Urban/Senior Planner (FT - Hybrid)

About the role

This is a management position responsible for overseeing a variety of programs and activities and provides lead supervision and advanced level professional planning services related to land use and environmental review; while providing responsible assistance to higher level management staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage policy planning projects and programs within Planning departments, under the general direction of the Principal Planner, Senior Principal Planner, and/or Director.
• Comprehensive experience preparing and reviewing land use entitlement applications for a California Public Agency.
• Evaluate complex land development proposals (Pre-Applications, General Plan amendments, Text Amendments, Re-zonings, Conditional Use Permits, Variances, Annexations, land subdivisions and other development requests.)
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to varying work environments such as working directly at a client site, from an assigned office location, able to work remotely, and/or from other locations as necessary.
• Gather, analyze, and present data in the form of written, graphic, or oral reports and presents findings and recommendations before the approving body (Planning Commission, City Council, Board of Supervisors and other bodies) at public hearings.
• Plan, manage, and participate in the preparation of advanced planning projects.
• Cookordination California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, manage environmental consultants, and review CEQA documentation, including mitigation monitoring or reporting program requirements associated with current and advanced planning projects.
• Plan and participate in meetings of various civic, business and community organizations.
• May lead a team on a planning initiative as assigned.
• May represent the Planning Department at the Architectural Committee, Historical and Landmarks Commission, and other planning advisory committees as needed.
• Act as a company representative while actively pursuing new business opportunities.
• Customarily and regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in planning, architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, natural resources, or social science.
• 5-10 years of professional planning experience managing projects and working on larger or more complex planning issues.
• A Master’s degree in planning may be substituted for one year of the required professional planning experience.
• An equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.
• Possession of license, registration, or certification in a related field, such as American Planning Association (APA) or American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), is desirable.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Class “C” California driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record is required.

Skills, Knowledge And Abilities

• Principles, practices, and legal requirements of planning and zoning administration.
• Environmental protection regulations such as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act, etc.
• State and local laws pertaining to land use such as the Williamson Act, Historic Preservation Program, etc.
• Relationship of land use planning to the requirements of other reviewing agencies such as Fire Marshal’s Office, Environmental Health, Land Development Engineering, Geology, Roads and Airports, and Building.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of planning and development design including architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, site design, traffic engineering, land use compatibility and economic development.
• Principles of effective customer service.
• Statistics and math applicable to planning and property development.
• Planning implications to the community’s physical, economic, and social characteristics.
• Environmental impacts and property development and construction practices.
• Governmental organizations and operations and community interrelationships.
• Advanced research, report writing and presentation techniques.
• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database management, internet, econometric or transportation modeling, geographic information systems, BlueBeam, permit management software such as Accela).
• Manage post entitlement work and the construction process.
• Review project descriptions, plans or field conditions and apply policy and code provisions to determine performance.
• Interpret the zoning ordinance and other policy documents.
• Organize and conduct planning studies including supervising the work of others.
• Prepare and present complex staff reports, planning studies, policies, and ordinance to the public and decision-making bodies.
• Conduct analysis and make recommendations based on findings in studies, field observation and public input.
• Efficiently administer planning policies, ordinances, and permit processes.
• Build relationships and work respectfully, tactfully, and creatively with the public, agencies, and staff.
• Provide effective project management and staff leadership.
• Manage multiple projects and issues effectively and meet firm deadlines.
• Facilitate large meetings and community workshops.

Working Conditions

• Working with detailed, finely printed documents.
• Requires sitting for long periods of time.
• Based on the need, may work at city hall, the CSG office, or from the home office.
• May require working in inspection site environments.
• Must be able to travel to client sites and/or job sites.
• Require capacity to work in a fast-paced environment when dealing with deadlines and multiple projects.