Land Use Planner

McGuireWoods LLP is hiring a Land Use Planner for their Tysons, VA office to advise clients on zoning and land use matters in Northern Virginia. The role involves conducting due diligence, negotiating with government entities, and managing community engagement for development approvals. Candidates should have a degree in Planning and experience with zoning ordinances. The position offers a hybrid remote work option for flexibility.
Overview

McGuireWoods is seeking a Land Use Planner to join our Tyson’s team and advise clients on zoning and land use matters throughout Northern Virginia. This is a unique opportunity for a planning professional with deep knowledge of local jurisdictions to lead complex development projects from concept through approval.

McGuireWoods, one of the world’s leading law firms, has provided legal solutions to corporate, individual and nonprofit clients since 1834. Diversity and inclusion are essential to how we do business, informing how we recruit, retain and promote lawyers and staff to serve clients. Along with excellent benefits, McGuireWoods offers most employees a hybrid remote option allowing flexibility and work-life balance. Our Applicant Disclosures describe your rights. Our Privacy Statement describes how we will process and safeguard your personal data.

Responsibilities
• Conducts extensive land use due diligence on properties, including analysis of Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances and Comprehensive Land Use Plans as to the best strategy for gaining local government approval of development proposals.
• Negotiates with local government staff and other private/public agencies to obtain development approvals and related site work and construction approvals. Includes preparation of application forms, exhibits, affidavits, proffers and related materials for zoning applications.
• Designs/implements community engagement strategies on behalf of the client throughout the development approval process (typically a 12-24 month process) to solicit community support for development applications.
• Coordinates, reviews and comments on the work of client sub-consultants (architects, landscape architects, civil engineers, traffic engineers, historic preservation and wetlands consultants, for example) in the preparation and approval of development applications.
• Prepares and makes presentations on behalf of clients to land use committees, civic associations, planning commissions and local governing bodies to obtain development approvals.
• Facilitates the approval of other government approvals, such as site/building permits once the land use and zoning approvals have been obtained.
• Confers with transactional real estate attorneys to coordinate transactional matters on development approvals such as preparation of zoning compliance letters.
• Participates in marketing events, professional associations and pro bono cases to promote the Firm’s work.
• Conducts research and analysis of complicated land use regulatory issues as they impact client projects.
• Reviews comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances and subdivision ordinances and provides recommendation to local governments regarding the structure, content and application of the documents in relation to the localities land use goals.

Qualifications
• Requires the successful completion of a Bachelor of Arts or Master’s Degree in Planning from an accredited university.
• Previous experience working with zoning ordinances, comprehensive plans, re-zoning applications, site and subdivision plans.
• Also prefer professional certification obtained through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
• In-depth knowledge of local government land use, zoning and planning policies and codes.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Planning and organizational skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Negotiation.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Local travel required.
• Ability to work under time restraints and deadlines.
• Ability to analyze and conclude.
• PC skills to include Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, GIS, etc.

Have more questions? Connect with a recruiter directly.