Urban/Principal Planner (FT - Hybrid)

The Principal Planner supervises and participates in current and advanced highly complex professional planning activities. The Principal Planner works under the direction of the Director of Planning.  An incumbent in this classification demonstrates strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills; sets a good example; and correctly applies the tenets of the company’s Code of Ethics and Values.

• Perform and manage complex and sensitive professional planning projects, research, and analysis.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
• Oversee specialized planning functions such as large-scale new development proposals and environmental studies.
• Advise the Planning Director and/or Vice President of Planning Services on all planning-related matters.
• Assign work to professional staff and ensure appropriate training is provided.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities.
• Prepare reports on operations and activities, recommending improvements and modifications.
• Handle sensitive personnel matters.
• Comprehensive experience preparing and reviewing land use entitlement applications for a California Public Agency.
• Evaluate complex land development proposals (Pre-Applications, General Plan amendments, Text Amendments, Re-zonings, Conditional Use Permits, Variances, Annexations, land subdivisions and other development requests.)
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to varying work environments such as working directly at a client site, from an assigned office location, able to work remotely, and/or from other locations as necessary.
• Attend substantial number of evening and weekend meetings as needed.
• Gather, analyze, and present data in the form of written, graphic, or oral reports and presents findings and recommendations before the approving body (Planning Commission, City Council, Board of Supervisors and other bodies) at public hearings.
• Plan, manage, and participate in the preparation of advanced planning projects.
• May represent the Planning Department at the Architectural Committee, Historical and Landmarks Commission, and other planning advisory committees as needed.
• Act as a company representative while actively pursuing new business opportunities.
• Customarily and regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment.
• Perform other related duties as required.

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Studies, Public or Business Administration or a closely related field and five years recent managerial level experience in governmental
• Sufficient education and experience in governmental planning to demonstrate the possession and application of the required knowledge and abilities.
• A Master’s degree in one of the above areas is highly desirable and would substitute for one year of managerial experience.
• Possession of license, registration, or certification in a related field, such as American Planning Association (APA) or American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), is highly desirable.
• Proactive in business development activities and take an active role in building the company’s client base in coordination with the Director(s) of Planning and Vice President of Planning Services.
• Demonstrate effective leadership with the ability to motivate and inspire staff while working as part of the CSG team.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Class “C” California driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record is required.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY OF

• Principles, practices, and legal requirements of planning and zoning administration.
• Environmental protection regulations such as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act, etc.
• State and local laws pertaining to land use such as the Williamson Act, Historic Preservation Program, etc.
• Relationship of land use planning to the requirements of other reviewing agencies such as Fire Marshal’s Office, Environmental Health, Land Development Engineering, Geology, Roads and Airports, and Building.
• Advanced knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of planning and development design including architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, site design, traffic engineering, land use compatibility and economic development.
• Principles of effective customer service.
• Statistics and math applicable to planning and property development.
• Planning implications to the community’s physical, economic, and social characteristics.
• Environmental impacts and property development and construction practices.
• Governmental organizations and operations and community interrelationships.
• Advanced research, report writing and presentation techniques.
• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database management, internet, econometric or transportation modeling, geographic information systems, BlueBeam, permit management software such as Accela).
• Manage post entitlement work and the construction process.
• Review project descriptions, plans or field conditions and apply policy and code provisions to determine performance.
• Interpret the zoning ordinance and other policy documents.
• Organize and conduct planning studies including supervising the work of others.
• Prepare and present complex staff reports, planning studies, policies, and ordinance to the public and decision-making bodies.
• Conduct analysis and make recommendations based on findings in studies, field observation and public input.
• Efficiently administer planning policies, ordinances, and permit processes.
• Build relationships and work respectfully, tactfully, and creatively with the public, agencies, and staff.
• Provide effective project management and staff leadership.
• Manage multiple projects and issues effectively and meet firm deadlines.
• Facilitate large meetings and community workshops.
• Principles and practices of governmental planning necessary to plan, organize, direct, manage and evaluate the staff and functions of a planning division.
• Current laws, trends and statistics affecting governmental planning.
• Principles and practices of public administration, organization, management analysis, supervision, budgeting, and personnel management.
• Effectively organize, coordinate, direct and evaluate the staff and functions of a governmental planning division.
• Develop creative and practical solutions to complex problems.
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups.
• Train, organize, supervise, and motivate division staff.
• Effectively represent the Department before the decision makers, municipal executives, the public, and other entities, and organizations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all those contacted during the course of work.
• Work within complex environments with diverse staff and community populations.
• Prepare clear and comprehensive correspondence and reports.

• Working with detailed, finely printed documents.
• Based on the need, may work at city hall, the CSG office, or from the home office.
• Requires sitting for long periods of time.
• May require working in inspection site environments, occasionally.
• Must be able to travel to client sites and/or job sites. 
• Require capacity to work in a fast-paced environment when dealing with deadlines and multiple projects.