Senior Planner - Current Planning

The City of Palo Alto is seeking an experienced city planner who enjoys working in a dynamic and growing community. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto is a vibrant community and home to many tech companies. In this unique opportunity, the City is looking for a Senior Planner for our Current Planning team.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT 

The Palo Alto Planning and Development Services Department provides the City Council and community with creative guidance and effective implementation of land use development, planning, housing, and environmental policies and programs in order to maintain and enhance the City’s safety, vitality, and attractiveness.

For more information on the Planning and Development Services Department, click HERE.

SENIOR PLANNER

The successful candidate will be a well-seasoned implementation planner serving in the Current Planning team at the senior level. The Current Planning team processes entitlement applications and ensures conformance with applicable code and regulations. This position is represented by SEIU.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Ideal candidates for this position will have a strong customer service focus and superior interpersonal skills. They will be able to establish and maintain effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including co-workers, management, elected officials, community members, and representatives of public and regulatory agencies.

The ideal candidates will have the following skills and experience:

• Ability to write clearly and communicate effectively, both in writing and in person.
• Ability to handle a variety of assignments and adapt quickly to changing priorities. 
• Strong experience managing complex projects and competing priorities. 
• Strong technical skills, experience analyzing architectural and landscape plans, and familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, GIS, graphics/presentation programs, database management programs and other comparable programs.
• Experience presenting before Planning Commission or other Boards. 
• Experience serving as liaison to a board or commission.
• 5 years of experience implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) including EIRs and MNDs.
• Knowledge of accepted practices of local and State laws and regulations relating to California municipal planning and zoning.
• 2 years of experience processing major housing applications, including the implementation of State density bonus, Housing Accountability Act, SB330, and similar State legislation. 
• An American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is desirable.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Supervises preparation of environmental impact reports on projects submitted for City approval.
• Evaluates the design of large, complex projects submitted for Architectural Review Board (ARB) and/or Planning & Transportation Commission review.
• Prepares reports, including coordinating the work of other staff members, on special planning or transportation studies for the Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, Planning & Transportation Commission, City Council, appointed committees and other City staff.
• Makes public presentations before appointed boards, commissions, committees, and the City Council.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

The full job description for Senior Planner can be found HERE.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• A Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Historic Preservation or a directly related field from an accredited college or university. An advanced degree is highly desirable; and
• Five years of suitable professional experience in urban, historic or environmental planning. Master’s degree in planning or a related field can be counted as two years of experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Possession of a valid California Driver’s license.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Due to summer schedules, the first round of interviews are tentatively expected to be mid-August with the second round tentatively scheduled within the following weeks.

Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more, click HERE. (Download PDF reader)

Benefits: Fantastic benefits package. To learn more, click HERE.

Schedule: Flexible/Hybrid (depending upon position and subject to change). 

*More than one position may be filled from this posting.*

Management has the flexibility to move positions from one team to another.

Position may be filled at a lower level and the appropriate level/salary, depending upon qualifications.

If you encounter problems applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.