Senior Planner/Planning Manager

Senior Planner/Planning Manager (Open until filled)

City of Albany

Albany, CA

Experience Level: Senior

AICP Certification: Desirable

Salary:  $97,944.00 - $147,780.00

*** THIS POSITION IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED ***

The City of Albany is seeking a qualified individual to fill one full-time position in the Planning Department. The City will accept applications for the position of Senior Planner or Planning Manager. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of experience. The position and salary will be based upon qualifications.
 
The Community Development Department is a small team that works on land use planning, building code implementation, transportation planning, sustainability policies and programs, environmental and open space planning, disaster resilience planning, affordable housing, and waste hauling,

The Department is looking for an individual interested in a unique opportunity to develop and enhance management level experience particularly focused on a diverse portfolio of land use planning and permitting responsibilities.
 
The Senior Planner/Planning Manager position oversees land use planning and development activities of the City, including current and long-range planning, as well as serves as the staff liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission. This position works under the direction of the Community Development Director.

Senior Planner
The senior planner serves as the primary point of contact for members of the community on all aspects of land use policies and programs. In addition, the senior planner is the lead staff person on the review and processing of land use planning applications.
 
Planning Manager 
In addition to the functions of the senior planner, the planning manager position works with the Community Development Director to plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the staff and activities of the Planning Division in the Community Development Department including acts as an advisor to the City in implementing the general plan, zoning and subdivision codes, and evaluating environmental issues, and performs a variety of highly complex and difficult professional-level planning duties.

Examples of Duties

General Duties of Senior Planner

• Participate in planning, organizing, and coordinating the goals, objectives, policies, and procedures related to all planning activities in the City, both current and long-range.
• Act as Zoning Administrator and perform all duties required thereof by the Albany Municipal Code.
• Administer the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, and all other planning related ordinances and adopted policies.
• Administer the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Prepare zoning and land use regulations, draft ordinance revisions, and General Plan elements or amendments.
• Draft and interpret ordinances and regulations as they apply to planning applications. 
• Review and process planning and related applications, permit requests and appeals submitted to the Department.
• Confer with builders, engineers, contractors, attorneys, architects, and the public concerning Department procedures, interpretation, and application of City planning policies and ordinances, and conditions imposed on approved applications.
• Respond to and resolve citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Prepare and maintain planning records, maps, charts, and related materials.
• Act as staff to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Advise and assist the Commission and the City Council with respect to community planning issues and problems, pending applications, and the application of established City policies and ordinances.
• Meet with commissions and the public to discuss City planning policies, practices, and problems.
• Write and/or orally present reports to the City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, various boards and commissions, and City staff on current and long-range planning.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Additional duties of Planning Manager

• Organize and conduct planning studies and projects; prepare complex reports; initiate programs, surveys, and the compilation and interpretation of planning studies.
• Serve as technical advisor to other staff and the City Council on planning related matters. 
• Manage professional and administrative staff related to land use and building code polices, programs, and application processing.
• Coordinate with leadership of other city departments in managing joint initiatives and problem solving.
• Represent the City with neighboring municipalities, regional agencies, and professional associations.
• Prepare requests for proposals and bids; review bids and make recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications

Training and Experience:

Senior Planner position, minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a urban planning related field, and five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in land use planning.

Planning Manager position, minimum qualifications include a graduate degree, AICP certification, or similar advanced professional development, and five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in land use planning in an urban municipal government setting. AND

Additional knowledge base for Planning Manager:

• Understanding of basic management skills including human resources, municipal
  government finance, budgeting and contracting practices.

All Candidates

• Possession of Certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California driver's license.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• State, Federal and local regulations, policies, programs, and legal precedents related to land use planning.
• Major steps in processing land use planning entitlements for a variety of different types of land use projects.
• Major steps in development process including design and construction of new buildings, home remodels, and commercial tenant improvements.
• Legal requirements and rules of order affecting public meetings.
• Methods to incorporate social and racial justice and community resilience into all aspects of land use planning.
• Effective practices to engage the community in land use planning matters.
• Techniques to improve customer service and increase staff productivity.
•  Modern office practices include computer software and hardware.

Ability to:

• Analyze planning applications for compliance with complex state and local regulations. Read architectural plans.
• Write plans, policies, application forms, handouts, ordinances. Write concise and informative staff reports.
• Make effective public presentations.
• Use tact, political astuteness, discretion, initiative, creativity and independent judgment while working with the City's elected and appointed officials, interest groups, stakeholders, and the general public.

Selection Process

All applicants are required to complete and submit an online City application form (including Supplemental Questionnaire) with Resume.

This job posting will remain open until position is filled. First cutoff date and time for applications will be on March 10, 2023 at 11 :59PM: Resumes and supplemental questions will be used in addition to the application in determining your qualifications. Applications will be reviewed by the Human Resources Department. Those applicants possessing the most pertinent qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process.

Oral Interview Examination: (Weight of 100%) Selected candidates will be invited to an interview conducted by land use planning professionals in the region. Candidates need a minimum passing score in order to be placed on the eligible list.

Timed Written Examination (to be administered after oral interview): Candidates will be provided 30 minutes to review a hypothetical pre-application plan submittal and write a brief memo to the City Manager summarizing the submitted materials.

Second Interview with Department: This will be a two-part in-person interview at Albany's City Hall. One part of the interview will be with the Community Development Director, and the other part will be an informal meeting with Community Development Department staff. Final selection decision will be made based upon the outcome at this stage.

Qualified applicants will be placed on a ranked eligible list.  This is a continuous recruitment; additional names of successful candidates may be added to the eligible list periodically. 

The information listed above is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The City of Albany is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, sex origin or disability. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 528-5715.