations
Identify, develop, implement and maintain processes and practices that encourage, support and promote effective, comprehensive and meaningful community engagement.
Serve as the primary lead or as a contributing team member for departmental or Citywide special projects, initiatives, and cross functional efforts as assigned
Conducts occasional site visits, community meetings, and interdepartmental coordination activities that require the use of a City vehicle
Typical Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Bachelors Degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Public Administration, or related field; 5 to 7 years supervisory level professional planning experience in an area relevant to assigned department
OR
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted.
Licenses and Certifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Additional Information
Knowledge of:
Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations including development ordinances
Best practices in community engagement and survey design
General engineering, landscape architecture, and land development principles and practices
City planning and urban design principles, practices, history and trends
Principles and practices of program administration and management
Principles and practices of project management
Principles and practices of grant administration
Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research
Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis
Best practices, trends and emerging technologies related to transportation planning and transit
Principles and practices related to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) implementation
Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program
Principles and practices of budget development and administration
Customer service principles
Modern office practices and procedures including the use of standard office equipment and computer applications such as word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications
Supervisory principles, practices and techniques
Relevant software applications including, but not limited to MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite, and ArcGIS
Skill in:
Supervising and evaluating staff performance
Coaching and mentoring others
Strategic visioning and planning
Providing project management, organization and logistics coordination
Managing project or program finances
Providing consultation and serving as a program liaison and subject matter expert
Monitoring compliance with applicable plans, standards, regulations and contracts
Developing visual, written, and oral presentations
Researching operational issues and articulating recommendations
Exercising political acumen, tact and diplomacy
Monitoring, evaluating and assessing projects, programs and functional operation
Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards
Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications
Ability to:
Engage with community stakeholders and disseminate information effectively
Serve as subject matter expert in planning
Research and assess operational issues and options
Track and monitor budget approvals
Oversee project management tasks and deliverables
Maintain and update project reports and data
Effectively convey and exchange information
Prioritize competing demands
ADA and Other Requirements:
Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
Work Environment:
Work is typically performed in an office or similar indoor environment. Employees may occasionally work in an outdoor environment or in a vehicle.
Work Exposures:
Employees in this role will occasionally interact with individuals who are hostile or irate.
City of Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
When you join the City of Raleigh's work family as a full-time employee, your benefits are an important part of your "total rewards". Your benefits impact many aspects of your life including your health, your finances, and the protection of your family. The City provides a comprehensive benefits package as part of our total rewards program to support you through important events in your life, to enhance your life outside work, and to help you plan and prepare for the future.
To find out about the Citys benefits package, and other programs, please visit our Employee Benefits page: https://raleighnc.gov/services/jobs-and-volunteering/pay-and-benefits
The City employs temporary and seasonal employees who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh's benefits.
01
Please select your highest level of education completed.
02
How much experience do you have in professional planning?
03
Do you have at least 5 years of supervisory level experience in professional planning?
04
Do you have a valid North Carolina Drivers License Class C or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire?
05
Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from a position?
06
If you answered "yes" to being terminated or forced to resign, please provide an explanation and the date.
Required Question
Employer City of Raleigh North Carolina
Address 222 W. Hargett St.
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601
Website https://raleighnc.gov