Jobs and Careers

Principal Planner - (Historic Preservation)

City of Rockville

United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 25 Jun 2026

💰 $141,927/yr($86,016/yr – $141,927/yr)

About the role

Posting number: 202600058

Department: Department of Community Planning and Development Services

Division: Historic Preservation

Job classification: Principal Planner

Posting type: Open

Categories: Planning and Development, Miscellaneous, Historic Preservation

Summary

Conveniently situated in Montgomery County, just 15 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., Rockville, Maryland is hailed as one of the nation’s leading small cities and one of the top 10 most diverse communities in the nation. Rockville offers a mix of urban and suburban lifestyles with a variety of engaged residential communities. Rockville also has two Metro stations that provide convenient access to the DC Metropolitan Area and opportunities for new transit-oriented development. Rockville is also rich in history with numerous historic districts and buildings, and strong support for preservation.

The Historic Preservation Planner leads Rockville’s historic preservation program. This position is responsible for reviewing applications for alterations to historic resources, evaluating the historic significance of sites and structures, providing technical recommendations to city officials, assisting property owners with understanding the historic preservation planning process and implementing outreach projects to grow knowledge of historic preservation in the community. This professional also serves as the staff liaison to the Historic District Commission and works with our state and federal partners to retain Rockville’s status as a Certified Local Government with the National Park Service. Our value-driven department seeks someone who has proven skills in project management, customer service, research, and producing written reports and studies.

Please join our Community Planning and Development Services Department where our employees thrive in a culture of empowerment, professional growth, collaboration, creativity, diversity, equity, and innovation. We offer a flexible, family-oriented work schedule and the opportunity for regular teleworking several days a week. Attendance at evening public meetings will be required (estimated 1-2 times per month). This position is vacant due to retirement.

Examples of duties

General

Identifies and analyzes problems, develops goals and objectives, and designs programs to meet departmental objectives.
Represents the City and Department and actively participates in meetings with elected officials, boards and commissions, government agencies, property owners, developers, neighborhoods, and community groups to discuss historic preservation issues.
Coordinates work with other planners.
Performs other duties as required.

Historic Preservation

Performs evaluations of significance to determine if sites/structures meet any of the City’s adopted designation criteria, potentially warranting inclusion in a local historic district.
Reviews Certificate of Approval applications for exterior alterations to historic resources for compliance with relevant guidelines and standards.
Reviews historic property tax credit applications for compliance with program guidelines.
Prepares and presents reports and recommendations to the Historic District Commission and elected officials on individual applications, legislative changes and proposed designations.
Acts as staff liaison to Historic District Commission, which includes facilitating meetings, preparing meeting agenda, briefing materials and minutes, drafting annual reports and providing proper meeting notification per the Zoning Ordinance.
Implements the Historic Preservation Work Plan by managing studies and projects designed to modernize the City’s preservation program.
Accurately and concisely convey stories of Rockville’s past through different media vehicles.
Represents the City in projects that require Section 106 reviews.
Provides information and assistance to City staff, property owners, developers, contractors and the public related to best practices for the treatment of historic resources.
Reviews development and building applications for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance relative to historic preservation requirements.
Administers and maintains the City’s Certified Local Government program in coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office.
Represents Rockville in meetings with partner agencies and organizations.
Maintains and regularly updates the inventory of local historic resources.
Support preservation-related grant prog