Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Development Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Development Coordinator is a mid-level planning and project delivery role responsible for coordinating land use projects, permitting, community outreach, interdepartmental liaison, and implementation of local development policy. This role blends technical planning skills (zoning, GIS, environmental review) with stakeholder management, grant and funding administration, and multi-disciplinary project coordination to advance sustainable, equitable development and public infrastructure initiatives.

Key SEO phrases: Urban Development Coordinator, land use planning, zoning compliance, community engagement, GIS for planning, permitting and approvals, affordable housing projects, economic development initiatives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Planning Technician / Planning Assistant
Community Outreach Specialist or Community Development Coordinator
GIS Technician or Permit Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Urban Development Coordinator / Project Manager
Planner II / Associate Planner / Economic Development Manager
Director of Community Development / City Planner

Lateral Moves:

Housing Program Coordinator
Zoning Compliance Officer
Grants & Funding Specialist (municipal or nonprofit)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead coordination and day-to-day management of multiple urban development projects from conceptual design through permitting, construction liaison, and close-out, ensuring projects meet scope, schedule, budget, and regulatory requirements while aligning with municipal plans and community goals.
Serve as the primary point of contact for developers, property owners, consultants, and municipal departments to shepherd land use applications (rezoning, conditional use permits, site plan reviews) through internal review, public hearings, and final approvals.
Prepare, review and recommend decisions on planning applications, zoning interpretations, mortgage or covenant reviews, and design compliance documents; draft staff reports, permit conditions, and technical memoranda for planning commissions and city councils.
Coordinate environmental review processes (e.g., NEPA, CEQA, or equivalent local environmental impact assessments), manage consultant contracts, collect and synthesize technical studies (traffic, biology, cultural resources), and ensure mitigation measures are implemented.
Develop and maintain project schedules and work plans, monitor budgetary performance, administer project budgets and grant funds, and prepare financial and progress reports for stakeholders and funding agencies.
Plan and facilitate robust public outreach and community engagement activities including public meetings, workshops, charrettes, door-to-door outreach, and digital engagement to solicit meaningful input and to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
Manage GIS mapping, spatial analysis, and data visualization to support site selection, master planning, corridor studies, and demographic analyses; prepare maps and geospatial exhibits for reports and public presentations.
Draft and review development agreement terms, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), easement documents, and land dedication agreements in coordination with legal counsel and real estate staff.
Lead cross-disciplinary review teams (transportation, utilities, parks, building, fire, economic development) to resolve technical issues, coordinate conditions of approval, and ensure regulatory compliance and infrastructure capacity.
Prepare and submit grant applications and funding proposals (state, federal, philanthropic) to support affordable housing, infrastructure, transit-oriented development, brownfield remediation, and sustainable development initiatives.
Monitor changes in zoning code, land use regulations, municipal policies, and state/federal mandates; evaluate impacts on development projects and recommend code amendments or policy updates.
Conduct feasibility studies, market analyses, and development proforma review to evaluate project viability, housing production capacity, and economic development potential; present findings to decision-makers.
Oversee contractor and consultant procurement processes, scope development, contract negotiation, and performance evaluation to ensure deliverables meet municipal standards and timelines.
Coordinate permitting and inspections with building, public works, utilities, and fire departments to streamline project approvals and code compliance from pre-application through final occupancy.
Maintain accurate project documentation, case files, and tracking systems; ensure records are audit-ready and meet municipal transparency and open records requirements.
Provide technical expertise and training to staff, interns, and volunteers on land use processes, GIS tools, and best practices in public engagement and equitable development.
Facilitate intersectional initiatives such as affordable housing strategies, anti-displacement measures, climate resilience planning, and complete streets policies by working with partners across housing, transportation, environmental, and social services.
Represent the municipality at intergovernmental meetings, regional planning bodies, neighborhood associations, and developer forums; build and maintain relationships that advance planning objectives.
Coordinate temporary use permits, special events, and placemaking projects that activate public spaces while ensuring compliance with safety and operational regulations.
Evaluate infrastructure needs and coordinate capital improvement project input; communicate utility, stormwater, and transportation impacts to developers and internal stakeholders.
Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as application throughput, housing units approved, timelines to permit, and community engagement metrics to leadership to inform continuous improvement.
Troubleshoot escalated neighborhood concerns, construction complaints, and community disputes; mediate resolutions that balance policy objectives with resident needs.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests, create custom spatial and tabular datasets, and conduct exploratory analyses to answer stakeholder questions about growth, demographics, and land suitability.
Contribute to the organization's planning strategy and roadmap by identifying process improvements, digital permitting solutions, and data governance needs.
Collaborate with business units and technical teams to translate planning and community priorities into system requirements for permitting software, GIS platforms, or online engagement tools.
Participate in sprint planning, agile ceremonies, or project management meetings to coordinate deliverables across planning, IT, public works, and communications teams.
Prepare template documents, checklists, and standard operating procedures to streamline application intake, review workflows, and community outreach best practices.
Assist in monitoring legislative or funding opportunities and prepare briefing materials for leadership to act quickly on relevant grant or policy windows.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Land use planning and zoning code interpretation — ability to review, interpret and apply municipal codes, ordinances, and policy documents to project applications and development proposals.
GIS and spatial analysis (ArcGIS, QGIS) — create maps, perform spatial queries, analyze land parcels, and prepare visual exhibits for reports and public meetings.
Permitting and entitlement processing — experience managing site plans, subdivisions, conditional use permits, variances, and building permit coordination.
Environmental review and compliance — familiarity with NEPA/CEQA processes, environmental impact assessment, mitigation monitoring, and coordination with regulatory agencies.
Project management — develop schedules, manage budgets, risk logs, deliverables, and use project management tools (MS Project, Asana, Jira, or similar).
Grant writing and fund administration — prepare competitive grant proposals, manage awarded funds, and comply with reporting and procurement requirements.
Technical writing and report preparation — draft staff reports, memoranda, RFPs, development agreements, and public-facing communications.
Data analysis and visualization — use Excel, Tableau, or similar tools to analyze demographic and housing data and present findings clearly.
Public policy and regulatory knowledge — understanding of housing policy, economic development tools, land acquisition, and municipal finance concepts.
Contract and consultant management — develop scopes of work, evaluate proposals, and monitor consultant deliverables and budgets.

