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Urban and Regional Planners

SOC 19-3051.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparation

Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.

Context coveredMunicipal and county planning, regional planning organizations, private consulting, transportation and environmental planning, zoning and entitlements, community engagement.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Standard zoning and land-use ordinances — read and apply to assigned cases under a senior planner's review.
  2. GIS basics and parcel data — produce maps and summaries from a city or county dataset.
  3. Site plans and development applications — review for completeness against the local checklist.
  4. Public-meeting notices and packet preparation — produce to the jurisdiction's deadline.
  5. Census and ACS data — retrieve, clean, and present for assigned briefs.
  6. Field reconnaissance and parcel walks — conduct safely and document for staff review.
  7. Planning-staff reports on routine cases — draft to the office's template under supervision.
  8. Community-engagement events — staff and capture notes for senior facilitators.
  9. Zoning code amendments — redline against the jurisdiction's drafting conventions.
  10. Comprehensive-plan documents — read and summarize for incoming briefings.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Independent case review on routine applications — manage from intake through staff recommendation.
  2. Public hearings and planning-commission appearances — staff with prepared analysis and presentations.
  3. Sub-area, corridor, or neighborhood plans — contribute substantively under a senior planner's lead.
  4. Project management for $50K–$500K consulting or grant engagements — manage at task level.
  5. Environmental review (NEPA, SEPA, local CEQA) — prepare or contribute to documents.
  6. Transportation impact analyses and mode-share studies — contribute with engineering partners.
  7. Stakeholder interviews and public-engagement design — lead for routine projects.
  8. Junior planners, interns, and AICP candidates — train on case management and report writing.
  9. Zoning- and development-code amendments — author for council adoption under supervision.
  10. Equity-and-affordability analyses — produce with appropriate datasets and methodology.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Comprehensive plans, climate action plans, and major area plans — lead through adoption and implementation.
  2. Multi-disciplinary project teams (engineering, environmental, public health) — lead with budget and schedule control.
  3. Complex entitlements and PUDs — negotiate independently with developers, council, and the public.
  4. Public-engagement strategies (equity-centered, multi-lingual, hybrid) — design and execute on signature projects.
  5. Departmental policies and procedures — author and steward through internal change.
  6. Council and commission deliberations — staff with confident technical and policy recommendations.
  7. Junior planners and senior associates — supervise across a small team.
  8. Funded grants (FHWA, EDA, HUD) — win and steward at PI level.
  9. Conferences and professional communities (APA, ULI) — contribute through panels and writing.
  10. Audits and program evaluations — lead with credible methodology and defensible findings.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Planning director or principal-in-charge leadership — set direction across staff, projects, and council relationships.
