Planning Technician I

Requisition ID: 48855 Work Location: Planning - Municipal Center Pay Range: G.19, $41,294.70 - $64,006.79 Starting Salary: Depending upon Qualifications Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Part Time Hours/Wk: Job Open Date: 4/15/26 Application Deadline:

Job Duties:

The City of Virginia Beach is recruiting for a Planning Technician I to join the Zoning Division of the Planning & Community Development Department. This position will assist with the Board of Zoning Appeals Board, items that will be heard by the Planning Commission and City Council, and all other planning responsibilities within the Zoning Division.

Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinate and provide technical, research, geographic information system (GIS), other graphics, and document management support associated with BZA applications and other business processes.
• Ensure each BZA application is linked to an address and parcel number.
• Receive and process various submittal types, such as, but not limited to, BZA Variances, Appeals of a Zoning Administrator determination/decision, and Zoning Administrator Modification requests. Ensure each submittal contains all required documents and information for later analysis by the BZA Coordinator.
• Process payments associated with BZA submittals and other pertinent Planning Department items.
• Prepare agendas, legal advertisements, initial information for the BZA Coordinator, and graphics for BZA applications.
• Provide guidance to customers pertaining to BZA matters, general zoning regulations, and other regulatory requirements.
• Prepare maps in GIS and other formats for the BZA.
• Review and process various administrative applications, such as collocations of small cell towers.
• Prepare legal documents required by law to be sent to citizens.
• Communicate verbally and in writing with engineers, design professionals, City staff, and the general public regarding zoning issues and questions, site plan review, and other application processes.
• Review BZA plans, exhibits, and renderings for general compliance with zoning regulations (full analysis not required).
• Assist with public outreach when necessary.
• Using a City vehicle, perform site visits associated with all BZA submittals to photograph the properties and ensure proper public notice signs have been erected on-site by the landowner. Upload photos for use by the BZA Coordinator.
• Answer primary phone line, general email accounts, and assist walk-in customers by directing inquiries to the appropriate individual or team.
• Assist customers using Accela Citizen Access (ACA – online BZA application portal) and other online resources associated with Planning Department applications.
• Act as the clerk during the BZA public hearings.
• Assist with FOIA requests and other projects requiring research and information gathering from various sources.
• Perform other job duties requiring skills, knowledge, and physical requirements as demanded by those duties described or less. Individual assignments will be determined by the supervisor based on current workloads and department needs.
• Prepare special reports involving software programs using various computer files and provide data entry and information/report services in support of the other staff.

The City offers a generous benefits package, which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, holidays and leave.

**This position is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Once the appropriate applicant pool has been established, it will be closed.**

Official City Job Description:

https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/job-descriptions-pay-plans/Planning-Technician-I-00905.pdf

Working Conditions:

https://workingcondition-summary-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/B.002916.2.pdf

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications - Requires high school or GED plus two (2) years’ experience in fields providing the required knowledge, skills and abilities and associated with such positions as planning aide, research assistant, graphics assistant, or illustrator; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Special Requirements - All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.

Additional Requirements:

DMV Transcript: Required
CDL: Not Required
DOT History: Not Required
CPS Check: Not Required
Physical: Not Required
Respirator: Not Required
Polygraph Review: Not Required
Psychological Screening: Not Required

Attachments Required: Resume

Preferences:

Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Geography, Urban Studies, Architecture, or a related field, with a strong desire to gain real world experience for future planning department growth.
General knowledge of municipal planning department business practices.
Experience with development plans and data sets used in professional planning fields.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft suite (i.e., WORD, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), Adobe Acrobat Pro, SharePoint, and mapping software tools used in the planning profession, such as GIS and CAD
Demonstrate experience providing high quality customer service.

Special Instructions:

• Please complete the application in its entirety and include your resume if required by the posting.
• Your responses to any "Supplemental Questions", if attached to this requisition, must be supported by the information you provide on your application and/or resume; or otherwise demonstrated during the hiring process.
• You will not be able to access the details of this job ad once the closing date has passed. If you would like to retain this information, please take a screen shot or print using your browser's printing capability.

VRS Contribution: All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

Drug Free Workplace: The City of Virginia Beach maintains a drug free workplace.