The City of Ithaca, NY is seeking qualified applicants for the role of Planner with the Department of Planning, Building and Development!
Ithaca is an exciting planning environment with an engaged public and brisk real estate development market. This position will serve as a key member of our department’s development review team, supporting the important work of three quasi-judicial boards. This position will be involved in long-range planning initiatives to achieve Council objectives of increasing our housing supply and fostering economic growth through land use regulations and innovative policies. Candidates with experience or interest in land use, historic preservation and zoning are encouraged to apply.
Our team is a dynamic group of professionals with expertise in planning, zoning, landscape architecture, sustainability, historic preservation and economic development. Our government and staff are dedicated to tackling the national and global issues of urban living locally through both long-range planning and strategic initiatives.
To view the complete job description, visit: Planner job description.
Minimum Qualifications: Either:
B. Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, historic preservation, public administration, public policy, economic development, engineering, environmental studies or a closely related field with similar course curriculum and one (1) year of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid and/or volunteer equivalent, in municipal, community or regional planning; or
C. An equivalent combination or training and experience as defined by limits of (a) and (b).
Note: College degrees must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and/or U.S. Secretary of Education. If an applicant’s degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, the applicant must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found at https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. Applicants are responsible for payment of the required evaluation fee.
Ithaca is an exciting planning environment with an engaged public and brisk real estate development market. This position will serve as a key member of our department’s development review team, supporting the important work of three quasi-judicial boards. This position will be involved in long-range planning initiatives to achieve Council objectives of increasing our housing supply and fostering economic growth through land use regulations and innovative policies. Candidates with experience or interest in land use, historic preservation and zoning are encouraged to apply.
Our team is a dynamic group of professionals with expertise in planning, zoning, landscape architecture, sustainability, historic preservation and economic development. Our government and staff are dedicated to tackling the national and global issues of urban living locally through both long-range planning and strategic initiatives.
To view the complete job description, visit: Planner job description.
Minimum Qualifications: Either:
A. Possession of a Master’s degree in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, historic preservation, public administration, public policy, economic development, environmental studies or a closely related field with similar course curriculum; or
B. Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, historic preservation, public administration, public policy, economic development, engineering, environmental studies or a closely related field with similar course curriculum and one (1) year of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid and/or volunteer equivalent, in municipal, community or regional planning; or
C. An equivalent combination or training and experience as defined by limits of (a) and (b).
Note: College degrees must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and/or U.S. Secretary of Education. If an applicant’s degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, the applicant must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found at https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. Applicants are responsible for payment of the required evaluation fee.
Salary: $64,517/year (2026 rate), and $66,453/year (2027 rate) with annual step and contractual raises as outlined in the Administrative Unit collective bargaining agreement.
Appointment Status and Exam Requirement: This will be a provisional appointment pending the results of a civil service examination to be scheduled at a later date. Permanent appointment will be dependent upon the candidate's exam score.
Residency Requirements: There are no residency requirements for this position.
Benefits: Refer to the Fringe Benefits webpage and Administrative Unit collective bargaining agreement.
Supplemental Information:
- The City of Ithaca values diverse perspectives and life experiences. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, veterans, people with disabilities, and those with lived experiences.
- The City of Ithaca is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the NYS Division of Human Rights (NYS DHR) it is the policy of the City to provide reasonable accommodation when requested without causing an undue hardship. If accommodation is needed, please call (607) 274-6539 or contact us by email using hrdept@cityofithaca.org.
Application Materials Required:
- City of Ithaca application
- Copy of college transcript
Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on August 17, 2026. Submit required application materials to:
https://ithaca-portal.mycivilservice.com
City of Ithaca
Human Resources Department
108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-6539
All applications must be submitted electronically through our online application program. We do not accept paper applications, faxed applications, e-mailed applications or photocopies of applications.
Ithaca is Gorges! We would love to have you on our team!
Issued: July 27, 2026
