The City of Lincoln, Nebraska is looking to hire an experienced Planner to be part of the Urban Development Department’s Economic Opportunity Division. The Urban Development department is responsible for managing Lincoln's share of federal Community Development Block Grant funds, serving as the City's Redevelopment Authority, coordinating acquisition of Right of Way and sales of City property, and managing public parking resources. The Economic Opportunity Division encourages and incentivizes neighborhood reinvestment and redevelopment projects and programs that strengthen Lincoln and its neighborhoods primarily using tax increment financing, but also with grants and other resources. The Division also works closely with our Livable Neighborhoods Division in planning projects and programs that improve the health and vitality of our low-to-moderate income neighborhoods and increase and maintain access to affordable housing.
Lincoln is a steadily growing city with a population of over 300,000. Our city has a diversified economic base, excellent school system with high graduation rates, a burgeoning startup community, and access to multiple higher education opportunities. This State Capital and college town offers the excitement of a big city with the convenience and friendliness of small-town living.
Lincoln continues to rank high among cities in the United States for its economy, jobs, parks and trails, health, happiness, etc. Lincoln ranks 9th as being one of the “Best-Run Cities in America,” WalletHub June 2026. Among state capitals, Lincoln ranks 6th overall for affordability, economic well-being, quality of life, education and health care according to a 2025 study by Wallethub.com. Lincoln is ranked number 39 of the “Top 100 Best Places to Live in the US” by livability.com, 2025. The City is also the 2nd most financially healthy City among the 75 most populous cities according to a 2025 analysis by truthinaccounting.org.
Lincoln is at the forefront of innovative policies and practices using Tax Increment Financing. The City incentivizes the use of TIF toward affordable housing. We also use TIF in bridging projects together to create more complete streets and connections to neighborhoods, parks, and public facilities. Lincoln is a great place to start your career or enhance your seasoned career in Planning. We look forward to meeting qualified candidates!
The position primarily includes professional work in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of redevelopment and revitalization projects and programs. Projects include working with neighborhoods on public reinvestment projects and private redevelopers and business owners on private reinvestment.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
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Directing, preparing, and implementing redevelopment and revitalization plans, agreements, projects, programs, and activities including mixed-use, commercial and residential redevelopment, and public streetscapes and other infrastructure improvement projects.
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Supervising and assisting in the compilation of social economic and planning data; applying various community and economic development techniques and planning principles used in the analysis of community planning problems; assisting in the interpretation and modification of sub-area plans and redevelopment plans; and, preparing studies and making recommendations to public officials.
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Administering and coordinating multiple redevelopment projects, including preparing budgets, identifying and establishing funding mechanisms, and implementing and monitoring projects in collaboration with developers, consultants, contractors, and other City staff.
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Providing leadership and staff support on various on-going, multi-departmental committees, programs, and planning efforts.
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Establishing and maintaining relationships with neighborhood, community, and business groups.
While the City prefers to hire an experienced candidate, the right combination of skills, abilities, and education may allow the best applicant to grow into the position through appropriate training. Applicants with varying levels of experience are encouraged to apply if they meet the minimum qualifications for a Planner I listed below.
Preferred Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in one of the social or engineering sciences, supplemented by a master’s degree in city, regional or urban planning and considerable experience in city planning.
Certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Necessary Minimum Qualifications for Planner I ($31.64- $42.20): Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in planning or in one of the related social or engineering sciences; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the desirable knowledge, abilities and skills.
Necessary Minimum Qualifications for Planner II ($36.62-$48.85): Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in one of the social or engineering sciences with planning experience in current or long-range planning or in one of the following specialties: transportation planning, historic preservation, wireless telecommunication facilities, or other specialized planning function; or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the desirable knowledge, abilities and skills.
