About this Sr. Planner - Zoning & Design role at The City of Fort Worth
Pay Range: $34.45 - $44.79/hr. | $71,661 - $93,159 annual compensation
Job Posting Closing on: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 📅
Workdays & Hours: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm; Some evening/weekend work required.
Benefits for this position include: 11 Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Pension Plan, and Professional Development Opportunities. Find Out More!
The City of Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. Our employees serve the needs of over 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability. 🌆
The Development Services Department seeks to make Fort Worth the most livable city in Texas by promoting orderly growth and development, safe construction and neighborhood vitality. We are looking for individuals that reflect our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.
The Zoning and Design Review Division of the Development Services Department is seeking a Sr. Planner to join our team. The Zoning and Design Review Division oversees the following functions for the city: assessment and recommendations for zoning, site plans, plats, annexations, street and alley vacations; tree removal; variances, special exceptions, and waivers; historic preservation; urban design; code amendments to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances; Council-initiated zoning and special reports; zoning determinations including legal nonconformity; reasonable accommodations; and collaboration with other city departments on the production of small area and corridor plans.
The Division manages the following boards and commissions comprised of City Council-appointed citizens: City Plan Commission; Zoning Commission; Board of Adjustments; Urban Design Commission; Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission; and Downtown Design Review Board. Additionally, the Division is responsible for leading the Development Review and Annexation Review Committees, which are comprised of city staff.
The Sr. Planner will report to a Planning Manager. This position is responsible for leading projects that involve a high level of critical analysis and may be politically sensitive. The ability to collaborate, organize and obtain information from internal and external stakeholders is paramount. While the position has no formal supervisory duties, the position may be tasked to assist with providing guidance and oversight of subordinate staff in the Planning Manager’s absence.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Planning, Urban Planning or Design, Public Administration, Urban Geography, or a related field
- Five (5) years of experience as a planner in one or more of the following areas – zoning, platting, historic preservation, urban design, annexation, tree preservation, landscape design, architecture, and/or site plan review
- Valid Texas driver's license
- For this job description, there is no applicable education substitution for the minimum qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience as a planner directly responsible for projects involving zoning, platting, historic preservation, urban design, annexation, tree preservation, landscape design, architecture, and/or site plan review
- Experience involving the entitlement and development review process; and demonstrated knowledge of the various municipal and other regulatory requirements as they relate to the development review process
- Experience preparing for and presenting to city Boards and Commissions
- Accreditations in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Congress for New Urbanism Accredited (CNU-A), AIA (American Institute of Architects) and/or ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects)
- Recent experience utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS); permitting software; SketchUp or similar 3D design software; and Adobe Creative Suite
- Microsoft Office skills
The Sr. Planner - Zoning & Design job responsibilities include:
- Analyze and interpret complex planning, zoning, and land use activities for Commissions, Boards, developers and the general public
- Prepare clear and concise staff reports with professional recommendations toward regulatory compliance, consistency with adopted plans, and compatibility with surrounding properties and land uses
- Review site plans, building elevation plans, landscape plans, and other site design and land use related items for compliance with city ordinances, the comprehensive plan and area plans
- Perform strategic planning tasks related to comprehensive and specific area planning including the collection, analysis, and presentation of relevant social, economic, and physical data essential to planning activities
- Prepare code amendments and associated tasks including research, data collection, and project management
- Build effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and staff
- Make presentations to various audiences including internal staff, boards and commissions, and neighborhoods
- Attend neighborhood meetings and assist in the advancement of planning knowledge
- Assist with providing guidance and oversight of subordinate staff in the Planning Manager’s absence
- Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
- Perform other related duties as required
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically require touching, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking, repetitive motions, climbing, balancing, pushing, pulling and lifting; depending on assignment. Incumbents may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, odors, dusts, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting and intense noises.
Light Work – Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly having to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for the Sedentary Work category and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated Light Work.
Apply Now! Come be part of something special in Fort Worth. 🌟
Conditions of Employment
The City of Fort Worth is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is the policy and practice of the City to recruit, hire, train and promote a diverse workforce without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or another non-merit factor.
The City of Fort Worth is committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions.
Candidates who do not meet the Education requirement, may be considered if they have more relevant work experience than the position requires. Those selected for employment will be required to pass Pre-Employment checks depending on the position requirements. Those could include, but are not limited to: criminal background check, drug screen, education verification, etc. criminal convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Employees are paid by direct deposit only.
