Assistant Planner

City of Dublin (CA); Dublin (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Dublin (CA) invites applications for an Assistant Planner to join the Planning Department. The position supports current and advanced planning tasks, provides assistance at the public counter, reviews plans for zoning conformity, and helps implement General Plan policies in a dynamic city environment.

The role emphasizes understanding CEQA basics, managing workload with moderate supervision, and delivering clear written and oral reports.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, urban development, or a closely related field.
• A Master’s degree in planning or closely related field is desirable and may be substituted for six months of required experience.
• One year of professional experience in city or regional planning, preferably for a public agency.

Responsibilities

• Provide public counter assistance and respond to inquiries from applicants, the general public and other governmental agencies.
• Perform field investigations and office tasks associated with enforcement of zoning, signing and related municipal regulations.
• Review building plans for conformity to zoning and subdivision ordinances.
• Interpret and apply pertinent laws and regulations to planning projects.
• Assist in the enforcement, and administration of zoning, and other related ordinances.
• Assist in reviewing and analyzing various planning applications and with the preparation of various reports for policy decisions.
• Assist in compiling and analyzing statistical, economic and other data relating to planning and environmental matters.
• Organize and conduct research studies.

Skills

Communication

Public interaction

Written and oral reporting

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in planning/urban development or related field

Master’s degree desirable

Job description

General Purpose:

To perform responsible planning tasks and provide technical assistance to the Planning Department. The Assistant Planner may be assigned to either current or advanced planning divisions. This position may also perform duties within the City’s zoning enforcement program. The Assistant Planner will function as a member of the City’s planning team.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the entry level class in the professional Planner series. This class is distinguished from the Associate Planner by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to position within the series. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Receives general supervision from assigned professional or management planning staff. May exercise technical and/or functional supervision over technical and clerical personnel as appropriate.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will have practical experience with planning concepts, including processing discretionary planning applications, providing assistance to the public at the front counter, experience writing and implementing general plan policies, knowledge of the basic principles of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and an ability to manage their workload with moderate supervision. The incumbent should be a good communicator, work well with the public, and be adaptive and versatile in a dynamic work environment.The following duties are normal for this classification. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Provide public counter assistance and respond to inquiries from applicants, the general public and other governmental agencies.
• Perform field investigations and office tasks associated with enforcement of zoning, signing and related municipal regulations.
• Review building plans for conformity to zoning and subdivision ordinances.
• Interpret and apply pertinent laws and regulations to planning projects.
• Assist in the enforcement, and administration of zoning, and other related ordinances.
• Assist in reviewing and analyzing various planning applications and with the preparation of various reports for policy decisions.
• Assist in compiling and analyzing statistical, economic and other data relating to planning and environmental matters.
• Organize and conduct research studies,
• Assist in preparing elements and revisions to the General Plan consistent with local needs.
• Prepare and present oral and written reports and recommendations.
• Attend meetings of the Planning Commission, City Council and other citizen boards or committees as required.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Training and Experience:

Any combination equivalent to education and experience is likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, urban development, or a closely related field. A Master’s degree in planning or closely related field is desirable and may be substituted for six months of required experience.

Experience:

One year of professional experience in the field of city or regional planning, preferably for a public agency.

Knowledge of:

• Theory, principles, practices and trends of city planning.
• Research methods as they apply to the collection, tabulation and analysis of data affecting city planning.
• Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to municipal planning, zoning and subdivision regulations.
• Statistical analysis as applied to land use, zoning, general plan and transportation studies.
• Government organizations, transportation, communications, public utility systems and landscape architecture as they relate to city planning.

Ability To:

• Communicate effectively.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Prepare and present comprehensive but succinct written and oral reports.
• Make effective presentations in public meetings.
• Compile and analyze statistical, economic and related data pertaining to environmental and planning matters.
• Interpret and apply laws and regulations.

Physical Standards:

The physical standards described are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

An employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear, in person, in meetings and by telephone; use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to, bend and twist to reach files, walk and stand, and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds. While performing duties, the employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret complex data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; interact with City management, other governmental officials, contractors, vendors, employees and the public.