Senior Planner

City of Santee; Santee (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santee is seeking a Senior Planner under the direction of the Principal Planner. This at-will mid-management role handles difficult, complex planning work, requiring initiative and independent judgment, with responsibilities ranging from staff reports to environmental compliance.

The position is non-telecommuting. Typical duties include managing planning projects, coordinating interdepartmental activities, preparing ordinances and General Plan updates, and representing the City

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, Community Development, Urban Design or a closely related field.
• Four (4) years of professional experience in current, long range and/or Environmental Planning, Development, or Housing.
• A master's degree in a related field or an AICP certification may be accepted in lieu of one year of experience.
• A master's degree in Planning, Public Administration or related field, or an AICP certification is highly desirable.
• California experience in planning is highly desirable.
• Public sector experience in planning is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a single point of contact for ministerial and discretionary planning projects, including intake of applications, reviewing for regulations, preparing staff reports and presenting at City Council.
• Plans, coordinates and provides support for intra and interdepartmental activities of the Planning Division.
• Prepares new and/or updates ordinances, amendments and General Plan Elements.
• Prepares and/or reviews environmental documents in compliance with state and federal environmental law.
• Manages planning and environmental consultants including procurement, tracking work and paying invoices.
• Represents the City's position before boards, committees or technical advisory groups.
• Interfaces with developers, architects, engineers and others involved in projects.
• Represents the City in the community and at public and professional meetings.
• Responds to public complaints and requests.
• Conducts complex studies related to social, economic and physical development and zoning enforcement.
• Develops/recommends departmental policies and procedures and assists in implementing them.
• Performs special projects related to planning; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Planning, Public Administration, Community Development, Urban Design or closely related field

Job description

Upcoming Scheduled Salary Increase of 3% Effective July 2026

There are 2 (two) vacant positions to be filled

Under the direction of the Principal Planner, this at-will, mid-management position performs all phases of difficult, complex, professional and technical planning and related work; requires the exercise of a great amount of initiative in assuming continually difficult duties and responsibilities; requires great accuracy and comprehension in work produced with minimal review, instruction, direction and supervision; requires exercising independent judgment in determining priorities and preparing reports and recommendations; and performs other duties as required. This class is distinguished from that of Associate Planner by the complexity of analytical assignments related to both current and long-range planning, responsibility to obtain objectives, greater independence with which an incumbent is expected to operate, and may supervise administrative, technical and/or clerical staff.

~This is a non-telecommuting position~

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Serves as a single point of contact for ministerial and discretionary planning projects, including but not limited to, managing intake of applications, reviewing for consistency with all relevant local, state and federal regulations, preparing staff reports and presenting at City Council, and ensuring compliance with conditions of approval;
• Plans, coordinates and provides support for intra and interdepartmental activities of the Planning Division;
• Prepares new and/or updates ordinances, amendments and General Plan Elements;
• Prepares and/or reviews environmental documents in compliance with state and federal environmental law;
• Manages as needed planning and environmental consultants including procurement, tracking work and ensuring invoices are appropriately paid;
• Represents the City's position before various boards, committees or technical advisory groups;
• Interfaces with developers, architects, engineers and others involved in projects;
• Represents the City in the community and at public and professional meetings;
• Responds to public complaints and requests;
• Conducts complex, detailed studies relating to the social, economic and physical development of the community and in zoning enforcement;
• Develops/recommends departmental policies and procedures and assist in implementing these policies/procedures upon their approval;
• Performs special projects related to planning; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

For the complete job description, please go to the City of Santee's website at www.cityofsanteeca.gov

Any combination of education and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this classification. An example would be:

EDUCATION

A bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, Community Development, Urban Design or a closely related field; and

EXPERIENCE

Four (4) years of increasingly responsible and recent professional level experience in current, long range and /or Environmental Planning, Development, or Housing.

A master's degree in a closely related field or an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification may be accepted in lieu of one (1) year of experience.

A master's degree in Planning, Public Administration or related field, or an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is highly desirable.

California experience in current, long range and/or Environmental Planning, Development, or Housing is highly desirable.

Public sector experience in current, long range and/or Environmental Planning, Development or Housing is highly desirable.

The applicant selected will be subject to a criminal history investigation through the California Department of Justice (DOJ). A waiver for reference and background information must be completed.

City of Santee employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.