Historic Preservation Lead Planner

Posting Close Date

Applicants must submit their completed application by 07-05-2026 at 11:59 p.m. MST

Application and Special Instructions

As part of the application process, all applicants are required to submit a chronological resume and cover letter at the time of the application.

Applications that do not include both documents by the closing date of the recruitment will be considered incomplete and will not receive further consideration for this recruitment.

The highest scoring applicants will be invited to participate in an interview.

INTERVIEW INFORMATION: The highest scoring applicants will be invited to participate in Microsoft Teams interviews on July 20, 21, and 22, 2026.

Hiring interviews may be conducted on TBD.

The City of Tucson does not provide VISA sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Relocation expenses will not be provided for this position. Candidates are responsible for all costs associated with relocating to the Tucson area, if applicable.

Recruiter contact information: If you have any questions, please contact

ABOUT THIS JOB

Position Specific Summary

The Historic Preservation Lead Planner position at the City of Tucson’s Planning and Development Services Department is responsible for supporting a variety of historic preservation and land use planning projects, reviewing proposed developments and demolitions for compliance with codes and policies, coordinating and staffing committee and board meetings, conducting historical research and evaluations, reviewing historic preservation reports, managing historic preservation projects, conducting community outreach, gathering technical information, and assisting the public regarding zoning, land use, and historic preservation.

Work is performed under the supervision of the Historic Preservation Officer. This position leads and instructs the daily operational work of planning personnel.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts review of applications for historic preservation and special districts cases. Reviews for application completeness, as well as compliance with applicable plans, and codes. Provides feedback and comments to applicants on the application process for projects in historic and special districts ensuring Secretary of the Interior's Standards and the Historic Preservation Zone (HPZ) guidelines.

• Writes reports, documents findings, drafts ordinances and related materials. Reviews pre-submittal applications, development packages, construction documents, and other plans for compliance with historic preservation and special district standards.

• Coordinates review of applications by Boards, Committees and Commissions (BCCs). Reviews public notifications, and compiles comments. Presents cases to HPZ Advisory Boards, Tucson Pima County Historic Commission (TPCHC), Infill Incentive District (IID), Main Gate District (MGD), District Design Review Committees (DRC), and Design Review Board (DRB). Reviews the progress of projects in the online system. Closes cases, files and assists with record management.

• Ensures that development activity within the City of Tucson complies with all federal, state, and local guidelines for the protection of cultural resources. Manages cultural resource consultants, and coordinates with city departments, the State Historic Preservation Office, tribal governments, and other entities. Supports the cultural compliance review work of the Historic Preservation Office as needed.

• Participates in historic preservation projects including historic surveys, context statements, designations, nominations, and interpretive projects. Participates in planning projects including general plan updates, neighborhood and corridor plans, and code updates. Assists with technical analysis, contributes to grant applications, helps identify community needs and suggests policy solutions.

• Assists in reviewing and preparing materials (e.g. letters to consulting parties, Historic Property Inventory Forms) related to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the State Historic Preservation Act.

• Engages with the community to help educate on historic and special districts. Assists with set up, coordination, and staffing of public meetings. Attends public meetings to share information with the public and collect input.

• Provides customer service at Tucson Development Center information counter. Responds to inquiries from the public and applicants regarding land use, zoning, historic preservation, special districts, and approval process.

• Provides regular guidance to assigned staff, prioritizes and assigns work, provides training and assures work quality and timely completion of assigned duties, and acts as a subject matter expert for employees assigned to the related class. Attends trainings to maintain and guide others of current trends, related issues, and best practices.

• Performs all other duties and tasks as assigned.

Working Conditions

Mostly office environment.

All duties and responsibilities listed are subject to change.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Bachelor’s Degree

Experience:
Three (3) years of relevant experience

License: A valid and unrestricted driver’s license with two (2) years of licensed driving is required.

Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Architecture, Anthropology, Archaeology, Historic Preservation, History, Urban Planning, or Related Field.

• Qualifications that meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards per Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61.

• At least one (1) year of experience conducting historic design review and applying the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties to development proposals.

• Working knowledge of federal, state and local historic preservation regulations.

• Experience working with public boards, committees, or commissions.

• Experience conducting community outreach and engagement.

• Experience reviewing and/or writing technical reports related to historic preservation and/or archaeology.

POSITION DETAILS

Job Profile

J2613 - Lead Planner

To view the full job profile including classification specifications and physical demands click .

Compensation Grade

G108

Hourly Range

$29.23 - 43.85 USD

The City of Tucson considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Exempt

Position Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Department

Planning and Development Services Center

Department Link

Background Check

This position has been designated to require a criminal background check. The City of Tucson is a Second Chance Employer.

ABOUT US

Benefits

The City of Tucson offers a generous benefits package for benefit-eligible positions. The comprehensive, flexible, and affordable coverage is designed to optimize health and well-being, security and future, and peace of mind. Benefits begin with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage, surpassing your standard 401(k) program by offering a rich pension plan plus optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings. With your well-being in mind, our paid time off program provides new hires with 38 paid days off in the first year of employment, with time off increasing steadily in subsequent years. We offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave, paid tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, off- and on-the-job training, and opportunities to forge connections with peers and the community through employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours. You can learn more about our benefits at

Citizenship

The City of Tucson employs only U.S. Citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. Citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Status. The City of Tucson does not offer visa sponsorship.

City of Tucson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer

The City does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, veteran status, age, disability, genetic testing, or any other protected status. If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, you may file a complaint with the City of Tucson's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Arizona Attorney General's Office of the Civil Rights Division (ACRD).

The City of Tucson is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities or who require religious accommodation; please contact Human Resources at or 520-791-2619.

Recruiter Name

Recruiter EmailFor Human Resources general questions please contact 520-791-4241.