Placemaking Planner III (12764, Grade 28)

The Montgomery County Planning Department seeks a Placemaking Planner III to lead public space projects and events across Montgomery County, MD. This role involves collaborating with community groups and stakeholders to implement creative placemaking initiatives, including public art and street safety projects. The position requires fieldwork and interaction with various partners, emphasizing community engagement and sustainable development.
Salary: $74,442.00 - $134,271.00 Annually
Location : Wheaton, MD
Job Type: Career
Job Number: 12764
Department: MC Planning
Division: Design, Placemaking & Policy Division
Opening Date: 11/12/2025
Closing Date: 12/12/ :59 PM Eastern

Description
The Montgomery County Planning Department is seeking a creative and community-driven Placemaking Planner III to join ourPlacemaking Team, part of the Design, Placemaking and Policy Division. This role leads public space activations, events, and design interventions across Montgomery County, collaborating with local organizations, agencies, and residents to bring planning ideas to life. From tactical urbanism and public art to small business support and ecological demonstrations, you'll shape vibrant, inclusive spaces that reflect community identity and advance equity, safety, and sustainability. If you're passionate about placemaking and ready to make a visible impact, we want to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to have a broad impact on the county's public realm, advocating for unique solutions to maximize value of outdoor spaces, and shaping how residents and businesses interact within their communities throughout Montgomery County.

As a Placemaking Planner III , you will lead placemaking projects and events throughout Montgomery County, from conception to implementation. Projects will vary in scale and focus, including public space activations, street safety initiatives, public art installations, ecological demonstrations, small business attraction and support as well as tactical urbanism efforts. Most projects will be implemented using a combination of inhouse resources and working with specialized consultants. Such projects are intended to be collaborative efforts that demonstrate the potential of various planning policies and initiatives for residents and business owners. This role is highly collaborative in nature and requires regular interaction with community groups, county agencies, business owners, and various stakeholders. Fieldwork and occasional evening and weekend events may be required. Read more about Montgomery Planning's Placemaking Strategic Plan

Examples of Important Duties

Effectively plan, implement, and manage mid-to-large scale special events and programs, ensuring creative components, technical, and logistical elements are coordinated. Foster, develop and nurture internal agency relationships and external community partnerships, including property-owners and community members, to implement public space activations and programs. Actively pursue, support, and execute innovative new ideas and best practices for place-based improvements and programming that advance Placemaking priorities in the Placemaking Strategic Plan and Planning Department Strategic Plan. Develops concepts and framework for countywide placemaking activities ranging from small temporary installations to large multi-day events and semi-permanent builds in consultation with county agencies and community organizations. Research and manage permitting related to installations and events. Facilitate consultant calls, request for proposals, requests for qualifications, and other consultant selection processes. Serve as a liaison between artists, architects, contractors, developers, county agencies, and community groups. Pursue, manage, and implement Placemaking related grants and awards. Support website maintenance efforts and promote the department's placemaking initiatives in partnership the Communications Team. Skills and Qualities Proven ability to plan and execute mid to large-scale events Ability to develop and maintain positive internal and external relationships Strong project management skills and ability to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines Experience in cultural and place-based programming for a diverse community Excellent written and verbal communication skills Bilingual/multilingual communication skills are not required but considered a strength Ability to take initiative, problem solve, and meet independent goals and work as a team Knowledge and direct experience with industry standards/principles, trends and practices of event management, marketing, artist/vendor booking, project management, risk management and event safety Knowledge of special events equipment including décor, tenting, sound, lights, staging, and general event equipment Knowledge of public art grants opportunities and experience researching and writing grants Must have flexibility and willingness to work evenings and weekends, when required. Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Urban Design, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Economics or any related field. Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience related to specific area of assignment such as transportation planning, environmental planning or urban planning. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total eight (8) years. Valid driver's license (depending on area of assignment) in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver's license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee's ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.
Supplemental Information
Classification Specification: Planner III

About Us:

Montgomery Planning is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). For nearly 100 years, M-NCPPC has had a national reputation for excellence in planning and today serves a culturally diverse population of over one million people in Montgomery County. We provide county-wide planning functions including long range planning, as well as reviews of development applications covering a range of natural and built environments from downtown urban districts, suburban communities, and agricultural areas. We have pioneered nationally modeled programs in agricultural preservation, inclusionary housing, and transit-oriented design. To learn more about who we are and what we do, we encourage you to watch this brief video and visit our website at

The M-NCPPC offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, generous leave plans, an employee pension plan, and a deferred compensation plan. Positions may qualify for public service student loan forgiveness. Montgomery Planning is conveniently located minutes from Washington, DC in downtown Wheaton, MD next to the Wheaton Metro Station, several bus lines, and bikeshare. A commuter stipend is available. Telework opportunities (up to two days a week) and tuition assistance are also available. We work in one of the first LEED Platinum-certified government-owned office buildings in Maryland.

