Urban Planning Jobs Key Terms

Look at careers to assist in the planning and development of your community

Upon hearing the term "urban planning", most people think of business and commercial zoning of a community. While this is part of the urban planning process, it is only a small portion of the many specialties within the industry. There are several areas in urban planning that you may not be aware of and that may interest you. The following key urban planning jobs can get you started on the right career path.

 

Urban planner

Urban planners (also known as regional planners) create short-term and long-term goals and plans for the growth and revitalization of a community. They make recommendations for the locations of new roads, schools, commercial zones and housing developments. They also make recommendations regarding what roads may need expanding to accommodate increasing traffic.
Try: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides in depth information about a career as an urban or regional planner.

Economic development regulatory manager

An economic development regulatory manager, also known as the director, supervises and administers the economic development team for a region. These managers assist in the development and implementation of programs designed to help the economic growth of a community through local government organizations.
Try: Visit the Missouri Office of Administration for details on its requirements for an economic development regulatory manager.

Code enforcement officer

Code enforcement officers enforce city codes and regulations. They hand out citations for ordinance violations, such as expired business licenses or non-compliance with zoning and waste disposal regulations. They also perform business license application inspections and verify building permits.
Try: Code enforcement officers are responsible for a number of other tasks. Refer to the job description on Employment 911 for more information.

Transportation services planning specialist

These individuals help plan city transportation services, such as the various forms of public transportation (bus, subway and the like), what routes and time schedules these services operate on, and how much it costs passengers to use them. A manager within this department helps to oversee various transportation programs and services to make sure they meet the intended standards.
Try: Read more about a transportation services planning manager's duties on the City of Chandler, AZ website.

Recreation specialist

Recreation specialists plan the recreational and sports activities within the city parks system. They plan, organize and carry out community events. They also regulate public access to parks and parks systems, such as determining the operating hours for public pools, or when parks open and close each day.
Try: The City of Columbia, MO provides details on the duties for a recreation specialist.

Architectural historian

Architectural historians work to preserve the history of a community. They must identify historical landmarks and buildings and perform research to ensure they serve an historical significance to the community. Once these historians determine that an location is a historic landmark, they work to protect it.
Try: The Idaho Division of Human Resources provides a clear explanation of what an architectural historian job entails.

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