Principal Planner

City of San Luis Obispo; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance up to $10,000

Hiring incentives up to $5,000

Service credit toward vacation accrual

Job summary

The City of San Luis Obispo seeks a Principal Planner to lead the Housing & Homelessness Section within the Planning Division. The role directs major housing initiatives, shapes policy, and collaborates with departments, agencies, and elected officials to advance community priorities.

The ideal candidate brings strategic thinking, strong leadership, and technical planning expertise to address housing stability and equity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning or closely related field.
• Five years of professional planning experience; two years in lead/supervisory role preferred.
• Master’s degree or AICP desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, supervises planning staff and projects.
• Leads housing and homelessness initiatives.
• Prepares reports to City Council and commissions.
• Acts as liaison with regional partners and advisory bodies.
• Provides budgeting input and manages performance measures.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Public speaking

Stakeholder collaboration

Policy guidance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in urban planning

Five years professional planning experience

Master’s degree in planning or related field

AICP certification desirable

Tools

GIS software

Microsoft Office

Job description

The City of SLO is looking for a Principal Planner to join the Community Development Department and lead the Housing & Homelessness Section of the Planning Division who demonstrates exceptional leadership, strategic thinking and technical expertise.

The City is seeking a strategic, forward-thinking Principal Planner to join the Community Development Department and lead the Housing & Homelessness Response Section of the Planning Division. In this role, you will guide major planning initiatives, shape housing policy, and collaborate with departments, partner agencies, service providers, and elected officials to support some of our most impactful community priorities.

The ideal candidate understands how land use, regional coordination, development feasibility, social services, and equity intersect to influence housing stability. You will work closely with residents, organizations, and advisory bodies to develop solutions that meet today’s needs while planning for a more resilient and inclusive future.

If you are interested in learning more about the role and what day-to-day duties may include, please contact Tyler Corey.

If you’re ready to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the well-being of our community, we encourage you to apply.

Selected candidates will be invited to in-person interviews on Tuesday, October 20, 2026—please hold the date.

Please note: Hiring incentives are not guaranteed but may be valued up to $5,000 for positions deemed hard to fill by the Director of Human Resources. For those candidates who live 50 or more miles from San Luis Obispo County, relocation assistance up to $10,000 may be available. In addition, the City is also honoring service credit towards vacation accrual for completed public sector years of service.

JOB SUMMARY

Plans, organizes, and manages planning projects and services of one or more sections of the Planning Division; handles major planning programs, studies, development project review, and policy development involving the interpretation of complex laws and sensitive land use, housing, and homelessness response issues; supervises staff, coordinates work with other agencies, and makes presentations to the executive team, Planning Commission, City Council, and other boards, committees, and commissions; and serves as a departmental and City liaison.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is a management classification requiring thorough knowledge of physical, social, and economic principles of urban planning; the ability to integrate diverse planning activities with the overall objectives of the community and City Council; and leadership skills to supervise a section within the Planning Division. Incumbents have a broad range of independence in overseeing project assignment, scheduling, and workload of the assigned professional and technical planning staff, and functions as technical expert for planning-related activities and programs. The Principal Planner class is distinguished from the next lower class of Senior Planner by its broader management responsibilities and full supervision of professional and technical planning staff. The Principal Planner class is distinguished from the Deputy Director of Community Development/City Planner by the latter's overall responsibility for all sections in the Planning Division and assisting the Community Development Director with overall administration of department activities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the Deputy Director of Community Development/City Planner.

Exercises general supervision and direction over professional, technical, administrative support, and intern planning staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans, organizes, supervises, assigns, reviews, evaluates, and approves the work of professional and technical staff in the implementation of a wide variety of planning, zoning, environmental review, housing program, and homelessness response activities; determines appropriate project priorities and project schedules; selects and oversees the work of consultants; estimates resources needed.
• Provides leadership, coaching, mentoring, training, and policy guidance and interpretation to staff; promotes organizational and employee development.
• Initiates, researches, prepares, and presents major reports, proposals, and recommendations to the Community Development Director, Deputy Director of Community Development/City Planner, Planning Commission, City Council, and other boards and commissions.
• Provides exemplary customer service to all individuals by demonstrating a willingness to be attentive, understanding, responsive, fair, courteous, and respectful, and to actively participate in maintaining a positive customer service environment.
• Analyzes and applies complex laws, rules, and regulations to planning projects and policy decisions.
• Coordinates planning review and approvals with other City departments and outside agencies in matters involving land use, environmental and development issues, regional planning policies, and housing and homelessness issues.
• Assists with preparation and management of the Community Development Department's budget and performance measures.
• Meets with regional partners, community groups, and other organizations; acts as the City's liaison to advisory bodies, such as boards, commissions, and committees.
• Coordinates and oversees staff and consultants on the completion of environmental review tasks associated with assessments of private development and City projects.
• Acts on behalf of the Deputy Director of Community Development/City Planner in his or her absence.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, and local planning laws, policies, and regulations, such as the Subdivision Map Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), various state housing laws including density bonus law and the Housing Accountability Act (HAA), Zoning Regulations, General Plan Policies, Historic Preservation Ordinance, Community Design Guidelines, and Historic Preservation Program Guidelines.
• Theories, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information sources, and trends in the fields of current and advanced planning; land use, physical design, demographic, environmental, and social/economic concepts as applied to municipal planning.
• Local government organization and the functions and applications related to a municipal planning department.
• Research methods and statistical techniques used in planning.
• Methods and techniques for making effective public presentations of complex information.
• Terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in planning and planning exhibits, such as site plans, grading plans, and architectural elevations.
• Principles of staffing, selection, training, supervision, performance evaluation, and discipline.
• Project management principles and program evaluation practices.
• Budgeting practices.

Ability to:

• Perform and coordinate technical current, advanced, and project-planning activities, such as the collection, analysis, and preparation of reports and recommendations pertaining to complex issues and policy matters; make accurate recommendations based on study findings.
• Develop, interpret, and apply laws, policies, procedures, regulations, maps, specifications, census data, site and building plans, graphs, and other statistical data.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within departmental guidelines.
• Plan, organize, and complete projects and lead and motivate employees to meet established deadlines.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete technical planning documents, oral and written reports, and correspondence.
• Direct the preparation of visual displays, such as maps, graphs, and statistical charts.
• Operate computer hardware and use information systems and related word processing, data base, spreadsheet, and graphics presentation software programs.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with City Council members, other boards and commissions, staff supervisors, management, consultants, community groups, citizens, and applicants.
• Represent the City effectively in meetings with commissions, community groups, governmental bodies, the media and the public.
• Work with diverse populations and maintain an inclusive environment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning or a closely related field.

Five years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience, preferably including two years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

A master’s degree in planning, public administration, or a related field; professional certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) or a similar organization; or additional coursework in Planning or a related field (e.g., architecture, economics, environmental studies, historic preservation, urban design) is highly desirable.

BEFORE A FINAL OFFER IS MADE, CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE:

• Live Scan Fingerprinting – DOJ