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Position Summary

Responsible for supporting the planning, management, and completion of development projects on a variety of local government business units and civic engagement programs. Provides analytic capabilities to improve decision support for upper-level management, and maintains agile networks of action that strengthen city-wide efforts. Performs a variety of complex and technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.


Department : City Planning

Salary : $63,455 per year.

Union : This position is included in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 2719 bargaining unit and will be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.


  • WORK EXPERIENCE: The application must clearly show two (2) years of full-time experience in Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a related field . (Less than full-time experience will be calculated on a pro-rated basis.)
  • EDUCATION/TRAINING: The application must clearly show a Bachelor's Degree from a fully accredited institution in Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a related field. (See NOTE under General Application Requirements regarding education/training verification.)
  • EQUIVALENCY: Education/training and/or work experience may be substituted on a year - for - year basis if the application clearly shows the required number of years to meet the Total Qualifying Requirement for this position , based on the sum of work experience and education/training listed above . The Total Qualifying Requirement is (6) years.

General Position Duties

  • Performs entry-level professional work on key policy issues affecting the City, which may include: land use, sustainable development, economic growth, housing supply and affordability, climate change mitigation, transportation, fresh food access, community planning, and/or civic participation .
  • Researches and assists in the creation of topic-specific plans or policies to guide how the City of Pittsburgh addresses those issues outlined above.
  • Acts as a part of a team and coordinates the work of interns on assigned projects.
  • Facilitates discussions and builds professional relationships with other divisions, departments, state or federal agencies, advocacy groups, researchers, community stakeholders, and residents.
  • Provides support for and assists with the development and implementation of the City of Pittsburgh’s Comprehensive Plan.
  • Attends public meetings and hearings of planning and zoning boards and commissions.
  • Makes public presentations of reports and other findings to the public, city staff, boards and commissions, and elected officials.
  • Manages and directs the work of the consultant team retained to support planning projects; assists in the selection of project consultants.
  • Represents DCP at community meetings, conferences, etc., as needed.
  • Provides information for and participates in the development of grant applications.
  • Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Position Specific Duties

In addition to the position duties, the Development Review Planner also:

  • Checks applications for Basic Zoning Review and Site Plan Review for completeness.
  • Manages all aspects of the Basic Zoning Review and Site Plan Review processes to review applications for compliance with the applicable Zoning Code regulations. Works with architects, engineers, developers, property owners, and the public on these applications.
  • Reviews applications, site plans, surveys, landscape plans, grading plans, deeds, and related documents for compliance with the applicable Zoning Code regulations.
  • Prepares correspondence and reports involving a significant degree of narrative and technical information; prepares and conducts presentations on the same.
  • Establishes and maintains computerized files on applications, land use and zoning activities.
  • May provide significant active customer service for individual development applications and the broader development review process as a whole.

In addition to the position duties, the Historic Preservation Planner also:

  • Serves as a point of contact and representation for the Historic Review Commission (HRC).
  • Provides quality customer service to those submitting applications with the HRC in person, by email, and by telephone, and through the online permitting system.
  • Provides technical assistance to applicants in design and preservation matters.
  • Provides assistance and advances nominations for historic designation.
  • Evaluates projects, reviews, designs, and writes Certificates of Appropriateness.
  • Maintains and updates a variety of files, both physical and digital (e.g., historic resource spreadsheets, property information files, and historic photographs).

In addition to the position duties, the Public Art or Design Review Planner also:

  • Supports the Public Art Program, which maintains and preserves the city’s collection of monuments, memorials, and other works of public art.
  • Manages or supports all aspects of the Design Review Process to review the impact of development projects on the public realm. Works with architects, engineers, developers, property owners, and the public on design review applications.
  • Staffs the City's design review board, currently comprised as the Contextual Design Advisory Panel, or the Public Art and Civic Design Commission, by scheduling projects, preparing agendas, drafting letters, organizing materials, facilitating meetings, acting as recording secretar,y and presenting reports at public hearings and meetings.
  • Manages the staff design review process as it relates to review for architecture and urban design.
  • Provides customer service and guidance to applicants, property owners, Boards and Commissions, and to the public on public art projects or design review applications.

In addition to the position duties, the Climate Policy or Environmental Review Planner also:

  • Integrates climate mitigation strategies into operations within the Department of City Planning such as Institutional Master Plans and Neighborhood Plans.
  • Tracks and reports data relating to the City’s progress towards the 2030 climate goals.
  • Tracks and reports data for City compliance with environmental decrees and legislation.
  • Investigates district-scale energy and climate mitigation strategies.
  • Oversees implementation of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan and related plans. Compiles regular implementation progress reports.
  • Engages with local, state, and national organizations on topics related to sustainability and resilience.
  • Staffs the Sustainability, Resilience, and Equity Commission on Climate and convenes the Higher Education Climate Consortium.
  • Develops and implements strategies for integrating Sustainability in the City's operations.
  • Supports research of existing or potential business systems through interviews, observations, and analysis of financials, policies, procedures, and needs using approved systems analysis techniques.

In addition to the position duties, the Long-Range Planner also:

  • Supports other planners in or manages the development and implementation of plans in a specific geography (neighborhood or series of neighborhoods) or topic area (e.g., housing, vacant land, economic opportunity, building performance, food policy, mobility/transit-oriented development, climate mitigation and resilience).
  • Assists in the development of all or a portion of the City’s comprehensive plan, specific city plans, and the development and implementation of planning standards and criteria, and develops City policy for the development, growth, land use, equity, sustainability, transportation, natural resources, housing, and utilization of resources.
  • Plans, manages, and directs or supports major community and special planning projects.
  • Guides, reviews, and evaluates planning initiatives for complex and multifaceted development projects for their impact on the City and its neighborhoods, gives advice and direction, recommends modifications to plans and projects, and works with developers and community groups to find solutions to potential issues.
  • Provides strategic planning advice on long-range and short-term planning initiatives; develops policy and strategic alternatives regarding planning goals and makes recommendations on highly visible or sensitive issues to planning staff, city officials, boards, commissions, the public, and other stakeholders.
  • Oversees the production of plans, policies, and other project documents (i.e., whitepapers, maps, promotional materials, etc. ).
  • Conducts land use inventories and community processes in the review and evaluation of appropriate neighborhood zoning; assists in identifying and analyzing relevant zoning and land use issues.
  • Identifies opportunities for citizen participation in the government decision-making process; facilitates citizen access to appropriate channels; acts as liaison to individuals, community groups, business organizations; attends community meetings and hearings.