ASSOCIATE PLANNER

City of Rancho Palos Verdes; Rancho Palos Verdes (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in municipal governance is seeking an Associate Planner to join their Community Development Department. This role offers the chance to manage multiple development proposals, provide technical guidance, and mentor junior staff. The ideal candidate will excel in a collaborative environment, possessing strong communication skills and a passion for urban planning. You will engage with community members and officials, ensuring that development projects align with city regulations and enhance the quality of life. If you're ready to tackle challenges and contribute to meaningful projects, this opportunity is for you!

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field with 3 years of experience.
• Strong technical background with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex development proposals and assist applicants with municipal code.
• Prepare staff reports and present projects to City Council and Planning Commission.

Skills

Urban Planning

Zoning

Project Management

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Technical Report Preparation

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning

Related Field Experience

Tools

GIS Software

Bluebeam

Permitting Systems

Job description

YOUR CAREER STARTS HERE!

Do you thrive in a collaborative environment and want to make a career where you belong? The City of Rancho Palos Verdes invites you to apply to join the team in the Community Development Department as Associate Planner!

This recruitment has been extended through February 23, 2025, applications will be reviewed the week of February 24th.

THE TEAM

The Community Development Department has four divisions that are comprised of Planning & Zoning, Building & Safety, Code Enforcement, and View Restoration & Preservation. The Department is focused on upholding exceptional customer service and delivering efficient and timely review of proposed development projects.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

This is a non-exempt position represented by the Rancho Palos Verdes Employees Association. As an Associate Planner, you will manage multiple complex development proposals while assisting applicants/property owners at the counter, over the phone, or via video conferencing or email, on interpreting municipal code, policies, research, and entitlement processes. During the course of your duties, you will be required to coordinate development projects with multiple departments, outside agencies, and staff. You will provide support to the Senior Planner and also provide technical guidance and direction to the Assistant Planners with reviewing plans, conducting site visits, analyzing code amendments, and working on long-range plans. As the Associate Planner, you will be given the opportunity to mentor and provide guidance to less senior staff. Additionally, you will be writing memos and staff reports, and presenting projects, often on a weekly basis, to elected and appointed officials, City staff, and community members at City Council and Planning Commission meetings. You will be required to work evening hours for City Council and Planning Commission meetings.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to a strong technical background, you are the ideal candidate if you are a customer-focused team player who possesses excellent written and oral communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. If you thrive in a collaborative environment but also possess the ability to work independently managing multiple advanced and current planning projects, then Rancho Palos Verdes is the place for you!

If you possess excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills, and enjoy tackling challenges and offering solutions, we want you to join our team. Apply your passion for preparing and presenting quality work, including staff reports, presentations, and analyses as the Associate Planner. Experience with design software (Bluebeam), permitting systems, and GIS software is highly desirable.

MISSION STATEMENT

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is dedicated to providing its residents, businesses, and visitors with exemplary municipal governance and services, while preserving our low-density, low-tax, and semi-rural character, inclusive of our natural resources and open space, thereby enhancing the quality of life.

JOB CLASSIFICATION

To view the details of this position, you can use this link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/rpvca/classspecs/1267285?page=2&pagetype=classSpecifications

