Under limited direction, the Planner III completes advanced professional work in long-range planning in connection with the administration of the City's Comprehensive Plan, Community Development Code, and special area and redevelopment plans. Provides leadership, expertise, and direction in the planning activities of the City.

• Provides advanced professional planning work in a variety of capacities, depending on Division, related to the use of land in the City including development review, site plan approval, signage, landscape review, zoning, land use, subdivision and major development permitting, and comprehensive planning.
• Provides extensive and professional customer service and technical assistance to the general public, design professionals, and other City departments via emails, phone calls, online meetings, and in person (walk-in or by appointment).
• Communicates the City's land development regulations clearly and concisely.
• Reviews plans and provides feedback and expertise on planning; assists applicants, owners, and others through permitting and applications; disseminates information and communicates extensively through the process of planning and development.
• Confers with outside agencies, officials, neighborhood groups, developers, design professionals, and realtors.
• Prepares comprehensive staff reports; analyzes and makes recommendations regarding on applications; presents findings to the Community Development Board, City Council and/or outside agencies.
• Participates in a variety of meetings and public hearings relating to planning.
• Manages large, complex projects.
• Exercises independent judgment, conferring with manager as needed.
• Conducts research and analysis and prepares reports on complex planning issues.
• Identifies community problems, issues, and opportunities in particular areas of the city that could be mitigated through better community planning.
• Makes recommendations for potential changes to the Community Development Code or other governing plans and prepares amendments as needed.
• Mentors and trains Planner Is and Planner IIs.
• Participates in various countywide work groups.
• Attends occasional evening and weekend meetings.
• Develops and leads community engagement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Long Range

• Performs and manages complex and sensitive professional planning projects, research and analysis.
• Processes petitions for annexation, land use amendments, zoning atlas amendments, development agreements, and amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Community Development Code.
• Develops special area plans, prepares technical reports, ordinances, Community Development Board and City Council agenda items; ensures all amendments are consistent with the Countywide Plan for Pinellas County and state statutes.
• Assists with the preparation of project scopes and manages the work of consultants related to planning.
• Develops and coordinates community engagement strategies, presents to community and business groups and engages the community as part of plans and projects.