Senior Planner

City of Camarillo; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Camarillo invites applications for a Senior Planner to guide current and long-range planning projects, mentor staff, and collaborate with colleagues, residents, and partner agencies. You will lead complex initiatives, balance competing interests, and drive practical solutions for a sustainable community.

Qualified candidates will have four years of progressively responsible planning experience, leadership ability, and the potential for certification in planning (AICP).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban or regional planning, environmental design, architecture or a related field. Master's degree desirable.
• Four years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience in local government including project management experience.
• Possession of a valid California driver's license; AICP certification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop planning staff.
• Manage multiple high-priority projects from review through implementation.
• Coordinate with City departments and external agencies to ensure timely, well-informed outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Supervision

Staff development

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning

Master's degree desirable

AICP certification desirable

Job description

ABOUT THE CITY

Nestled in the heart of Ventura County, just minutes from California's scenic coastline, Camarillo offers a unique blend of small-town charm, a vibrant community spirit, and an exceptional quality of life as a forward-thinking and innovative local government, we are dedicated to delivering outstanding service while fostering a dynamic, empowered workforce that reflects the high standard to the community we serve.

Discover more about us and our organizational culture here. Learn more about the Community Development Department here.

BENEFITS

To view our benefits page.

THE POSITION

The City of Camarillo is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and service-oriented Senior Planner to help shape a vibrant, sustainable community. This position is well suited for a planning professional with a strong background in both current and long-range planning, as well as experience leading, mentoring, and developing planning staff.

The ideal candidate brings advanced knowledge of municipal planning practices and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex, high-priority projects from initial review through implementation. They communicate clearly and effectively, build productive relationships with colleagues, applicants, residents, and partner agencies, and encourage collaboration and meaningful input to achieve timely, well-informed outcomes.

A successful candidate will be skilled at navigating competing interests, addressing challenging issues constructively, and developing practical solutions. Experience advancing climate action initiatives through coordination with City departments and external agencies is highly desirable.

Qualified candidates will have at least four years of progressively responsible professional planning experience in a local government setting, including supervisory experience. Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program.
• Theory, principles and practices of urban planning, community development, and revitalization.
• Advanced principles, practices, and techniques of current and advanced planning including land use, environmental policy analysis, municipal service delivery, physical design, landscape architecture, demographics, and economic and social concepts as applied to municipal planning.
• Organization and functions of various agencies involved in the planning processes.
• Basic principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Basic principles of supervision and training.
• Project management principles and practices.
• Principles and practices used in building, architecture, and engineering.
• Development review procedures and requirements.
• Site planning and architectural design principles.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions, and applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• Recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
• Statistical methods and research techniques applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies.
• Methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues.
• Customer service techniques, practices, and principles.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications.

Ability to:

• Independently perform advanced professional level planning duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations.
• Apply policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process.
• Provide supervision and training to assigned contractors.
• Serve as project manager on multiple projects.
• Prioritize multiple projects.
• Staff and manage assigned commissions and committees.
• Interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives.
• Interpret planning programs to the general public.
• Analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality.
• Analyze site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services.
• Ensure project compliance with state, federal, and local rules, laws, and regulations.
• Participate in coordinating necessary communication between staff, developers, and other agencies.
• Understand, evaluate, and interpret complex technical engineering, architectural, structural, landscape, and topographical plans, maps, and related documents.
• Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence.
• Present technical data in verbal, written, graphic, and map form to City management staff, citizen groups, and variety of boards and commissions.
• Develop recommendations regarding the use of property.
• Process development applications and coordinate necessary communication between staff, developer, and other agencies.
• Read, analyze, and interpret information from professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, council members, committee and commission members, and the general public.
• Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person.
• Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective solutions.
• Operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective professional 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:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban or regional planning, environmental design, architecture or a related field. A Master's degree is desirable.

Experience:

Four years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience in local government including some project management experience.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a valid California driver's license at a level appropriate to the equipment operated. Possession of certification as a Certified Planner from the American Institute of Certified Planners is highly desirable.

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites; occasionally works in outside weather conditions; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

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/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to operate a vehicle to travel from site to site; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

The City of Camarillo is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, or other factors. We believe in fostering an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected and empowered.

Disaster Services Assignments

As public employees, we play an enhanced role in the event of a disaster or other emergency in our community. You will be registered as a disaster services worker, and you will be issued a disaster services identification card. In the event of a disaster or other emergency, make sure that your family is safe and secure first, then report to your assigned emergency location. Temporary employees generally do not receive disaster services assignments.