PLANNING TECHNICIAN

townoftiburon.org; Tiburon (CA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement with CalPERS

Wellness reimbursement

Vacation & Sick Leave

Job summary

The Town of Tiburon is seeking a Planning Technician to support the Planning Division with customer service, permit processing, and records management. This role requires knowledge of land use planning, zoning, and municipal codes, plus experience with GIS and planning applications.

You will assist with board support, prepare agendas, notices, and minutes, and help ensure compliance with public meeting laws.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in planning or a related field.
• Some directly related planning experience desirable, including internships or employment with a public agency or private firm engaged in planning, architecture, civil engineering, land development, or related professional services.
• Knowledge of land use planning, zoning, and municipal code administration.
• Experience with permitting processes and public records.
• Proficiency with GIS and standard office software.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary customer service and administrative support representative for the Planning Division.
• Assist with planning applications, permit processing, and public notices.
• Maintain planning records, monitor project status, and review routine applications.
• Coordinate meeting schedules, public hearings, agendas, staff reports, and required notices.
• Prepare agendas, packets, notices, and supporting materials in compliance with applicable laws and Town procedures.
• Support planning staff in administration of public hearings and board/commission proceedings.

Skills

Land use planning

Zoning regulations

Public meeting procedures

GIS

Customer service

Office software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field

Related planning experience desirable

Tools

eTrakit

GIS

Records management systems

Word processing

Job description

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SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
General supervision is provided by the Community Development Director (Director). Technical and functional direction may be provided by the Director and other Planning Division staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/DUTIES
The duties listed below are representative of the work performed by the position and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all assigned responsibilities.

Customer Service and Permit Processing

• Serve asthe primary customer service and administrative support representative for the Planning Division.
• Provide information and technical assistance to the public, applicants, consultants, contractors, property owners, and Town staff regarding planning applications, permit processes, development standards, land use regulations, zoning requirements, and General Plan policies.
• Respond to inquiries and resolve routine planning and permit-related issues.
• Receive, review, route, and process planning and land use applications through the Town's online permitting system (eTrakit), determining application completeness and compliance with established procedures and requirements.
• Maintain planning application records and monitor project status throughout the review process.
• Review and approve routine planning applications within delegated authority, such as tree-permits and sign permits.
• Conduct site visits and field inspections as necessary to evaluate planning applications and permit requests.
• Calculate and collect permit and application fees in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Boards and Commissions Support

• Serve as staff liaison to the Design Review Board and Planning Commission.
• Coordinate meeting schedules, public hearings, agendas, staff reports, meeting materials, and required public noticing.
• Prepare, post, distribute, and archive agendas, packets, notices, and supporting materials in compliance with applicable laws and Town procedures.
• Support planning staff in the administration of public hearings and board and commission proceedings.
• Organize and prepare meeting facilities and technology for public meetings.
• Host and manage virtual meeting and livestream platforms, as applicable.
• Prepare action minutes and maintain official records of board and commission meetings.

Administrative Support

• Utilize permitting, geographic information system (GIS), database, records management, spreadsheet, word processing, presentation, and other software applications to support departmental operations.
• Assist the Director and Planning staff with projects.
• Conduct research, compile data, prepare reports, and assist with special projects, studies, surveys, and departmental initiatives.
• Provide support for code enforcement activities, including research, documentation, and case tracking.
• Prepare weekly financial reports and other periodic administrative reports.
• Perform routine administrative duties, including data entry, file management, document preparation, responding to telephone calls, and responding to email inquiries.

Records Management and Public Records

• Serve as the Planning Division’s records manager.
• Receive, track, coordinate, and respond to Public Records Act requests.
• Maintain, organize, archive, retrieve, and manage official department records and documents within the Town's electronic records management system in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and retention schedules.
• Maintain and update Planning Division website content and public information resources, including meeting materials and videos.

Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and procedures of land use planning and zoning.
• Development review, permitting, and entitlement processes.
• General Plan, zoning, and municipal code administration.
• Basic principles of local government organization and operations.
• Public meeting procedures and requirements.
• Research techniques, data collection methods, and report preparation.
• Customer service principles and effective public communication techniques.
• Modern office practices, procedures, methods, and equipment.
• Cash handling and payment processing procedures.
• Computer applications used in planning and administrative functions, including permitting systems, GIS, records management systems, spreadsheets, word processing, and presentation software.