Soft Skills

Stakeholder engagement and facilitation — proven ability to design and lead inclusive public processes, mediate differing viewpoints, and build consensus.
Communication — clear oral and written communication tailored to technical audiences, elected officials, community members, and developers.
Problem solving and judgment — capacity to assess complex trade-offs, weigh policy objectives, and recommend pragmatic solutions.
Cultural competency and equity focus — sensitivity to historically marginalized communities, anti-displacement strategies, and inclusive engagement techniques.
Time management and prioritization — manage competing deadlines and multi-project workload effectively.
Teamwork and collaboration — experience working across departments and with external partners to coordinate outcomes.
Negotiation and influence — secure commitments from external partners and negotiate terms that reflect municipal priorities.
Adaptability and resilience — respond to changing regulatory environments, political contexts, and high-visibility project pressures.
Attention to detail — ensure accuracy in application reviews, legal documents, and public communications.
Leadership and mentoring — coach junior staff, interns, and community volunteers; lead working groups and cross-functional teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Public Administration, Civil Engineering, Environmental Studies, Architecture, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Urban Planning, City & Regional Planning, Public Policy, or a closely related discipline.
AICP certification (American Institute of Certified Planners) or equivalent professional accreditation preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban and Regional Planning
Geography / GIS
Public Policy / Public Administration
Civil Engineering or Environmental Planning
Real Estate Development / Economic Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–6 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning, community development, or equivalent roles in the private/nonprofit sector.

Preferred:

5+ years of direct experience managing development review, permitting, or community engagement for urban projects.
Demonstrated experience with affordable housing projects, transit-oriented development, or capital infrastructure programs.
Proven track record administering grants, managing consultants, and presenting to elected bodies.