Senior Planner
Salary
$80,870.40 - $115,460.80 Annually
Location
Whitefish City Hall, 418 E. Second Street, Whitefish, MT
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
2026-0016
Department
Building & Planning
Opening Date
06/22/2026
Closing Date
7/24/2026 5:00 PM Mountain
General Purpose
The City of Whitefish is actively recruiting for a full-time exempt Senior Planner to join our Planning and Building Department. We welcome your inquiries and encourage you to apply! If you have a passion for serving the public sector, this may be the perfect fit for you.
One of the fastest growing cities in Montana, Whitefish is consistently rated one of the best small towns in America and was named one of the top 25 ski towns in the world by National Geographic. It is located on the shores of Whitefish Lake and the base of Big Mountain - home to Whitefish Mountain Resort. Whitefish also boasts over 36 miles of natural surface single-track mountain biking and hiking trails with 10 trailheads, golfing, world class dining, two professional live theater companies, and is only thirty minutes from Glacier National Park.
Benefits of working for the City of Whitefish include:
APPLY BY: It is in your best interest to submit your online application, resume, and cover letter by the Priority Deadline, Thursday, July 16, 2026, 5:00 pm. For assistance with online application process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 406-863-2464 or email HR@cityofwhitefish.gov.
EOE-AA-M/F-VET-DISABILITY
GENERAL PURPOSE
The Senior Planner is responsible for performing highly skilled professional planning and development work and project review in land use, subdivision, environment, water quality, and other subjects as appropriate. This position performs professional planning work to support application processes, primarily current planning with occasional long-range planning needs; assists the Director with administrative duties as required and exercises general supervision of planning personnel as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Works under the general guidance and direction of the Director of Planning and Building or designee.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Supervision of planning staff, as delegated by the Director of Planning and Building or designee.
Job Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The list of tasks is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by the Senior Planner. The following duties are typical for this classification and are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
This position serves an important role in the operations of the City and requires a consistent and dependable presence during assigned hours of work. It is expected that every employee should be on time, fully prepared, every day that the employee is scheduled to work.
Senior Planners are assigned the most challenging projects based on the project's complexity, scope, impact on the community, or other relevant considerations. Examples would include reviewing, analyzing, writing reports, and making recommendations to the Planning Director and/or appointed and elected officials on controversial developments, major projects, large subdivisions, extensive code rewrites, or those projects with the most complex environmental implications. They are responsible for a broad range of planning projects, including short-term projects, subdivision and land use application processing and review, as well as the development of long-range, comprehensive and neighborhood planning efforts. They may be responsible for lakeshore construction permitting processes, floodplain development, and GIS development, as assigned. They interpret and apply complex zoning, subdivision, and environmental codes to assigned projects, as well as prepare studies, assessments, inventories, statistical information and reports for future planning. This position leads code audits and provides expert level analysis on compliance with the goals and objectives of the Land Use Plan.
At the discretion of the Director of Planning and Building, they may oversee and supervise planning staff in areas described above.
Implements enforcement actions as directed.
Works with and assists property owners and land developers in application processes.
As assigned, attends meetings of the planning commission, City Council, and other advisory and informational local, state, and federal meetings to disseminate information, provide reports and recommendations and direct processes related to planning functions, projects and applications; and offers professional and technical assistance in planning matters.
Prepares applications for grants, reviews and prepares comments on federally assisted programs.
Meets with civic groups and individuals to explain policies, programs and procedures and to supply information as requested.
Provides information and assistance to people who request the same on planning matters.
Maintains effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials, city manager, department director staff, employees, other agencies, news media and the public.
Drafts and distributes a variety of correspondence, memoranda, and notices as needed.
Acts for the Director in his/her absence.
Performs other tasks as assigned.
PERIPHERAL DUTIES
May serve as a member of various employee committees.
Desired Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:
(A) Master's Degree in regional and city planning or related field, and
(B) Five (5) years' experience in planning, preferably in municipal government, and
(C) AICP Certification
(D) Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
(A) Knowledge of the principles and practices of planning and zoning, research methods and techniques used in planning, State and local laws and regulations affecting planning and subdivisions, computer applications for planning and GIS.
(B) Skill in operating the listed tools and equipment.
(C) Ability to organize and maintain multiple projects simultaneously; ability to comprehend and articulate complex facts and relationships in detail and to summarize and write clearly, concisely and legibly; prepare accurate, concise and comprehensive reports; make effective presentations to boards and groups; understand and establish statistical data and graphic material; manage and oversee federal and other grant programs and applications; maintain effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials, city manager, department director staff, employees, other agencies, news media and the public; follow verbal and written instructions; handle stressful situations and effectively deal with difficult or angry people.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Must possess a valid Montana State drivers license or have the ability to obtain one prior to employment.
Supplemental Information
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Personal computer, including word processing and database software; motor vehicle; telephone; mobile telephone, copy and fax machine.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works mostly in an office environment. Some exposure to outside weather conditions is required related to various land uses situations, applications and other matters and the employee may occasionally be subjected to wet, cold and/or icy conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
Whitefish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. The City of Whitefish does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, religion, creed, political idea, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity and/or expression in its hiring or employment practices.
The City of Whitefish provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
Employer City of Whitefish
Address PO BOX 158
Whitefish, Montana, 59937
Phone 406-863-2407
Website http://www.cityofwhitefish.gov