Planning Technician 2026

City of Ceres; Ceres (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Stancera retirement pension

Job summary

City of Ceres is seeking a Planning Technician to support the Community Development Department with technical planning tasks, zoning reviews, and public counter assistance. You will help prepare reports, maps, and resolutions, ensuring compliance with city codes.

The role requires knowledge of planning processes, strong communication, and the ability to coordinate with developers and staff. Excellent benefit package and pension are offered.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of planning and development process terms and codes.
• Ability to prepare maps, graphs, and site plans.
• Experience with preparing staff reports and planning resolutions.

Responsibilities

• Assist planning staff with technical and administrative work.
• Review development plans for completeness and conformance to policies.
• Provide information to the public and developers regarding codes and regulations.
• Prepare routine staff reports for planning activities.
• Conduct field inspections on proposals and zoning matters.
• Maintain city land use data and generate reports.

Skills

Planning knowledge

Code & zoning knowledge

Public counter communication

Data analysis

Education

High school diploma

Urban planning related training desirable

Tools

MS Office

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Databases

Job description

10/5/2026 at 11:59pm or until 100 applicants

The City of Ceres is located in the Central San Joaquin Valley, 80 miles south of Sacramento and 95 miles east of San Francisco, in the heart of Stanislaus County. Ceres is in one of the Central Valley’s richest and most diverse agricultural areas and is the home of the new $14 million County Agriculture Center. Even the name "Ceres" originates from the Roman goddess of agriculture. The City enjoys a comfortable climate, with 12 inches of rainfall annually. The average low winter temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit, the average high temperature in spring and fall is 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average high in the Summer is 90 degrees. The Tuolumne River forms part of the northern boundary. Ceres is a growing community with a heartfelt commitment to retaining its small neighborhood personality. Businesses, organizations, and nonprofit community service groups band together for a number of activities throughout the year. Events such as the annual Downtown Street Fair in May, summertime concerts in the park, Halloween Fun Festival, and the Christmas Tree Lane opening are well attended by the community. City government: City Manager’s Office/Administration (City Clerk, City Attorney, Economic Development), Finance, Human Resources/Risk Management, Public Safety (Police, Fire), Engineering, Community Development (Planning, Building/Permits), Recreation, Public Works, Water, and Wastewater Utilities.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AS A PLANNING TECHNICIAN

Starting at $26.27 per hour

EXCELLENT BENEFIT PACKAGE & STANCERA RETIREMENT PENSION

OPENS 9/14/2026 AND CLOSES 10/05/2025 AT 11:59PM OR 100 APPLICANTS, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, provides professional planning staff with a wide variety of technical assistance involving planning, zoning, and land use matters; provides information to developers and the general public; assists with the preparation of comprehensive reports and planning resolutions.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• 1. Assist professional planning staff with technical and administrative work related to code, ordinance, and regulation requirements.
• 2. Provide preliminary review and analysis of development plans at the public counter; review plans for completeness and conformance to planning, building, zoning and other appropriate land use and development policies and procedures; confer with developers and the general public regarding City development standards and guidelines.
• 3. Receive telephone and counter inquiries on zoning and development matters; provide correspondence to the general public; assist and direct the public to the appropriate staff member or department; provide information regarding department policies and procedures.
• 4. Conduct basic studies and prepare routine staff reports related to planning, zoning, and land use activities.
• 5. Provide technical assistance to higher level planning staff; research, gather, and compile data and information relevant to environmental and natural resources for use in environmental review documents.
• 6. Prepare and present graphic material for public meeting presentations.
• 7. Make field inspections on related development proposals, zoning, or other planning matters.
• 8. Assist in the maintenance of the City land use data base; produce various reports derived from the data base; research and compile data for special projects and various reports.
• 9. Assist in the collection of data for annexations; assist in processing annexation applications.
• 10. Maintain a variety of statistical records; check and tabulate statistical data; prepare simple statistical reports; prepare monthly/annual report on department activity.
• 11. Compose routing documents for department comments and outside agencies’ comments.
• 12. Perform clerical duties related to department activities.
• 13. Serve as a member of various staff committees as assigned.
• 14. May be required to attend Planning Commission meetings to present information.
• 15. Attend professional development workshops and conferences to keep abreast of trends and developments in the field of municipal planning.
• 16. Perform related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Basic planning and development process terms and codes.
• Principles, practices, and theories of graphic design, drafting and related equipment.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• The City’s municipal codes and plans.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to:

