Associate Planner Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Overview & Benefits
Oakland County is more than just a workplace. It is a place where you can make a real difference. As one of Michigan's leading public service organizations, we are committed to strengthening communities, delivering essential services, and improving the quality of life for nearly 1.3 million residents.
When you join our team, you become part of a mission-driven workforce guided by integrity, innovation, and a passion for public service. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters. Apply today and help shape the future of Oakland County, where we are All Ways Moving Forward.
For more information about Oakland County benefits and employee perks, please visit:
https://www.oakgov.com/government/human-resources/benefits/new-hire
General Summary
$67,241 - $90,090
This is a hybrid position
Are you passionate about community planning and development, land use, and creating vibrant places to live and work? As an Associate Planner, you'll play an important role by supporting planning initiatives and programs that promote smart growth principles, sustainable development strategies, and thriving communities. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career planning professional to gain hands-on experience, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve.
If you're eager to launch or grow your planning career while making a lasting impact on your community, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Do
• Assist with the planning, development, and implementation of countywide and community-specific planning initiatives and projects.
• Apply planning principles, methodologies, and applicable statutory requirements to land use and community planning initiatives.
• Conduct research on emerging trends in housing, mobility, environmental sustainability, resilience, demographic change, economic development and innovative approaches to growth management.
• Assist in developing economic, demographic, transportation, environmental, housing, recreation, and land use studies that support long-range planning efforts.
• Review and evaluate rezoning applications, community master plan updates and amendments, and prepare reports with recommendations for decision-makers.
• Present planning information and project updates at public meetings, stakeholder meetings, and other project-related events.
• Utilize county and department software applications to analyze data, prepare reports, and complete project assignments.
• Contribute to community engagement efforts, helping develop outreach strategies, managing event logistics, summarizing feedback, and supporting inclusive public participation.
Why You'll Love It Here
• You'll work alongside experienced planning professionals, contribute to meaningful projects, and gain valuable experience in land use planning, development review, community engagement, and long-range planning.
• You will build strong professional skills in research, project coordination, time management, and technical reporting.
• Community meetings, events, trainings, and real-world project involvement will give you practical insight into community and place-based development.
• Your work will support programs, initiatives, trainings, and analysis that preserve local character, promote community identity, and strengthen partnerships.
Minimum Qualifications
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
WITHIN GENERAL PLANNING

• Analyzes defined planning issues, and develops specific related goals and objectives.
• Assists in implementing planning projects and strategies, and monitoring and evaluating them.
• Assists in developing methodologies and structure for planning projects including legal requirements and best practices for implementation.
• As assigned performs research and analysis on new and emerging techniques for land use control and change management.

• Prepares impact analyses on basic submitted land use proposals and issues, master plan elements and other special studies.
• Prepares reports and makes recommendations on less complex rezoning proposals and master plans, and makes presentations to government officials and citizens.
• Researches social, economic, housing, transportation, land use and other data for county planning purposes.
• As directed represents the division and confers with personnel of other agencies, public officials, other employees and the public.
• Assists in the collection of data for county planning projects using a variety of techniques, including the use of statistics.
• Participates as a presenter at project related meetings.
• May be required to work an adjusted schedule involving evening hours and/or weekends to attend municipal boards and related project meetings or activities.
• Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a typical office environment.
May be required to travel to business and/or construction sites.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The primary purpose of this job description is to set a fair and equitable salary range for this job classification. Generally, only those key duties necessary for proper job evaluation and/or labor market analysis have been included. Other duties and responsibilities will be assigned by the supervisor.
EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS & ABILITIES
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
WITHIN THE GENERAL CLASS AND GIS
1. Possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography or a related field.
2. Have had at least one (1) year of full-time progressively responsible work experience in city, county or regional planning, private consulting planning, Geographic Information Systems, or other closely related professional planning experience.
WITHIN ALL AREAS
NOTE: A Master's Degree in one of the above fields listed in number 1 above for each function may be substituted for the work experience listed in number 2 above for each function.
3. Must maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license. Out of Country driver's license holders will be required to obtain the appropriate valid State of Michigan driver's license before the hire date.
4. Pass the complete examination, including the employment medical, established for this classification.
5. Successfully complete the six month probationary period.
ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
1. Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of city, urban, and regional planning.
2. Considerable knowledge of the relationship of different land uses, of the economic factors in influencing urban development, and of the general legal and social determinants of community development.
3. Considerable knowledge of and ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail and Internet software.
4. Reasonable knowledge of anticipated and accepted local, state and federal planning practices according to legislation affecting land use planning.
5. Reasonable knowledge to correlate court cases and legal precedents and decisions to land use, zoning and subdivision control.
6. Reasonable ability to apply and identify data research techniques in the preparation and presentation of comprehensive master plans.
7. Reasonable ability to speak effectively before professional and civic groups public gatherings, and in presenting reports, plans, proposals and recommendations to government committees and agencies.
8. Reasonable ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with administrators, public and private officials or organizations and the general public.
9. Reasonable ability to follow complex written and oral instructions.
10. Reasonable ability to make routine decisions in accordance with established departmental policies and procedures.
11. Ability to use standard computer GIS, desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheet and database programs.
12. Reasonable knowledge of the principles, techniques and source of information applicable to the collection, compilation, analysis and presentation of data pertaining to city, urban, land use planning.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Must maintain a valid motor vehicle operator or chauffeur's license.
Additional Minimum Qualifications
Union*
BU91 - United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 889: Economic Dev Non-Supv
*If applicable
EEO Statement
We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.
Inclusion Statement
Oakland County is committed to welcoming applicants from all backgrounds, including those with prior convictions, as we believe in providing equal opportunities for all. We value the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings to our team and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, supportive workplace. If you have the skills and qualifications for the position, we encourage you to apply. All candidates are evaluated based on their ability to meet the job requirements, legal obligations and thrive in our organization. All ways, MOVING FORWARD.