Land Development Specialist - Public Works Agency

County of Ventura, CA; Ventura (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational Incentive

Bilingual Incentive

Vacation Accrual

Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule

Annual Leave Redemption

Sick Leave

Deferred Compensation 401(k) match

Health Plans credit

Flexible Spending Accounts

Pension Plan

Holidays

Additional Benefits

Job summary

County of Ventura is seeking a Land Development Specialist to inspect and review complex land development projects within the Public Works agency. The role supervises inspectors/technicians, performs specialty inspections, and functions as a field office engineer.

You will oversee grading and floodplain permit processes, evaluate geotechnical reports, and ensure environmental and building code compliance while coordinating with multiple agencies and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of land development planning, construction inspection, floodplain management, construction trades, materials testing, field surveying or related Public Works experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license.
• Ability to walk on rough surfaces, climb ladders, and perform in hazardous conditions; ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Oversee land development permit applications, review for completeness, and assess environmental triggers and grading permit requirements.
• Interpret and evaluate grading plans for code compliance and provide comments to applicants.
• Perform and supervise grading and floodplain construction inspections and related documentation.
• Lead staff or project teams, assign work, provide training, and evaluate outcomes.
• Review CEQA compliance, prepare conditions of approval, and participate in meetings with other agencies.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Supervision experience

Project management

Field inspections

Education

Engineering or related field degree

Substitution: degree for experience allowed

Tools

GIS software

AutoCAD/Bluebeam

Job description

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• Educational Incentive:A n educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive:Incumbents may also be eligible for a bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill. Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I); $1.00 per hour (Level II); or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Vacation Accrual:New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Flexible Workweek/Telework Schedule:We support a work/life balance by offering compressed work (e.g., 9/80 or 4/10 workweek) and remote hybrid telework schedules for some positions subject to organizational needs and satisfactory performance.
• Annual Leave Redemption:After 14,560 hours of continuous service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave:Full-time Regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation:Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans:Full-time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626.86 annually to offset the purchase of medical insurance for you and your dependents. Employee only - $463.99 per biweekly pay period; Employee plus one dependent - $834.32 per biweekly pay period; and Employee plus family - $1,024.11 per biweekly pay period.
• Flexible Spending Accounts:Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increases spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan:Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems such as PERS.
• Holidays:12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits:Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance and Wellness Program.

The PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY, Engineering Services Department is responsible for a wide range of engineering services to clients within the County of Ventura organization and the public. The Department is comprised of three (3) divisions, Project Services, Land Development Services and the Surveyor's Office. Services include project and construction management for vertical projects, land development services, floodplain development permitting and land surveying services. The Land Development Services Division is responsible for the issuance of grading and floodplain development permits and associated inspections; geotechnical report review and approvals; enforcement of the Ventura County Grading Ordinance; Water Availability Letter Reviews, Water Will-Serve letter processing; flood hazard reviews and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determinations; and flood acreage assessments for new subdivision and property improvements within the unincorporated county areas.

