Senior Planner

Under administrative direction of the Community Development Director, oversees and manages current and advanced planning projects and staff as needed. This includes the preparation of long-range community development plans and reporting documents with regional, state and federal agencies. This position is expected to oversee and manage compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

TYPICAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Prepares, updates and writes documents for current and long-range City planning.
2. Coordinates special studies for background support of the General Plan; interacts with local, state and federal jurisdictions and agencies for development of current and long-range plans
3. Reviews sections and maps prepared by planning staff and revises or directs revisions; writes and reviews staff reports on current planning projects and provides input and direction on project reviews.
4. Coordinates agenda preparation and reports for public hearings. Attends public meetings and hearings. 
5. Coordinates meetings on assigned planning projects.
6. Provides customer service and technical assistance at the Planning counter and responds to inquiries.
7. Reviews environmental impact reports, prepares environmental documents and manages environmental assessments. 
8. Creates and oversees the preparation of staff reports to City Council and Planning Commission.
9. Meets with and makes presentations to Planning Commission and City Council on Planning related topics.
10. Performs other related duties as assigned

SUPERVISION RECEIVED Director of Community Development

SUPERVISION EXERCISED Planning Staff

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:
This is a middle management position in the Planning Division. This position performs a wide variety of professional planning duties.  

CONTACTS AND RELATIONSHIP:
This position has the majority of their interaction with the Community Development Director, developers, other City employees and the public.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional level planning experience including one (1) year at a lead or supervisory level. 

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, public or business administration or a related field.  American Institute of Certified Planners Certification is a desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban planning and development. 
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
• Research methods and sources of information related to urban growth and development. 
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to municipal planning and administration. 
• Architectural, landscape and urban design planning concepts
• Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, regulations, codes and ordinances including plans, zoning, land subdivision and environmental law; 
• Public relations and customer service methods and techniques.
• Principles and practices of personnel management, including training, supervision and performance evaluation.
• Modern office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment including a computer. 

Ability to:

• Research, analyze and interpret complex codes, ordinances and policies 
• Ensure project compliance with Federal, State, and local rules, laws, and regulations.
• Interpret and apply pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
• Prepare and analyst technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence.
• Read and interpret blue prints.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate the work of lower level staff; delegate authority and responsibility; supervise, train and evaluate staff.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions.
• Prepare and administer budgets and ensure fiscal controls
• Interpret and apply applicable federal, state and local policies, laws, rules and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City departments and those contacted in the course of work.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including City staff and the public. 
• Maintain physical condition, audio-visual discrimination and perception, and mental capacity appropriate to the working conditions and the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities. 

Environmental Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee works under typical office conditions with exposure to computer screens, and the noise level is usually quiet. The employee will also be required to perform work in an outdoor environment and group setting; required to drive to various sites within and outside of the City.

Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time. Essential functions may also require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, standing or driving a vehicle.
Thephysicalandmentaldemandsdescribedherearerepresentativeofthosethatmustbemetbyemployeesto successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists; climb or balance on ladders or stairs; stoop, kneel, and bend at the waist; crouch or crawl; and smell. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 25 pounds unaided.
Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, use of both eyes, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information, and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses math, and mathematical reasoning; observes and interprets people, and situations; learns and applies new information and skills; performs highly detailed work; deals with changing deadlines, constant interruptions, and multiple concurrent tasks and projects; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work.

SELECTION PROCESS:
Only those candidates who have the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position will continue in the selection process.  Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process. Final appointments may be subject to a selection interview with the Department Director or designee and the remaining conditional steps in the hiring process.  This position requires a conditional employment offer based on the successful completion of a drug and alcohol screening.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
The City of Norco is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability (mental and physical), sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sex orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or military and veteran status.   The City is committed to making its programs, services and activities accessible to individuals with disabilities.  If you require accommodation to participate in this recruitment, please contact Human Resources prior to the filing deadline.   We will attempt to reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request.

BACKGROUND CHECK:
All employment offers are conditional based on the successful completion of a background investigation, physical and drug and alcohol screening at city expense and conducted by a physician designated by the city.  All information on the application is subject to investigation and verification.  Reference checks will be conducted by the City to include at least the following: (1) verification/reference from current and past employers, (2) fingerprinting and Department of Justice criminal background check, and (3) confirmation of necessary licenses, certificates, and/or diploma/degrees. Employees are enrolled in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) government Employer Pull Notice Program.   

DRUG SCREENING:
In accordance with the City’s drug free workplace policy, all employment offers are conditional and based on successful completion of drug test. Class A drivers are enrolled in the Department of Transportation (DOT) random drug testing program.

E-VERIFY:
The City of Norco is an E-Verify employer.  E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees in the United States.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract expressed or implied, and any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.