Senior Planner

DEFINITION

Under general direction, to manage, supervise, coordinate, and participate in the work of staff responsible for performing a variety of professional and technical level duties and responsibilities in support of the City’s current and advanced planning function; prepares reports on proposed current planning projects; oversees long range planning and environmental projects and programs including conducting environmental impact reviews and preparing environmental assessments; works with boards, commissions, and committees; and performs related planning duties as required.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

The Senior Planner is distinguished from the Associate Planner in that the Senior Planner performs more complex assignments and manages professional and sub-professional planning staff, and may from time to time be required to serve as alternate for the Community Development Director relative to Planning Division functions.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Manages, supervises, coordinates, and participates in the work of staff responsible for performing a variety of professional and technical level duties and responsibilities in support of the City’s current and advanced planning function

Oversees update to the General Plan and Coastal Land Use Plan including assisting in preparation of revisions to the General Plan and/or Coastal Land Use Plan where conflicts with present zoning exist, or where technical studies indicate that changes should be made formulates and leads city sustainability initiatives including municipal and community initiatives

Processes complex planning applications including evaluating strategies and concepts, addressing policy issues, evaluating plans, consulting with various departments, meeting with developers and policy makers, negotiating conditions, and making determinations pursuant to state and city codes

Conducts comprehensive studies for both current and advance planning projects

Gathers information from a variety of sources to get informed opinions and specific data to help in objectively analyzing possible impacts of projects

Provides assistance and answers inquiries from the public regarding processes and policies of the City, regulations, projects, and planning issues

Explains information to project applicants and advises on administrative costs and reviews procedures to be followed administers CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) process

Prepares environmental assessment reports and administers environmental impact procedures under terms of CEQA

Collects and tabulates data relating to urban land use, population and related social and economic zoning regulations

Assists in the review of zoning violations and determining appropriate action pursuant to state planning and development codes

Drafts revisions of ordinances and resolutions to meet current State and Federal laws and guidelines works with boards, commissions, and committees

Provides direction and reviews Planning Commission and City Council staff reports

Attends Planning Commission meetings as needed

Assists in administration of state and federal grant programs such as the Community Development Block Grant and Proposition A

Coordinates planning activities with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Operations, services, and activities of a community planning program

Advanced principles and practices of urban planning, zoning, and environmental law and practices, community development block grant, congestion management, air and water quality programs proper administration procedures to be followed in permitting and in implementing the environmental program

Record keeping procedures

Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications

Basic methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation supervisory principles, practices and techniques.

Ability to:

Understand and visualize how projects may impact the community in various ways

Conduct proper analyses of collected data and other inputs and to arrive at reasonable conclusions make presentations before hearing boards

Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence that can be understood by a layperson

Supervise assigned staff

Provide effective customer service

Operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain this required knowledge would be:

Educational equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree inurban planning, public administration, or a related field and five years of experience in municipal planning.

A Master's Degree in municipal planning or related field is highly desirable and may be substituted for work experience up to one additional year.

Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License with a safe driving record is required and must be maintained as valid during the course of employment.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites; occasionally works in outside weather conditions.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.