May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.

The salary range listed above represents the earning potential for this position. Salary is commensurate with experience. This position is eligible for a sign-on bonus (external candidates only).

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of application at (Maryland Relay 7-1-1). M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

2025 BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR MERIT SYSTEM EMPLOYEES

The following benefit summary is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor should be construed as an employment agreement with the M-NCPPC, implied or actual. It is not all-inclusive and is subject to change. Benefits listed are extended to all Merit System employees of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). All plans are optional except the Defined Benefit and Long-Term Disability plans.

Eligibility
You have 45 days from your hire date to elect your benefits. Your coverage begins on the first of the month following receipt of your enrollment forms and required documentation.

Retirement Programs Defined Benefit Plan (Mandatory Participation) - Plan E excludes FOP members.
Plan Employee Contribution Plan C 9.5%* of base salary (FOP members only)Plan E 4% of base salary up to maximum Social Security Wage Base (SSWB) and 8% in excess of SSWB. Deferred Compensation ICMA-RC 457 plan (Optional) Traditional and Roth IRAs (Optional)
Health Insurance Plans (FOP Members Pay 23% for Medical, Prescription and Dental and same as all other employees for Vision.) All other employees pay percentage below. Medical Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) with Prescription Plan - (15%) UnitedHealthcare Select Exclusive Provider Organization Health Plan (EPO) - (20%) UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Point of Service (POS) - (20%) Prescription - CVS Caremark - (15%) Dental - Delta Dental PPO and DeltaCare USA HMO - (20%) Vision - EyeMed - (80% of Low Option plan paid by Commission. Any balance paid by employee.) Low, moderate, and high options are available. Frequency of covered services differs.
Flexible Spending Accounts (Employee Pays 100%) Medical Account - Maximum annual contribution: $3,200 Dependent Care Account - Maximum annual contribution: $5,000
Long-Term Disability Insurance (Mandatory Participation) Employee Pays 20%: Commission Pays 80% (FOP Members Pay 100%) Benefits paid at 66 2/3% of base salary, maximum of $6,000/month
Supplemental Long-Term Disability Insurance (Employee Pays 100%) Benefits paid at 66 2/3% of base salary that exceeds $108,000; capped at $216,000
Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (Employee Pays 20%: Commission Pays 80%) Two (2) times base salary; maximum benefit is $200,000 for each Automatic coverage with opt-out provision
Supplemental and Spouse/Dependent Life Insurance (Employee Pays 100%) Supplemental - 1,2,3,4, or 5 times base salary; maximum benefit is $750,000 Spouse/Dependent Combination - $10,000/$5,000, $20,000/$10,000, or $30,000/$15,000
Sick Leave Bank (Contribution and Benefit hours prorated for part-time employees) Employees have 60 days from date of hire to enroll. Employee contributes 8 leave hours each year Annually covers up to 688 hours for own serious medical condition, and 480 hours for parental responsibilities (birthadoption or foster care), and 80-160 hours for serious medical condition of an immediate family member
Leave Programs Annual: 15 days per year Personal: 3 days per year (12-month waiting period) Sick: 15 days per year Holidays: 11 days per year
Other Benefits Credit Union Employee Assistance Plan Legal Services Plan Tuition Assistance Program Wellness Program Work-Life Program
For a more detailed description of benefits, please contact the Commission's Health and Benefits Office at or .
01

Describe the type of large-to-mid sized, place-based events you have planned and your specific role for those events.
02

Describe your experience in contracting with vendors, fabricators, and entertainers and applying for permits and installing temporary and semi-permanent public space improvements.
03

Describe your experience conducting outreach for events with community groups, residents, and/or business owners using place-based strategies.
Required Question