Senior planners are advanced professionals who handle complicated planning tasks. Community development, hazard mitigation, transportation, land development, and land management are some of the settings in which they can work. Senior planners are often responsible for managing complex studies, consultant proposals, and other professionals and report to community officials or supervisory boards.
Senior planners must be able to write and present reports and projects to senior leaders on a regular basis, which necessitates advanced verbal and written communication skills. Additionally, advanced interpersonal skills are required. These professionals must successfully facilitate collaboration between various groups and individuals, many of whom have competing priorities and agendas. A successful senior planner will be an excellent organizer who can manage multiple aspects of a project at the same time. In this field, the ability to meet tight deadlines and manage projects within tight budgets is also crucial.
Senior planners work on long-term development projects that have a significant impact on the growth of cities and counties. They frequently review applications for residential, commercial, and industrial developments to ensure that they comply with local policies and ordinances. Senior planners also create new long-range planning documents and update those that are already in place. Senior planners are frequently required to evaluate and analyze architectural documents before construction can begin, so knowledge of relevant building codes is essential.
Senior planner positions typically require a master’s degree in planning or a related field, such as public administration or law, as well as at least four years of planning experience. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and six years of planning experience may be considered by some organizations. Most industries value certification from national planning associations, such as the AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) in the United States, in addition to a combination of education and experience.
While each country has its own certification process, the AICP process in the United States has some similarities. Professional planners must have a minimum number of years of planning experience in addition to their education in order to apply for AICP certification. With only two years of experience, professionals with a master’s degree in planning from a college or university accredited by the PAB (Planning Accreditation Board) are eligible to apply for AICP certification. A senior planner with a bachelor’s degree in planning from a PAB accredited program or with a master’s degree in planning from a non-accredited program can apply for certification after obtaining three years of experience. Professionals without a degree must have a minimum of eight years experience before applying, while those with any other degree major are eligible with four years of experience.