• Prepare maps, graphs, charts, site plans, and other descriptive material.
• Assist with the preparation of comprehensive reports and planning resolutions.
• Provide information to the public, developers and realtors regarding address and zoning regulations.
• Research, analyze and interpret data.
• Maintain complex records and prepare reports and answer questions from records.
• Learn the organization, procedures, and operating details of the department.
• Learn planning, land use and zoning terms and codes.
• Perform administrative work including maintenance of appropriate records and preparation of general reports.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Additional specialized training in drafting, graphic design, urban planning, surveying, engineering, mathematics, computer science, the physical sciences or a related field is desirable.
• Experience: Two years of work experience, preferably in a municipal setting.
• License or Certificate: Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license.

THIS IS A PUBLIC FORWARD FACING POSITION - COUNCIL/PLANNING MEETINGS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND.

HELP WITH AGENDA ITEMS AND MINUTES

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Basic planning and development process terms and codes.
• Principles, practices, and theories of graphic design, drafting and related equipment.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• The City’s municipal codes and plans.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to:

• Prepare maps, graphs, charts, site plans, and other descriptive material.
• Assist with the preparation of comprehensive reports and planning resolutions.
• Provide information to the public, developers and realtors regarding address and zoning regulations.
• Research, analyze and interpret data.
• Maintain complex records and prepare reports and answer questions from records.
• Learn the organization, procedures, and operating details of the department.
• Learn planning, land use and zoning terms and codes.
• Perform administrative work including maintenance of appropriate records and preparation of general reports.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Additional specialized training in drafting, graphic design, urban planning, surveying, engineering, mathematics, computer science, the physical sciences or a related field is desirable.
• Experience: Two years of work experience, preferably in a municipal setting.
• License or Certificate: Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting; some outdoor exposure and travel from site to site; exposure to all types of weather and temperature conditions.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and can pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate a vehicle to travel from site to site; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Health: The City contributes toward the combined monthly premiums for medical, dental and vision a maximum of $810, $1,600or $2,250, dependent on level of medical coverage enrollment. Any employee contributions to health premiums are taken as pre-tax deductions. Employees eligible to waive medical coverage receive $200 per month in additional taxable compensation. Starting January 2026, Two Carriers available:Kaiser HMO and Sutter Health HMO.

Retirement/Pension: The City offers a generous defined benefit plan pension (membership required) in the Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement Association (StanCERA), as governed by County Employees’ Retirement Law of 1937 and Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA). "Classic members" (within the last six (6) months a member of StanCERA or areciprocal retirement plan, e.g. CalPERS) are enrolled in the City’s 2% @ 55 plan; final compensation at retirement is based on the single highest year. Non-classic or "new members" are enrolled in the 2% @ 62 plan, and employees are required to pay 100% of the normal contribution rate as prescribed by PEPRA, currently 9.31%, on a pre-tax basis; final compensation at retirement is based on the average of the three highest years.

Other Benefits:See the Memorandum of Understanding for your group - Miscellaneous Bargaining Unit- MOU

Voluntary Benefits & Leave: Employee Assistance Program, voluntary options for Deferred Compensation (457b), Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Voluntary Life and AD&D coverage, 96 hours of sick leave accrued each year with unlimited accrual; vacation accrual based on years of service with maximum accrual of 480 hours and 14paid holidays (including one personal day) each year.

The City also participates in Social Security, which has a mandatory 7.65% contribution for Social Security and Medicare.

Special Instructions

Incomplete applications will not be accepted and resumes in lieu of applications are not acceptable.