Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.

OUR ORGANIZATION

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

WHY CHOOSE CHATTANOOGA?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees.
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.
• Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

SALARY:

$27.01 - $32.96 per hour (GS.10)

WORK HOURS:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST) *Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

WORK LOCATION:

1250 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA STATUS:

This is a Non-exempt position.

DEPARTMENT:

City Planning

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:

Incumbents in this classification are responsible for providing professional expertise in all aspects of the planning and development process, including policy formulation, neighborhood planning, transportation planning, land use and redevelopment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

• Develops various plans, studies and analyses on a municipal, county or regional basis and provides planning assistance to member communities on various land use and transportation projects.
• Conducts research and prepares statistical reports on land use, transportation, physical, social and economic issues and trends, other planning related studies; and updates existing plans, studies, programs and regulations.
• Prepares planning documents such as community plans, policies, ordinances, regulations, grant applications, technical reports and requests for proposals. Develops project budgets, administers bidding processes, verifies contract expenditures and compliance.
• Performs field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and to verify that development projects comply with approved plans.
• Presents reports and other findings to staff, appointed boards and elected officials and serves as liaison to the same. Attends a substantial number of evening and weekend meetings.
• May serve as a lead to lower level staff which includes prioritizing and assigning work; training staff on work methods and procedures.
• Creates a variety of materials such as maps, reports and brochures, visual presentations, site plans and renderings for presentation in meetings and to facilitate community education and outreach activities with neighborhood associations, advisory boards and elected officials.
• Reviews zoning and development proposals and prepares findings for Planning Commission(s) which includes but is not limited to organizing meetings, preparing informational packets for members and performing other related activities.
• Reviews and monitors projects to ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal guidelines.
• Communicates and collaborates with a variety of agencies, governmental departments, consultants, boards and community organizations on plans and studies; organizes, conducts and facilitates meetings with neighborhood associations, advisory boards and elected officials.
• Monitors development and zoning activity in an assigned area of the County and answers inquiries from the general public.
• Represents the Agency, County and jurisdictions and serves as a technical resource on a variety of committees, task forces and/or other related groups. Reviews, interprets and applies federal, state and local regulations as they relate to planning projects.
• Evaluates recommendations for land use, transportation, capital improvement and other areas to be adopted as guides for public policy; works with stakeholders to update and implement plan recommendations.
• Updates and maintains a variety of records, files and related planning information.
• Must meet regular attendance requirements.
• Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.
• Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning or related field and three (3) years experience, to include professional-level work in urban development, planning or geographic information systems (GIS), as well as community outreach and decision making processes or any combination of equivalent experience and education.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:

Valid Driver's License

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Knowledge of one or more planning disciplines such as urban design, affordable housing, economic or community development, environmental/natural resources planning, historic preservation or land use; research methods; environmental planning principles; mathematical concepts, including statistical methods; site planning and architectural design principles; planning terminology, methods, materials, practices and techniques; budgeting principles; customer service and public relations principles; mapping software applications; project management principles and practices; applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.

Skill in prioritizing and assigning work; using computers and related software applications; providing customer service; implementing public relations programs; managing projects; managing multiple priorities simultaneously; manipulating GIS data; performing mathematical calculations; compiling data from multiple external sources; designing and executing surveys; reading and interpreting architectural and engineering drawings; reading maps and scales; conducting research; interpreting and applying applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; organizing, collecting and analyzing data; resolving conflict; creating and giving presentations; speaking in public and effective writing techniques, preparing reports and documents; communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with co-workers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

This is a transportation federal process planning and air quality/environmental specialist area position. The candidate will need to be versed in state and federal transportation legislation, with specific experience in MPO requirements for the Transportation Improvement Program.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Positions in this class typically require reaching, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work. Incumbents may be subjected to extreme temperatures.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: N Department of Transportation - CDL: N Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans 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.

JES 3.26.25

KJF