Ability to:

• Provide effective customer service while maintaining professionalism, tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, and explain complex information to a variety of audiences.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, applicants, consultants, elected and appointed officials, and coworkers.
• Learn, interpret, and apply provisions of the Municipal Code, General Plan, zoning regulations, policies, and related laws.
• Review development applications and plans for completeness and compliance with established requirements.
• Read and interpret maps, site plans, architectural drawings, construction plans, and technical reports.
• Research issues, collect information, analyze data, solve problems, and prepare reports.
• Accurately calculate permit and application fees.
• Organize and manage multiple assignments, prioritize competing demands, and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
• Utilize computer software and office technology required to perform assigned duties.

Ideal Candidate Characteristics:

• Adaptable, collaborative, and eager to learn, with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a high-performing team.
• Committed to professional growth, continuous learning, and public service.
• Detail-oriented and committed to producing high-quality work.
• Interested in pursuing a professional career in planning, local government, or community development.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Education:Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning or a related field.

Education: Some directly related planning experience is desirable, including internships or employment with a public agency or private firm engaged in planning, architecture, civil engineering, land development, or related professional services.

Potential Substitution:An associate degree in planning or a related field and at least two years of increasingly responsible experience in planning, permitting, development review, land use, municipal government, or a related field may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Work is performed in a standard office environment and in the field. Employees must be able to operate standard office equipment; communicate effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone; and read printed and electronic materials. While performing assigned duties, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, reach, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity. Fieldwork and site visits may require walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, working outdoors in varying weather and environmental conditions and taking photographs to document conditions.

Specific vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may occasionally lift, carry, and move materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.

Work Schedule Requirements This position requires attendance at evening meetings, public hearings, workshops, and community events, including regularly scheduled Design Review Board and Planning Commission meetings.

Disaster Service Worker Requirement (California Public Agencies) In accordance with California Government Code Sections 3100–3109, all public employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers. Employees may be required to perform disaster service activities and/or emergency response duties in the event of natural disasters, emergencies, or other incidents affecting public health, safety, or welfare.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

$77,340 - $96,696 annually, DOE.

Retirement: The Town contracts with CalPERS for the provision of a retirement pension program for its miscellaneous and public safety employees. “Classic Members” - 2% at 55 for employees currently enrolled in a reciprocal or CalPERS classic retirement plan. “New Members” or “PEPRA Members” - 2% at 62 for employees new to CalPERS or with a six‑month or longer break in a CalPERS or reciprocal retirement plan. Town employees pay the employee’s portion of retirement cost. For those under the “Classic Members” plan will pay 1% of the employer’s share of retirement contributions.

Cafeteria Benefits Plan:The Town will provide monthly allowance towards medical, dental, life insurance, and long‑term disability insurance. If the full amount is not used, any remaining portion up to $400 per month will be deposited into one of the Town’s Deferred Compensation Plans. If the cost of benefits exceeds the allowance, the difference is paid by employee through payroll deductions. The cafeteria benefit for calendar year 2026 is $2,487.80.

Vacation & Sick Leave: Employees get twelve (12) working days of vacation leave per year for years 1 through 5, increasing after the end of the 5th year. Twelve (12) days of sick leave annually.

Holidays:The Town observes 12 holidays per year and typically closes Town Hall between Christmas Eve and New Years Day.

Schedule:The Planning Technician will be assigned a regular work schedule consisting of 80 hours of work time in each fourteen-day period. Based on the needs of the Town, an employee may be assigned a “9/80” alternative work schedule consisting of eight 9‑hour days, one 8‑hour day per fourteen‑day pay period, and every other Friday off.

Wellness Benefit: The Town of Tiburon provides employees with a wellness reimbursement benefit of up to $650 per fiscal year for health‑promoting activities and equipment. Eligible expenses include gym memberships, fitness equipment (bicycles, treadmills), yoga classes, stress management, and nutrition programs.