Urban Planning Jobs in Rochester, MN (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $79,473.00 - $112,198.00 Annually
Location : Development Services and Infrastructure Center, 4001 West River Parkway NW, Rochester, MN 55901, MN
Job Type: Regular FT
Job Number: 20260049
Department: Community Development
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The City of Rochester invites applications for the position of:
Planner
Community Development
The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging. We commit to recognizing the diversity of our community members, listening to ALL voices and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play and work.
We believe EQUITY should be at the center of all our work. We strive to represent our community in our teammates, as we know that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, and have an empowering impact on the work, progress and culture of our community.
It takes us all working together
Nature of Work
The Planner position provides professional expertise and assistance for a range of planning, development, economic development and related department services and activities. Typical job duties include, but are not limited to: facilitating the predevelopment review process; serving as a City representative in providing information, education, and findings to City Council, commissions, boards, community groups, and the public; compiling data, maintaining records, and completing studies and analyses to provide a sound foundation for policy recommendations and decision making; and performing special project planning work as assigned.
The Planner is part of a team that promotes an overall positive customer service experience within the development services area and contributes to the city's vision to create a vibrant, compassionate and innovative team.
Pay:
The 2026 salary hiring range is $79,473 to $93,500, depending on qualifications, with advancement to $112,198.
Benefits:
This position is eligible for benefits offered by the City of Rochester. Please check out the benefits tab at the top of the page for more details.
To have your application considered for the first round of interviews, please apply by Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
The City of Rochester will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
*Facilitate the development review process

• Provide information and assistance to developers and to citizens regarding development approval requirements.
• Review plans and prepare reports on development requests; consult with planning peers in peer review on planning projects; and perform site visits as needed.
• Conduct zoning review on building permits.
• Ensure compliance with zoning and other related codes; collaborate with City teammates to ensure zoning compliance with building construction and public realm impacts.

*Serve as a City representative in providing information, education, and findings to City Council, commissions, boards, community groups, and the public.

• Assist the public with planning and zoning questions.
• Present reports to commissions and boards for map amendments, subdivisions, variances, conditional use permits, and similar planning applications.
• Ensure increased understanding and support for departmental programs, services, and policies within the City and organization.

*Play an integral part in the City's transportation planning efforts.

• Complete preliminary subdivision reviews for street classifications.
• Update the street classification map (and GIS layer) to align major roadways with the City's Long range Transportation Plan.
• Serve as the Community Development staff representative to the Rochester Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) Transportation Technical Advisory Committee.

*Compile data, maintain records, and complete studies and analyses to provide a sound foundation for policy recommendations and decision making

• Confirm planning and project reporting is timely, thorough, and provides an accurate and current measure of actions taken to create and maintain quality land development services for the community.
• Utilize GIS and other resources to compile data, perform requested data analyses and mapping in support of project review and research.
• Maintain the City's zoning and land use maps.

Special project planning work based on skills, interest, and talents of incumbents may be assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.
*ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
A Bachelor's degree in municipal and regional planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, or a related field from an accredited college or university with one year of municipal planning, economic development, or community development experience.
OR
A Master's Degree in municipal and regional planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
OR
An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job may also be considered
Licenses and/or Certifications
If this work interests you but you are unsure if you meet all the job requirements listed above, please apply anyway! Your experience is likely more applicable to the role than you think, and the City is interested in candidates who can bring not only technical expertise but a variety of lived experience to the team.
Licenses and/or Certifications
Possession of a valid driver's license
Desirable Qualifications
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
Professional public sector experience
Multi-lingual
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.
In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to
2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:
Frequent demands: Sitting and Fine Dexterity
Occasional demands: Pushing/Pulling, Kneeling, Crouching, Lifting, Handling, Reaching, Carrying, Standing, Walking
Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include: sight, hearing, touch.
Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions)
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT AND RETIREMENT SUMMARY
01
By completing your application and supplemental questions you are attesting all information is true, accurate, and verifies your relevant education and experience. Your submitted materials will be used to determine your employment eligibility.Do you understand and agree with this statement?

• Yes
• No

02
What is your preferred name?
03
Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status)?

• Yes
• No

04
Which of the following best describes your level of education?

• High school diploma or equivalent G.E.D.
• Less than 2 years post-secondary training
• Completion of a 2 year program or degree
• Completion of a 4 year program or degree
• Completion of a Master's degree or higher
• None of the above

05
Other than your High School diploma/GED, which of the following best describes the field of study for your degree?

• Municipal and Regional Planning
• Urban Planning
• Landscape Architecture
• A field of study closely related to the above
• My degree is in an area NOT RELATED to any of the above
• N/A - I do not have a degree

06
Which of the following best describes your years of full-time employment experience working in municipal planning, economic development, or community development?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 5
• More than 5 years, but less than 7
• More than 7 years

07
Tell us how your professional, educational and lived experiences would help you be successful in this role.
08
Do you have a current American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification

• Yes
• No

09
Which of the following best describes your years of full-time equivalent employment experience working with state and local land development ordinances and regulations?

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• More than 6 months, but less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 4
• More than 4 years, but less than 5
• More than 5 years, but less than 7
• More than 7 years, but less than 10
• 10 or more years

10
Which of the following best describes your years of full-time equivalent employment experience responding to construction contractors and/or developers?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 5
• More than 5 years, but less than 7
• More than 7 years

11
In which of the following areas do you have experience? (Check all that apply)

• Zoning change requests
• Conditional use permits
• Annexations
• Reviewing construction plans for compliance with local zoning and land development regulations
• Reviewing site plans for compliance with local zoning and land development regulations
• Land subdivisions
• Issuing variances
• Utilizing GIS or other mapping software
• Utilizing Accela Software
• Presenting to boards, councils, commissions or other formal bodies.

12
Do you have experience working with diverse populations and/or individuals with backgrounds different than your own?

• Yes, I have extensive experience in this area.
• Yes, I have limited experience in this area.
• No, I do not have experience in this area.

13
Briefly describe your experience working with diverse populations and/or individuals with backgrounds different than your own. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided.
14
Do you have a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

15
The City of Rochester aspires to be the most innovative Community Development Department in the country. What do you feel will be needed to achieve this vision? What value will you add in realizing this vision?
16
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: If selected as a finalist, are you willing to undergo a background investigation which may include, but not limited to: verification of employment and educational records, identification verification, driver's license record and a criminal history?

• Yes
• No

Required Question