  2. Regional and state policy initiatives — lead with elected officials, agencies, and coalitions.
  3. Major capital and growth-management decisions — advise executives and councils with rigorous tradeoff analysis.
  4. Talent development and AICP pipeline — own succession, mentorship, and certification across the office.
  5. Public-engagement standards — institutionalize across the department and partner agencies.
  6. Equity and climate policy — advance through coalitions and statewide initiatives.
  7. Standards bodies (APA, AICP, ULI) — contribute through committee and board leadership.
  8. Cross-jurisdictional negotiations — lead on housing, transportation, and resource sharing.
  9. Workforce-of-the-future planning practice — redefine through hiring, training, and tooling.
  10. Legacy mentorship and field-shaping standards — institutionalize through accredited training and credentialing.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted report drafting — uses an LLM to generate first-draft narrative sections for land use reports and community plans, then reviews and edits the text for factual accuracy and policy alignment Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Basic data query delegation — submits structured geographic or demographic data questions to an AI assistant and incorporates summarized results into planning memos, while independently verifying source figures Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Map and graphic narrative generation — directs an AI tool to produce descriptive overlays and written summaries of population-density maps, reducing time spent on routine documentation by nearly half while retaining authorial judgment on findings Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Regulatory conformance screening — uses an AI assistant to cross-check proposed land-use plans against zoning codes and utility regulations, then applies professional judgment to flag edge cases the tool misses Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  3. Meeting preparation support — delegates background research and stakeholder-profile summaries to an AI assistant before public hearings, freeing attention for active listening and facilitation during sessions Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. Feasibility analysis augmentation — directs an AI assistant through multi-variable cost-effectiveness comparisons across planning alternatives, integrating outputs into advisory memos while retaining decision authority over recommendations Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Systems analysis scaffolding — uses AI-generated scenario models to stress-test land-use policy options against projected population and infrastructure variables, then applies systems-analysis expertise to evaluate model assumptions Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Community dispute documentation — assigns AI tools to synthesize competing stakeholder positions from meeting transcripts into structured conflict-summary documents, then leads mediation using the synthesized framing as a reference Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  4. Policy alternative generation — prompts an AI assistant to enumerate regulatory and design alternatives for contested development projects, curates the output list, and presents selected options to planning officials with professional rationale Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. End-to-end planning document orchestration — sequences an AI assistant through research, data synthesis, narrative drafting, and consistency checking across multi-chapter comprehensive plans, maintaining authorship of all strategic determinations and political trade-offs Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. AI output governance for planning teams — establishes team-level standards for AI collaboration modes, defines which planning tasks remain human-led due to low automation feasibility in active-listening and judgment-intensive contexts, and audits AI-generated deliverables for regulatory and equity compliance Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Cross-disciplinary AI workflow design — engineers integrated workflows that route geospatial data analysis, stakeholder sentiment parsing, and policy-language drafting to specialized AI tools, then recombines outputs into coherent public-facing planning documents Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 10
Augment share: 77.8%
Time saved: 47.5%
AI autonomy: 0.26
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Active Listening
Score: 42.2 / 100
Quadrant: Q2_ai_augmented
precision: exact
WEF cluster
Data Science and Analysis
data_science_and_analysis
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication15 statements
Emerging
  1. Public meeting participation — presents basic land use concepts to community members using plain language during introductory planning sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Written report drafting — compiles narrative summaries of land use data under supervision for internal planning documents Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Stakeholder listening — records and paraphrases community concerns during public comment periods to confirm accurate understanding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Zoning presentation delivery — explains regulatory frameworks and proposal impacts to mixed audiences of residents and officials using structured verbal delivery Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Graphic report preparation — creates maps overlaid with geographic and demographic variables to communicate spatial findings to planning committees Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Interagency correspondence — drafts written communications to coordinate land use requirements across municipal departments with increasing independence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Public meeting facilitation — guides community sessions on infrastructure or housing proposals by actively managing questions and summarizing feedback Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Policy recommendation communication — authors clear, defensible written reports recommending approval, denial, or conditional approval of development proposals with full regulatory grounding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Multi-audience briefing — tailors spoken presentations on zoning, transportation, or environmental impact findings for audiences ranging from elected officials to neighborhood associations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Dispute mediation communication — articulates alternative planning scenarios during community disputes using accessible language that bridges technical and lay perspectives Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Feasibility advisory narrative — prepares comprehensive narrative reports advising planning officials on project cost-effectiveness and regulatory conformance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Strategic policy communication — leads high-stakes public campaigns promoting complex land use or transportation plans by coordinating messaging across media, government, and civic channels Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-jurisdictional communication leadership — establishes communication protocols for multi-agency regional planning initiatives, ensuring consistent and legally precise messaging Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Mentored report development — coaches junior planners in constructing persuasive, data-rich narrative and graphic reports that meet professional and regulatory standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Legislative testimony — delivers expert oral and written testimony before government bodies on regional planning policy with commanding command of legal, geographic, and social evidence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
