Principal Planner

City of San Clemente; San Clemente (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San Clemente seeks an experienced Principal Planner to lead the Planning Division, directing complex current and advanced planning projects, development reviews, and environmental assessments. You will mentor staff, coordinate with City departments, Planning Commission, and City Council, and guide long-range planning for a coastal community.

The ideal candidate will balance technical planning requirements with community expectations, ensuring defensible decisions and collaborative

Qualifications

• Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in urban planning, regional planning or urban design.
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Responsibilities

• Oversee, coordinate and perform current and advanced professional planning functions, including environmental impact reports and planning studies.
• Serve as project manager for large and complex planning projects and manage contracts.
• Plan, prioritize, supervise and review work of staff responsible for planning and development projects.
• Assist the public at the front counter; review development applications and prepare reports with recommendations.
• Review development sites for code compliance related to sign, landscape, and parking; propose improvements.
• Assist in implementing goals, policies, and procedures; administer General Plan elements.
• Prepare staff reports, findings, conditions of approval, ordinances, and resolutions.
• Present complex planning information to Planning Commission and City Council.

Skills

Municipal planning

Development review

Land use policy

Environmental review

Public hearings

Staff supervision

Project management

Contract management

Ordinances

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

Job description

Principal Planner

Community Development/Planning

This recruitment is being held to establish an eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Principal Planner position(s) and may be used to fill positions in the Senior Planner classification, as well.

The City of San Clemente is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and solutions-oriented planning professional to join our Community Development team as Principal Planner. This position plays a key leadership role in the Planning Division and supports complex current and advanced planning projects, development review, environmental review, land use policy, public hearings, staff supervision, and coordination with applicants, residents, consultants, City departments, the Planning Commission, and City Council. This is a great opportunity for a seasoned planning professional who is ready to lead complex projects, mentor staff, provide high-quality technical analysis, and help guide thoughtful development and long-range planning efforts in one of Southern California's most beautiful coastal communities.

1. Oversee, coordinate and perform current and advanced professional planning functions, including preparing environmental impact reports, conducting planning studies on complex development projects, and coordinating capital improvement projects.
2. Serve as project manager for large and complex current and advanced planning projects involving city land use policy; manage multiple contracts.
3. Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of staff responsible for planning and development projects.
4. Oversee and participate in assisting the public at the front counter; receive, review and process development applications and proposals; confer with and advise contractors, developers, architects, engineers and the general public; prepare reports on recommendations.
5. Oversee and conduct field inspections; review development sites to ensure code compliance related to sign, landscape, screening, irrigation and parking; recommend improvement and rehabilitation programs; follow-up to ensure compliance.
6. Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; implement approved policies and procedures.
7. Assist in administering the City's General Plan; recommend historical preservation and archaeological goals, policies and standards; prepare General Plan Amendments for the Council.
8. Establish schedules and methods for providing planning and development services; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; allocate resources accordingly.
9. Participate in the selection of planning staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
10. Participate in contract bidding process; assist in preparing requests for proposals, evaluating bids and conducting interviews; negotiate and monitor contract agreements.
11. Draft new city ordinances governing land use and development.
12. Provide staff assistance on the Planning Commission; prepare reports and recommendations on planning and development projects.
13. Participate in the preparation and administration of the Planning Division budget; submit budget recommendations; monitor expenditures.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The ideal candidate is a seasoned planning professional with strong experience in municipal planning, development review, land use policy, environmental review, public hearings, and staff supervision. They are comfortable managing complex and sensitive projects, interpreting planning and zoning regulations, preparing clear and defensive recommendations, and communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences.

The successful candidate will be someone who can balance technical planning requirements, community expectations, customer service, legal defensibility, and San Clemente's unique coastal character. They should be able to lead with sound judgment, professionalism, and a steady, solutions-focused approach.

The ideal candidate will also:

• Have strong knowledge of current planning, advanced planning, zoning, land use, environmental review, design review, and municipal development processes;
• Prepare clear, well-organized staff reports, findings, conditions of approval, ordinances, resolutions, and public hearing materials;
• Effectively present complex planning information to the Planning Commission, City Council, community groups, applicants, and the public;
• Manage complex development applications, planning studies, consultant contracts, schedules, and competing priorities;
• Supervise, mentor, train, and review the work of professional, technical, and support staff;
• Communicate professionally with applicants, residents, developers, architects, engineers, consultants, staff, commissioners, and elected officials;
• Exercise good judgment when responding to difficult, sensitive, or high--visibility planning issues;
• Support consistency, fairness, transparency, and defensible decision-making in the development review process; and
• Bring a collaborative and thoughtful approach to supporting the City's planning goals, community character, and long-term vision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in urban planning, regional planning or urban design.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, geography, architecture, public administration, business management or a related field.

License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California Class C driver's license, by date of appointment.

For more information about the position, you can review the full Classification Specification: here.

Prior to employment, the prospective candidate must successfully complete a background review, medical examination, including drug screen, and be fingerprinted, all at City expense. If selected, acceptable identification showing entitlement to legally work in the United States will be required.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Cara Morin at [phone] or [e-mail].

As an equal opportunity employer, the City strongly encourages people with disabilities and people from historically marginalized communities to apply.