Job Description:

Arlington Public Schools announces a vacancy for a Principal Planner (1.0 FTE). This full-time, 12-month, 260-day, Grade E-15 position is in the Department of Facilities and Operations (F&O). The Principal Planner is a critical role within Arlington Public Schools (APS), overseeing and ensuring the accuracy of data and analysis used in various planning initiatives, including enrollment projections and boundary reviews. The position involves leadership, collaboration, and project management, working closely with both internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Oversight & Quality Assurance (QA/QC): Ensures the precision of data and analytical methods for long-term planning initiatives, including 10-year enrollment projections and school boundary reviews.
2. Team Leadership: Supervises a team of planners and specialists, managing high-priority projects across instructional, business, and support domains.
3. Coordination with APS Staff: Works collaboratively with APS departments to support comprehensive planning processes.
4. Resource Management: Coordinates internal projects, ensuring the allocation of resources effectively.
5. Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Works with various APS departments to acquire necessary resources for planning initiatives.
6. Public Engagement: Leads and supports public engagement efforts, ensuring transparency and community involvement in planning decisions.
7. Liaison Role: Serves as the primary liaison with Arlington County Government's Planning Division and other agencies.

The Principal Planner synthesizes, analyzes, and evaluates diverse data sets using advanced mathematical, statistical, and geospatial techniques to support key planning functions. This includes analyzing enrollment data, school capacity, housing forecasts, student generation rates, and developing Capital Improvement Program (CIP) recommendations. The role also includes facilitating stakeholder engagement and data mapping, and it requires collaboration with APS staff, Arlington County Government, consultants, residents, and other stakeholders. The Principal Planner works with data from various systems, ensuring that all planning outcomes are comprehensive and accurate.

Experience Requirements:

• Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Experience working with diverse populations in a school setting.
• School / Urban Planning: Expertise in school and urban planning, including geographic, demographic, and student data analysis.
• Capital Improvement and Administration: Knowledge of capital improvement budgeting, procurement, and public sector administration.
• Community Engagement: Proficient in engaging with stakeholders through presentations and reporting.
• Local Knowledge: Familiarity with Arlington County and APS-specific data, policies, and procedures is preferred.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills for reporting, presentations, and interactions.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in Office365, GIS software, and other relevant planning tools.
• Adaptability and Resilience: Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and attend public meetings and presentations as required.

Qualifications:

• Education: A bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, business, planning, public policy, or a related field is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience totaling four years is acceptable.
• Experience: Five years of progressively responsible planning and project management experience, including:
  • Quality assurance/control of data, including estimates and projections.
  • Leading or supervising planning projects, utilizing project management tools for scheduling, tracking, risk analysis, team building, and delegation.
  • Coordinating and liaising with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Advanced Education: A master's degree may substitute for up to two years of experience.
• Supervisory Skills: Proven ability to supervise and manage staff, resources, and operations effectively.
• Technical Skills: Experience in geospatial analytics using enterprise systems such as ArcGIS is desirable.
• Licenses/Certifications: A valid driver's license is required. Certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and/or Project Management Professional (PMP®) is preferred.

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the planning and development of facilities and operations within APS, contributing to the overall educational experience of students and ensuring that resources are efficiently allocated for current and future needs.