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Reviews routine to complex commercial, institutional, and residential development proposals, plans, and applications for issuance of zoning clearance and for compliance with appropriate codes, ordinances, standards, laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
• Reviews permit applications and building plans for completeness and compliance with current City codes and regulations; provides interpretations of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Subdivision Map Act, and local environmental guidelines; identifies corrective actions to be taken by owners; recommends improvement and rehabilitation programs; conducts follow-up and re-check, and approves or denies submittals.
• Prepares environmental impact reports; prepares written initial studies, negative declarations, and staff reports related to development projects or City projects.
• Participates in the administration of the view preservation and restoration ordinances related to the impact by foliage growth; processes planning, and view restoration/preservation permit applications.
• Conducts site inspections, makes referrals for mediation services, and recommendations to the Department Director, Planning Commission, and City Council to reach mutually acceptable solutions related to view permit applications.
• Prepares staff reports on more complex projects involving site plan reviews, height variations, grading applications, minor exemption permits, and variances.
• Assists the public at the front counter and on the phone, answering questions and providing information regarding zoning, land use, development standards, approved development proposals, and the City's entitlement process; performs plan check functions for various projects; receives and reviews applications for building permits for completeness; receives and records zoning and code compliance complaints, establishes appropriate files, performs inspections of document violations, coordinates actions with those of other agencies, and implements appropriate procedures to correct or resolve each complaint and violation.
• Manages planning and development projects, including application and plan review, coordination with project applicants and other City Departments, preparation and posting of legal notices, background research, environmental review; preparation of staff reports, scheduling meetings and hearings, monitoring of project implementation to verify substantial conformance with approved plans, conditions, and mitigation measures; suggests revisions to site plans and architecture; inspects project development sites.
• Compiles information for a variety of studies and reports; researches, analyzes, and interprets social, economic, population, and land use data and trends; researches and reviews previous entitlements and City records; develops recommendations and prepares written reports on various planning matters and the City's General Plan; participates in the implementation and administration of the City's General Plan and development regulations.
• Researches, collects, records, analyzes, interprets, and summarizes statistical and demographic information; prepares spreadsheets and establishes and maintains a comprehensive database.
• Prepares and presents staff reports for the City Council, Planning Commission, and various other committees and advisory boards as directed; prepares research, reports, maps, and conducts briefings and meetings.
• Confers with and advises architects, builders, attorneys, contractors, engineers, and the general public regarding City development policies and standards; provides and clarifies information relative to land use, zoning, code interpretation, general plan compliance, signage, and other issues.
• Researches and assists in preparing ordinances for review.
• Participates in coordinating City planning and development related activities with other City departments and with outside agencies.
• Refers to and applies numerous documents including the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, California Environmental Quality Act, Subdivision Map Act, State Planning laws, Municipal Code, Specific Plans, emergency operations manual, County tax assessor's maps and records, building and architecture plans, etc.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions; urban planning and other types of public services as they relate to the area of assignment.
• May provide technical direction and training to other planning and technical staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, community development, public administration, or a related field and three (3) years of professional experience in planning, zoning, and related community development activities.

Licenses and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.

Knowledge of:

• Modern principles and practices, technical and legal issues of urban and regional planning, zoning, urban economics, demographics, and environmental planning and program management.
• Geographic, socio-economic, transportation, political and other elements related to city planning.
• Comprehensive plans and current planning processes and the development process.
• Site planning and architectural design principles.
• General concepts of architecture, landscaping, grading, drainage, traffic and transportation engineering as they relate to the process of urban planning.
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a comprehensive environmental planning program.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and requirements and related reports.
• Project management and contract administration principles and techniques.
• Researching and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning, zoning, and environmental review.
• Modern office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment, including computer hardware and software necessary for graphic presentation, mapping, and database management.
• Practices of researching planning and land use issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to planning work.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, educational and regulatory organizations, and with property owners, developers, contractors, and the public.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff.

Ability to:

• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public; identify and respond to issues and concerns of the public, City Council, and other boards and commissions.
• Read plans and specifications and make effective site visits.
• Assess, monitor, and report environmental impact on and of various City programs and services.
• Analyze site design, terrain constraints, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services.
• Conduct routine research projects, evaluate alternatives, and make sound recommendations.
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain technical written material and complex Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, regulations, ordinances, and City planning policies and procedures.
• Read and understand technical drawings and specifications.
• Perform mathematical and planning computations with precision.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, and regulatory organizations and individuals.
• Coordinate assigned activities with other City departments and agencies as required.
• Direct the work of contract consultants.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources. If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact us at [phone] no later than five (5) business days before the test date.