Assistant Planner

About the City Located near the Los Angeles metropolis, the City of Paramount offers a high quality of life and a business-friendly environment with a growing retail and services sector and a thriving downtown. Paramount’s government is stable, innovative, and fiscally conservative, continuously investing in infrastructure and emphasizing code enforcement and assistance programs to help residents and businesses upgrade and maintain their properties. Employees experience a family-friendly organization that emphasizes work-life balance and flexibility. Leadership values each employee’s input and fosters a collaborative, respectful, and fulfilling work environment. The city operates through six departments: Administrative Services; Planning and Building; Public Safety; Public Works; Community Services; and Finance. With an operating budget of $50.4 M, a population of 52,000, and 4.8 square miles of territory, the City provides fiscally responsible services that maintain a vibrant community that is safe, healthy, and attractive. The Position Under direction, the Assistant Planner will perform professional planning and land‑use work, including review, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of planning and zoning data. Responsibilities include environmental analysis, evaluation of developer plans and permit requests, ensuring compliance with local land‑development and zoning ordinances, preparing reports and recommendations for the community and public meetings, and informing the public, developers, and others of code and ordinance requirements. Essential Job Duties Conduct urban planning projects, studies, and program operations, and review development applications and proposals. Provide oral and written consultative advice to the public and stakeholders on land‑use applications and permits, and research responses to inquiries. Research, analyze, prepare, and present reports on land‑use regulations, planning issues, and policy changes. Prepare presentations for administrators, public hearings, and meetings on land‑use and environmental impact. Review developer plans for compliance with setbacks, parking, landscape design, and regulatory requirements; conduct field investigations of sites. Review business license applications for zoning compliance and approve varied permits, applying conditions and fees as necessary. Attend departmental, organizational, and public meetings and conferences, sharing information and training. Maintain records and correspondence related to zoning violations and other activities. Communicate with City personnel, outside agencies, and the community to resolve issues. Update Planning and Building Department webpages on the City website. Education and Experience One year of professional urban planning, environmental planning, zoning, or related work. Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in urban planning, architecture, sustainability, public administration, or a related field; Master’s degree highly desirable. Valid driver’s license and insurability for City automobile insurance. Knowledge of Urban and community planning and zoning principles and practices. Public administration, policy, and procedural techniques. Land‑use laws, codes, and regulations, including subdivision, zoning, variances, and conditional permits. State and federal environmental laws and regulations. Statutory authority regarding land‑use and development requirements. Research and analytical methods for planning data and policy analysis. Planning information sources, demographic and economic data, environmental determinants, and development trends. Site design principles and survey theory. Project management methods. Modern office practices and recordkeeping techniques. Public speaking and communication techniques. Skills and Abilities Utilize modern office equipment including PCs and standard business software. Operate office equipment such as calculators, copiers, and fax machines. Gather accurate information through interviews and inquiry. Operate vehicles safely if assignments require it. Exercise analytical and critical thinking skills. Physical Demands Work primarily outdoor; requires travel to sites, vision to use tools safely, hearing and speech for communication, frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 30 pounds. Environmental Elements Duties may involve work from heights, below ground, or in restricted areas; exposure to chemicals, fumes, gases, and odors; interaction with upset staff or public. Emergency Disaster Worker Cities employees are registered as Emergency Disaster Workers and must take an oath. In a declared emergency, employees remain at work or report after completing personal or family duties. Selection Procedure Candidates must submit a completed application and resume by the filing deadline. Applications will be screened against the qualifications; the selection process includes an oral interview and may include additional testing. Candidates must fully describe their qualifications; incomplete applications may be rejected. Equal Opportunity Employer The City of Paramount is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages discussion of accommodations with the employer. If you require accommodation during testing, contact the Human Resources Division at (562) 220‑2155 at least 5 days before the testing date. #J-18808-Ljbffr