Senior Planner

About the role

The City of Anaheim Planning & Building Department seeks a dynamic and well-qualified Senior Planner to provide expertise and leadership in the Planning Services Division.

This is the advanced journey level class in the Planner series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series.

Responsibilities

• Provide lead supervision and technical assistance to professional and technical planning staff;
• Coordinate and assign work activities, projects and programs;
• Monitor work flow;
• Review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures;
• Provide staff training;
• Cook up and coordinate the revisions of policies and procedures;
• Research, analyze and prepare recommendations to adopt ordinances;
• Perform research regarding implementation of policies established by the general plan, zoning ordinance or other land use and development ordinances;
• Review proposed legislation;
• Evaluate the effects of outside policies, regulations, and legislation on the City’s planning goals;
• Review development proposals and agreements;
• Prepare requests for proposals, scopes of work, and agreements for professional services;
• Oversee and monitor the work of consultants;
• Coordinate and provide project management for large and complex planning projects;
• Attend and represent the Planning Services Division at public meetings and interdepartmental meetings and serve on related committees as needed;
• Respond to requests for information at public meetings;
• Make presentations related to current and advanced planning;
• Provide technical planning information to elected and appointed City officials;
• Cook up and coordinate the coordination of the business community and City staff with regard to current or advanced planning special projects;
• Advises City staff, developers and the general public on planning policies, issues and concerns;
• Research and analyze requests for code amendments and special studies;
• Prepare reports to the City Council and Planning Commission;
• Coordinate the preparation and submittal of new ordinances;
• Confer with engineers, developers, architects, agencies representatives, realtors, and appraisers, and the general public in researching and coordinating planning and zoning matters;
• Interpret and apply codes, laws and regulations to ensure development applications, City projects and municipal code amendments are in compliance;
• Aid in the negotiation of development agreements;
• Respond to questions and provide information to the public;
• Investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints;
• Develop and monitor Planning Services Division program budgets;
• Submit justifications for development projects;
• Monitor and control expenditures;
• Aid in the development and implementation of goals and objectives, policies and procedures for assigned area;
• Establish schedules and methods for current and advanced planning projects;
• Stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the fields of current and advanced municipal and regional planning and zoning;
• Perform related duties as required.

Requirements

• Three years of increasingly responsible professional urban planning experience supplemented by a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, architecture, or a related field;
• Or, an equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of: Complex principles and practices of urban planning, development, zoning and redevelopment; methods and procedures used in the planning and zoning processes; methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation; principles of project management; principles of contract administration; recent developments, current literature and sources of information related to municipal planning; research methods and sources of information related to urban growth and development; methods and procedures of computer database usage; basic budgeting and accounting principles; principles of supervision and training; pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and state zoning and environmental laws.
• Ability to: Lead, organize, and review the work of professional and technical staff; independently perform the most difficult planning projects; interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures; analyze and compile complex technical and statistical information; manage and coordinate the work of consultants; assist in implementing goals, objectives and practices in providing effective and efficient program services; assist in the analysis, evaluation and modification of current and advanced planning methods and procedures; interpret and explain division policies and procedures; analyze site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities and other urban services; participate in a variety of public and board meetings; make public presentations and recommendations on various advanced and/or current planning issues and concerns; interpret and explain City and program policies and procedures; work independently; make sound and supportable recommendations; analyze and assess community needs; analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques; develop creative approaches to, and concepts for, addressing planning problems; research, analyze and evaluate new zoning regulations and procedures; interpret, apply and ensure compliance with federal, state and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations; prepare clear, concise, thorough and accurate technical reports; work independently in the absence of supervision; understand and follow oral and written instructions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.