Planning Director

City Of Sebastopol; Sebastopol (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS Retirement Plan membership

Health Insurance

Dental and Vision Coverage

Sick Leave: 120 hours/year

15 holidays

Vacation accrual

Administrative Leave

Professional development

City laptop and phone

Job summary

City of Sebastopol seeks an experienced Planning Director to lead the Planning Department, directing current and long-range planning, housing elements, and zoning to drive thoughtful development in the community.

The ideal candidate will supervise staff, review complex proposals, and coordinate with other departments while ensuring compliance with the General Plan and related laws. AICP certification is desirable, and a CA driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in planning or related field; Master's desirable.
• Experience: 5 years planning, 2 years supervisory experience.
• License: California Class C driver's license required.
• Certification: AICP or equivalent desired.

Responsibilities

• Direct, oversee, and participate in the Planning Department's work, including long-range and current planning, housing element, and zoning codes.
• Coordinate activities, permits, and projects with other City departments.
• Review and prepare recommendations to the Planning Commission and serve as its secretary.
• Oversee staff, handle complex reviews, environmental documents, and building permitting.

Skills

Leadership

Municipal planning

Policy knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree desirable

AICP certification desired

Job description

JOIN US IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE SEBASTOPOL COMMUNITY!

The City Of Sebastopol Is Now Seeking An Experienced

PLANNING DIRECTOR

SALARY HAS INCREASED!

Salary: $140,088 - $170,278 Annually

$11,674 - $14,190 Monthly

Plus a Great Benefits Package

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

The City of Sebastopol is seeking a dynamic, professional leader who is a collaborative problem-solver to serve as the next Planning Director. The Planning Director will direct, oversee, and materially participate in the work of the City’s Planning Department, including current and long-range planning, maintenance of the General Plan, Housing Element, and zoning codes, and review of proposals for construction and development within the City of Sebastopol. The selected candidate will coordinate activities, permits, and projects with other City departments. In addition to reviewing and preparing recommendations to the Planning Commission on development proposals, and serve as the official secretary and officer of the Planning Commission.

The Planning Director performs professional planning duties in the fields of long-range planning, current planning, and building permitting, including a variety of diverse professional planning assignments. The incumbent will oversee technical reviews and evaluations of land use and permit applications, handle the most complex customer service issues, environmental impact documents, and construction projects, and provide supervision or lead direction to professional and support staff. The director will ensure compliance with all aspects of the City’s General Plan and related ordinances and laws, and perform related work as assigned.

The Planning Director will demonstrate cultural competency working with all community members regardless of cultural differences or circumstances, including race, ethnicity, religion, language, gender identity, age, marital and familial status, sexual orientation, diverse physical and learning abilities, socioeconomic status, and other identities.

This position is exempt from the overtime regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is an “at will” classification serving at the pleasure of and receiving administrative direction from the City Manager.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Be a proactive leader directing the day-to-day operations and projects for the Planning Department.
• Be skilled in delegation and active involvement, problem-solving, and a commitment to driving progress.
• Possess a deep understanding of municipal planning, design, construction, and maintenance, along with a thorough knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and safety standards.
• Provide leadership and mentoring that inspires and encourages others to develop skills, be prepared for advancement, and achieve their best.
• Ensure that projects are completed efficiently, on time, and within budget.
• Be able to communicate effectively, demonstrate emotional intelligence and political understanding, and have a desire to improve customer service experience.
• Be able to adjust quickly to changing priorities and conditions, and establish positive relationships with colleagues, employees, the public, and other stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS:

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:

Education: Equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, environmental design, urban design, or development, project management, or another field of study applicable to the responsibilities and requirements of this job class. Possession of a master’s degree is desirable.

Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible planning experience, preferably in a municipal setting, including at least two (2) years of experience in a role with direct supervisory responsibility.

License And Certifications

• Possession at the time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver’s license is required.
• Possession of a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) or equivalent professional recognition is desired.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Each candidate’s background will be evaluated based on the information submitted. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to the next phase in the recruitment process, which may include an oral panel interview and/or practical exercise. Only the names of the most qualified candidates who pass the initial selection process will be submitted to the City for consideration for final selection.

THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

The City of Sebastopol is not responsible for the failure of internet forms or email in submitting your application. Additional inquiries about the position or candidates with a disability who may require special assistance in any phase of the recruitment process should be directed to Danielle Oliveira from Muchmore Than Consulting [e-mail].

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

• CalPERS Retirement Plan Membership: PERS Pension Plan: (2% @55 for Classic Members; 2% @ 62 for PEPRA Members (hired after 1/1/13).
• Health Insurance: City paid Kaiser HMO with the option for the Director to pay the difference and enroll in Anthem Blue Cross Health Plan instead. If the Director provides proof of other health coverage and chooses not to enroll in health care through the City of Sebastopol, the Director will be eligible for 20% of the Kaiser plan the Director qualifies for as an in-lieu payment.
• Dental and Vision Coverage: The City will provide dental and vision insurance for the Director and their eligible dependents, without premium cost to the Employee.
• Sick Leave: Director will accrue sick leave as laid out in the City’s Personnel Rules, which currently provide 120 hours per year or 10 hours a month (4.6154 hours a pay period).
• The City observes 15 holidays. A list of holidays can be found in the City Personnel Rules.
• Vacation: Director will be eligible to accrue vacation hours in accordance with the rules, caps, and maximums described in the City’s Personnel Rules; initially, the accrual will be 10 working hours per month. During the first three months of employment, the Director will accrue vacation hours; however, the Director may not access or use accrued vacation. Further, vacation accruals will not be reflected on the Director’s paystub during the first three months of employment.
• Administrative Leave: Annually in June, to compensate overtime-exempt management employees for the added hours they work, management employees will be granted a total of 100 hours of Administrative Leave with pay during each fiscal year (50 hours accrued on July 1st and 50 hours accrued on January 1st). The City will pay out the Administrative Leave accrual bank or 40 hours, whichever is smaller. Any balance left in the bank will not carry over from year to year.
• The Council values professional development, and it will be considered as the budget allows.
• The City provides directors a cellular telephone and laptop at City expense, which shall remain the property of the City.