Principal Planner

County of Riverside; California; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Riverside's Transportation and Land Management Agency (TLMA) Planning Department seeks a Principal Planner to join the Advanced Planning Team. Under general direction, the role plans, organizes and manages a group of professional staff in a planning section or district office.

The Principal Planner directs activities of major planning divisions, coordinates long-range projects, and supports housing element and general plan updates.

Qualifications

• Four years of professional environmental planning, land use planning and/or transportation planning experience with at least two planning activities.
• One year of lead or supervisory experience.
• Master's degree may substitute for supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the activities of a major section within a planning division or district office.
• Review and evaluate existing programs for effectiveness and efficiency.
• Represent the department on committees and with public, boards, and agencies.
• Coordinate and supervise staff, and provide direction and training.

Skills

Leadership

Long-range planning

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in planning

Master’s degree in planning or transportation planning (substitute for supervisory experience)

Job description

For questions regarding this position, please contact the recruiter listed in the supplemental information section.

About The Position

The County of Riverside's Transportation and Land Management Agency (TLMA) Planning Department has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Planner to join the Advanced Planning Team.

Under general direction, assists in planning, organizing and managing a group of professional and support personnel in a specialized planning section or district office; performs other related duties as required.

The Principal Planner classification is allocated and characterized by the responsibility of managing and coordinating the activities of a major section within a planning division, a combination of smaller planning sections, a district office, or an outreach program. Incumbents direct these activities through subordinate personnel and report to the Planning Director or other management level position. The Principal Planner is distinguished from the Planning Director in that the latter manages the Planning Department.

Responsibilities of the Principal Planner may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead and manage the Advanced Planning Team.
• Support development and implementation of the County’s long-range planning initiatives.
• Oversee preparation and maintenance of community plans.
• Assist with ordinance and policy updates as needed.
• Support Housing Element and General Plan updates.
• Perform a variety of complex planning assignments and other related duties as needed.

In addition to the minimum requirements, the most competitive candidates will possess:

• Bachelor’s degree or above in planning.
• Experience in long range planning.

Meet the Team!

The Planning Department is responsible for Riverside County's General Plan, a comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of unincorporated areas within the County. This department formulates growth management plans and zoning for the County.

Examples Of Essential Duties

• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate, directly or through subordinate lead personnel, the activities of a major section within a planning division, a combination of smaller planning sections, a district office, or participate in the development and review of division policies and goals, particularly as they affect the assigned section.
• Review and evaluate existing programs for overall effectiveness and efficiency in meeting division and section goals, initiating action for operational improvements as necessary.
• Review studies of ordinance amendments, policies and staff reports to ensure thoroughness of analyses, consistency with County requirements and legal compliance.
• Represent the department on committees and before civic and community groups, other County Departments, governmental agencies, environmental regulatory and permitting agencies, stakeholders, and the public; confer with property owners, developers and their representatives regarding the applicability and impact of County policies, ordinances and other regulations related to property development.
• Confer with staff regarding problems and progress in their functional areas and provide technical and administrative direction; interview and recommend the selection of prospective employees.
• Coordinate and assign personnel within the section; plan and conduct staff development and in-service training programs in operational procedures, and policy; review and evaluate the performance of subordinate personnel.
• Work with staff of other departments and regional and state agencies to exchange or clarify information used in developing regional land use and operating work plans; coordinate the design and execution of projects to ensure consistency.
• Compile data regarding section workloads, staffing levels and priorities for input in the department's program budget.
• Prepare, or delegate preparation of, reports and recommendations to all levels of County hearing bodies, including Director’s Hearing, Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
• Make presentations to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and other local, regional and state agencies on activities being conducted within the section as needed; respond to difficult public relations problems, investigate complaints or requests and recommend resolutions.
• Coordinate efforts to draft new ordinances and review existing ordinances pertaining to the Planning Department, as needed.
• Participate in the analysis of proposed or adopted legislation to determine the potential or actual impacts to the County, on implementation.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in planning, transportation planning, public administration, geography (with related course concentration), architecture, environmental sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field.

Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on the basis of one year of full‑time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units of the required education.

Experience:

Four years of professional environmental planning, land use planning and/or transportation planning experience which must have included performing at least two kinds of the following planning activities associated with a planning agency: comprehensive, regional, area, or community planning; plan/proposal review; general plan amendments; zoning, land division; information services; urban renewal; planning administration or transportation planning. One year of experience must have been in a lead or supervisory capacity.

A master's degree in planning or transportation planning, or a closely related field may substitute for the one year of the required supervisory experience.

Other Requirements

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License is required. This position involves travel to various locations throughout the county to attend off‑site and community meetings.

Knowledge of:

The principles of good organization and decision making, management and supervision; the principles, methods and procedures applicable to land use or transportation planning activities; the physical, social, environmental, and economic implications of land use or transportation planning; local, state and federal legislation governing land use development and transportation planning activities; research methods; general plan elements and factors that must be considered in evaluating land use or transportation proposals for consistency with these elements; the organizational structure and jurisdiction of governmental agencies involved in the planning process.

Ability to:

Manage and coordinate the work of subordinate planners; plan and conduct any necessary training for subordinate staff; motivate and evaluate the work performance of subordinate personnel; collect and analyze data, generate and evaluate alternatives, reach logical conclusions, and formulate consistent recommendations; compose clear and thorough study reports and recommendations; orally present study findings and recommendations to a variety of public groups and governmental bodies; work effectively with the general public and community and governmental boards and commissions; ability to interpret and apply laws and regulations pertaining to planning projects and cases.

Work Location and Telework

In-person attendance is the standard work expectation for County of Riverside assignments. Certain assignments may be eligible for a hybrid telework schedule; however, telework arrangements are subject to management approval, operational needs, and/or may be modified or discontinued at any time. Employees who telework are expected to be able to report to their assigned worksite on short notice or as operational needs require. Unless otherwise specified for a particular position, employees are expected to reside in California following appointment. Limited exceptions may apply. Applicants should contact the assigned recruiter for additional information regarding work location expectations, telework eligibility, and residency requirements.

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment‑based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non‑job‑related factors.

Pre‑Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre‑employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre‑employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving “At Will,” are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact Vanessa Diaz Beaird at [e-mail] or (951) 955‑9112. Please allow 1‑2 business days for a response to general inquiries.