THE POSITION

Under general direction of an Engineering Manager, the Land Development Specialist (Staff/Services Specialist II) is responsible for inspecting/reviewing a variety of the most complex land development Public Works construction projects; supervises and reviews the work of inspectors and/or engineering technicians; performs specialty inspections; functions as a field office engineer; and performs other project support and related duties as required.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs and/or oversees the Land Development permit application submittal processes including initial review for completeness and intake of fees for grading, flood hazard, water availability, water will serve, geotechnical, acreage assessment and complaints; evaluates projects for environmental triggers and floodplain ordinance requirements; and prepares discretionary grading permit staff reports and reviews memorandums for grading permit applications.
• Interprets & evaluates grading plans for Building Code compliance; reviews geotechnical reports; verifies recommendations are included in grading plans; prepares grading plan checklist and provides grading plan review comments; reviews related stormwater documents; prepares plan check review letter for applicant; and verifies environmental triggers and geologic hazards.
• Performs construction inspection for grading and floodplain projects; performs initial review of Change Order submittal; documents field inspections for grading, stormwater, floodplain and environmental mitigations.
• Plans, organizes and supervises the work of maintenance, custodial, technical or clerical support staff including participating in the selection and evaluation of staff, providing training and employee development, assigning work, evaluating outcomes and determining the most effective use of resources.
• Performs and/or oversees initial review and conditions for flood plain permits; reviews Elevation Certificates; prepares floodplain closure/completeness; verifies financial reconciliation prior to closing permit; performs inspections relating to Floodplain Development permit conditions and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Elevation Certificates; maintains good standing of Floodplain Manager Certification.
• Reviews and evaluates grading complaints for violations of Building Code; coordinates grading violations with other County and State agencies/departments; and determines violation abatement procedures and reconciles financial obligations.
• Provides liaison with representatives from other agencies/departments; answers inquiries from other staff, agencies/departments and members of the public; investigates and resolves problems related to the line operation's service.
• Reviews projects for CEQA compliance; develops conditions of approval; and attends meetings to discuss findings.
• Provides and/or oversees Public Records research; and documents customer inquiries including tracking of requests.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Staff/Services Specialist II is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation. These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE

Considerable progressively responsible operations, project or staff experience related to the reporting level, complexity of work performed and other requirements leading to the acquisition of knowledge, skills and abilities of the position.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Five (5) years of land development planning, construction inspection, floodplain management, construction trades, materials testing, field surveying and/or other directly related Public Works construction experience;
• Must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license;
• Ability to walk on rough or uneven surfaces and climb ladders on construction sites including above or below grade on falsework or in trenches; and withstand exposure to dust, noise, chemicals, gas, fumes, heights, and inclement weather or hazardous conditions requiring moderate to heavy physical activities;
• Ability to take soil and concrete samples which requires the use of a shovel; and to lift up to 50 pounds; and
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

A degree in engineering, physical/environmental science, construction technology, mathematics or a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.

DESIRED

• Certified Floodplain Manager by the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc.;
• Some land development planning experience;
• Effective, demonstrated customer service with the general public and/or elected/government officials; and
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Access; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software; Acrobat Adobe; and AutoCAD (or Bluebeam).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

Knowledge of: materials, methods, and techniques used in grading and floodplain development; grading procedures and operations; geology and geologic features; soil engineering calculations and principles; FEMA special flood hazard zones; floodplain development requirements; California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) assessments and initial studies; earth materials lab tests and characteristics; principles and practices of effective supervision; interpretation of geotechnical lab test results; civil engineering grading plan check; grading and floodplain inspections; project management techniques; County, State and Federal agencies and departments general functions and responsibilities relating to public works projects; and principles, practices, methods and techniques used in public works disaster service and response.

Skill in: verifying grading plans for code requirements; preparing floodplain conditions for floodplain development; conducting grading, floodplain, and stormwater inspections; reviewing and applying grading, building, floodplain, and planning conditions to project reviews and during construction; and utilizing computer applications/systems such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Access, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, Acrobat Adobe and AutoCAD (or Bluebeam).

Ability to: read, interpret and apply applicable codes, ordinances and regulations to grading and floodplain projects; understand and apply findings of technical reports, plans and projects; supervise staff and organize and prioritize work assignments; exercise independent judgment; explain department policies and procedures and serve as resource and liaison; provide effective customer service; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; maintain effective working relationships; and make decisions under emergency conditions such as earthquakes, during storms, and while flood fighting, based on Agency policies.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Work is performed primarily in an office environment and may include travel to and from construction and maintenance sites, which may involve working near equipment or machinery.

FIRST REVIEW

A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on or around Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and subsequent reviews will be conducted until sufficient applications are received to meet business needs.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

The selected candidate may be subjected to a thorough post-offer, pre-employment background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Kelli Fitzgerald by email at [e-mail].