2Leadership10 statements
Emerging
  1. Project task ownership — completes assigned research tasks on land use surveys or impact studies independently within defined project scopes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Team contribution initiative — volunteers to coordinate logistics for public meetings or field investigations when gaps in planning team coverage arise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Project coordination — manages discrete planning project components such as community surveys or zoning studies, organizing timelines and delegating data collection tasks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Junior staff guidance — orients new planning analysts on field investigation protocols and data compilation standards for land use assessments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Planning process ownership — leads full project cycles from research through recommendation, holding accountability for feasibility analysis, public engagement, and final advisory reports Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Interdepartmental leadership — convenes and directs cross-functional working groups comprising lawyers, engineers, and social scientists to develop integrated community plans Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Public meeting stewardship — chairs government-sponsored community forums on land use and zoning, managing facilitation, conflict, and documentation of outcomes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Regional planning vision leadership — defines long-range planning strategy for jurisdictions, aligning diverse stakeholder groups and political bodies around sustainable land use frameworks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Organizational capability building — establishes planning department standards, mentorship structures, and professional development programs that elevate team-wide competency Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Policy innovation sponsorship — champions adoption of novel zoning models or environmental sustainability frameworks by building coalitions among developers, government officials, and community advocates Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition9 statements
Emerging
  1. Learning gap identification — recognizes personal knowledge deficits in land use law or geographic information systems and seeks targeted resources or supervision Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Task reflection practice — reviews completed field investigation notes to identify errors in data collection methodology before submitting reports Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Research strategy self-monitoring — evaluates the effectiveness of chosen data sources and analytical methods during environmental impact or socioeconomic studies and adjusts approach mid-project Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Regulatory knowledge tracking — monitors personal understanding of evolving land use legislation and proactively updates analytical frameworks to reflect current law Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Analytical approach evaluation — systematically audits own planning analysis processes after project completion to identify reasoning errors, data gaps, or flawed assumptions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Professional judgment calibration — reflects on past recommendations for project approval or denial against actual outcomes to refine future decision-making criteria Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Complexity management self-regulation — plans cognitive workload strategically across concurrent planning projects involving zoning, transportation, and environmental variables Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Expert reasoning transparency — articulates the full chain of professional judgment underlying complex land use recommendations, enabling others to audit and learn from the analytical process Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Metacognitive mentorship — coaches planning staff in developing self-evaluation habits for research design, bias detection, and evidence interpretation in community planning contexts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking11 statements
Emerging
  1. Data observation — identifies basic patterns in land use survey data or demographic statistics under supervisor guidance during initial field investigations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Assumption recognition — flags unstated assumptions in preliminary zoning proposals when reviewing draft documents with senior planner support Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Impact analysis — evaluates environmental, social, and economic factors affecting proposed land use changes using structured analytical frameworks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Regulatory conformance assessment — systematically compares development proposals against applicable zoning codes and land use law to identify areas of compliance and violation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Evidence weighing — assesses competing data sources on population density, transportation demand, or infrastructure capacity to form supported planning conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Feasibility evaluation — conducts rigorous cost-effectiveness and regulatory conformance analysis of infrastructure and development proposals, producing defensible advisory recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Alternatives analysis — generates and critically compares multiple planning scenarios for land use, housing, or transportation systems to identify optimal policy responses Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Systems interdependency analysis — evaluates how proposed zoning changes propagate through transportation, utility, housing, and environmental systems using integrated analytical methods Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Regional systems critique — identifies systemic failures and long-range consequences in existing land use policy frameworks using evidence drawn from economic, legal, geographic, and social sources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Policy stress-testing — applies adversarial analysis to proposed community plans, anticipating legal challenges, unintended social consequences, and infrastructure failure modes before adoption Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Critical thinking standard-setting — establishes department-level analytical review criteria and trains planning staff in rigorous evidence evaluation and assumption-testing methodologies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration9 statements
Emerging
  1. Team data contribution — shares field investigation findings with planning colleagues in project meetings to build shared situational awareness of land use conditions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-discipline deference — seeks input from engineers, lawyers, and environmental scientists when land use questions exceed current planning expertise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Interagency coordination — collaborates with transportation, utilities, and housing departments to align planning proposals with existing infrastructure capacity and regulatory requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stakeholder working group participation — contributes substantively to multi-stakeholder sessions involving developers, community groups, and government officials to shape land use recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Multi-party plan development — co-develops comprehensive community plans with social scientists, lawyers, developers, and public interest groups by integrating divergent expertise into unified recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict navigation in collaboration — manages productive disagreement among planning team members and external stakeholders during disputes over zoning or development priorities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Shared goal alignment — coordinates diverse professional contributors on environmental impact or feasibility studies toward cohesive, defensible final products Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Regional collaboration architecture — designs governance structures and partnership frameworks enabling sustained collaboration across multiple jurisdictions on long-range land use and transportation planning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Collaborative culture leadership — models and institutionalizes inclusive, high-performance collaboration norms within planning departments spanning technical, legal, and community engagement functions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
6Character9 statements
Emerging
  1. Ethical awareness in data handling — accurately records field investigation findings without manipulation to ensure integrity of land use analysis inputs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Professional conduct in public settings — maintains respectful, impartial demeanor during community meetings with residents and special interest groups holding opposing positions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Regulatory accountability — transparently documents the legal and factual basis for planning recommendations, ensuring recommendations withstand public and legal scrutiny Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict of interest recognition — identifies and discloses potential conflicts between personal interests and planning decisions affecting land use or development approvals Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Impartial public service — applies consistent, evidence-based evaluation criteria across all development proposals regardless of applicant identity, political pressure, or community sentiment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Community trust stewardship — upholds professional accountability by ensuring all public reports, maps, and policy documents accurately represent findings without selective omission Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Equity-aware planning — integrates ethical consideration of impacts on vulnerable and underrepresented populations into land use and housing recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Institutional ethics leadership — establishes and enforces professional standards of integrity, transparency, and public accountability across planning department operations and external partnerships Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Courageous advisory practice — delivers technically accurate and legally grounded recommendations to planning officials even when findings conflict with political or developer preferences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
7Creativity9 statements
Emerging
  1. Alternative scenario ideation — proposes basic alternative land use configurations during planning exercises when initial proposals face feasibility or community opposition concerns Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Graphic representation experimentation — explores novel map overlay combinations for visualizing population density or environmental variables in land use reports Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Innovative zoning concept application — adapts emerging zoning models such as mixed-use overlays or transit-oriented development frameworks to specific community contexts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Creative public engagement design — develops novel formats for community input sessions that increase participation from underrepresented resident groups Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Alternative plan generation — designs multiple creative planning scenarios for disputed land use, housing, or transportation challenges, expanding the solution space beyond conventional approaches Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Sustainability innovation — proposes original environmental sustainability strategies integrated into infrastructure and community development plans that exceed standard regulatory requirements Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Adaptive reuse planning — conceives creative repurposing strategies for underutilized land or structures that balance economic, environmental, and community objectives Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Visionary community design — originates comprehensive land use frameworks that reimagine neighborhood or regional development patterns, influencing policy adoption at jurisdictional or state level Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-sector creative synthesis — draws on innovations from urban design, environmental science, transportation engineering, and social policy to generate breakthrough planning solutions for complex community challenges Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset9 statements
Emerging
  1. Feedback incorporation — revises draft land use reports and maps in response to supervisor critique without defensiveness, treating corrections as learning opportunities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Regulatory learning persistence — continues studying complex land use law and geographic information systems despite initial comprehension difficulty Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Setback recovery in public process — reframes rejected planning proposals as diagnostic information and redesigns approaches based on community or official feedback Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Skill expansion pursuit — proactively seeks training in emerging planning tools such as GIS analytics, environmental modeling, or equity analysis frameworks to expand professional capability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Contested recommendation resilience — sustains analytical rigor and professional confidence when planning recommendations face public opposition, legal challenge, or political reversal Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Iterative plan refinement — treats each planning cycle as a learning opportunity, systematically incorporating lessons from past project outcomes into improved methodologies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Emerging issue adaptability — rapidly builds competency in unfamiliar planning domains such as climate resilience or autonomous vehicle infrastructure when jurisdiction demands arise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Learning culture cultivation — builds departmental norms where planning staff treat project failures, public criticism, and policy reversals as structured learning events that drive professional growth Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Professional field contribution — shares hard-won planning insights through publications, conference presentations, or professional association leadership to advance field-wide knowledge Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness9 statements
Emerging
  1. Attention management in field work — maintains focused observation during site investigations, distinguishing relevant land use conditions from irrelevant environmental noise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Emotional awareness in community settings — recognizes personal emotional reactions to hostile public comment and regulates response before replying during community forums Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Intentional listening in mediation — applies deliberate, non-reactive attention during community disputes to fully comprehend competing stakeholder positions before responding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Workload awareness — monitors cognitive load across concurrent planning projects and redistributes attention to prevent analytical errors on high-stakes recommendations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Presence in high-conflict meetings — maintains calm, attentive engagement during contentious public hearings involving developers, government officials, and opposing community factions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Deliberate recommendation practice — pauses to examine personal assumptions and political pressures before finalizing advisory positions on controversial land use decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Stress regulation under scrutiny — maintains analytical precision and professional composure when planning recommendations face intense public, media, or legal examination Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Organizational mindfulness modeling — demonstrates and teaches intentional, non-reactive engagement practices to planning staff navigating politically charged or emotionally volatile planning processes Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Systems awareness leadership — maintains broad, present-moment awareness of interconnected social, environmental, economic, and political dynamics simultaneously influencing regional planning contexts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude9 statements
Emerging
  1. Sustained effort on complex tasks — persists through lengthy regulatory research and data compilation tasks without abandoning effort when initial results are inconclusive Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Opposition tolerance — continues professional engagement with community resistance to planning proposals rather than withdrawing from difficult stakeholder interactions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Project persistence under revision — maintains commitment to planning project quality through multiple cycles of community, legal, and administrative revision without diminishing rigor Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Uncertainty navigation — continues rigorous analysis on land use projects with ambiguous regulatory frameworks or incomplete data rather than defaulting to premature conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Sustained public process engagement — maintains professional resolve and analytical integrity across years-long community planning processes involving repeated opposition, litigation, and political intervention Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Controversial recommendation courage — delivers technically sound but politically unpopular planning recommendations to elected officials and community members, accepting criticism without reversing professional judgment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Adversity-tested plan stewardship — shepherds complex infrastructure or zoning plans through sustained legal, environmental, and community challenges to successful adoption Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Long-horizon resilience — sustains visionary commitment to multi-decade regional planning goals across political administration changes, economic disruptions, and repeated project setbacks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Courageous institutional advocacy — challenges systemic planning inequities or legal deficiencies within jurisdictional frameworks despite institutional resistance, professional risk, or public controversy Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Campus Planner · City Designer · City Planner · City Planning Engineer · Community Development Planner · Community Development Technician · Community Planner · Community Planning Technician · Developer Advocate · Development Technician · Economic Developer · Economic Development Coordinator
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Active ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWritingComplex Problem SolvingSystems EvaluationSocial PerceptivenessNegotiationTime ManagementCoordinationService OrientationActive LearningPersuasionOperations AnalysisMathematicsLearning StrategiesMonitoringInstructingManagement of Personnel Resources
Knowledge domains
Law and GovernmentEnglish LanguageGeographyTransportationCommunications and MediaAdministration and ManagementSociology and AnthropologyCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and Electronics
Abilities
Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionSpeech ClarityProblem SensitivityWritten ExpressionWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningNear VisionSpeech Recognition
Work styles
DependabilityCooperationIntegrityIntellectual CuriosityAttention to DetailAdaptability
Technology
Computer aided design CAD softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareCompliance softwareDocument management softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareDesktop publishing softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareOffice suite softwareMap creation software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
  2. Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
  3. Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
  4. Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
  5. Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
  6. Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
  7. Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.
  8. Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability.
CIP education codes
04.030104.040304.100130.330130.370144.040345.1201

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.