Planner III

Planner III Positions

The County of Santa Barbara is currently accepting applications to fill two full-time Planner III vacancies. One vacancy is in the Community Services Department, Parks Divisions located in Santa Barbara and the other vacancy is in the Planning & Development Department, Development Review Division located in Santa Barbara. We are also establishing one employment list for future full-time, part-time and extra-help (temporary) vacancies in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria. Please select the departments and locations you are interested and willing to accept employment for current and future vacancies.

Under direction, performs complex and specialized planning work; conducts and presents studies and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and other groups; and performs related duties as required. Incumbents in this class work at an advanced journey level on complex and specialized assignments such as large physical projects with significant environmental impacts and mitigation measures, and development of new or complex general plan policies. They work independently with minimum supervision; some incumbents train and assign work to entry-level planning and support staff.

The Community Services Department: The Parks Planner position with the Community Services Department performs park and trail planning, reviews proposed developments for consistency with County policy and Parks programs, calculates fees, administers contracts, coordinates project development teams, conducts site visits and coordinates inspections on park improvements and trails, coordinates and monitor performance of outside consultants and contractors, prepares environmental statements and other planning documents for park projects, make presentations to the Park Commissions, Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, coordinates with other County departments, outside agencies, and various groups related to park projects, conducts public workshops with neighborhood communities and organizations in development of parks and trails projects, researches opportunities for funding of projects, writes grant proposals, and assists in administration of grant program. Perform other related duties as necessary. The position for the Community Services department will be located in the Santa Barbara office.

The Planning and Development Department: The Planning and Development Department has a wide variety of planning projects and programs. For more information on the Planning and Development Department, please visit us at: . The Department has five divisions. The current Planner III vacancy is in the Development Review Division: This division is responsible for reviewing and processing applications for development projects. These projects include subdivisions and a variety of residential, commercial, and agricultural development projects. The Division is responsible for preparing environmental documents in accordance with the CEQA Guidelines and coordinating with consultants on more complex environmental documents. More information on the Development Review Division may be found at

The Planning and Development Department is also establishing a Planner III list for future vacancies which may occur in the: Cannabis Program: This unit within the Development Review Division offers an opportunity to work in the new cannabis industry in California. Santa Barbara County has a long history of agriculture and is now positioned to be a leader in the cultivation of cannabis in the State. Program planners work with industry representatives, the public, and state and local agencies in permitting, mitigation monitoring, and enforcement of cannabis activities in the county. For more information visit Long Range Planning Division: This division prepares updates to the County Comprehensive Plan's mandatory general plan elements, Local Coastal Program, and community plans, and to the implementing zoning ordinances. This division drafts new land use/environmental policies and other related legislation and presents them to the Board of Supervisors for adoption. For more information visit: Energy, Minerals, and Compliance Division: The Energy, Minerals and Compliance Division oversees oil and gas activities offshore Santa Barbara County, the onshore facilities that support those offshore operations, onshore oil and gas development, surface mining, and renewable energy projects. Our oversight includes planning, policy development, permit processing, environmental review, permit compliance, and public outreach. The Compliance Unit also oversees mitigation monitoring and permit compliance for residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial projects throughout the County. More information on the Energy, Minerals, and Compliance Division can be found at:

The Ideal Candidate for these positions will possess: Knowledge and experience of land use planning and permitting, ideally with experience with the following: Santa Barbara County regulations, CEQA, California coastal regulatory requirements, Working knowledge of construction practices and processes. Ability to read and interpret one or more of the following: Architectural drawings, designs, diagrams, Site plans, Engineering plans, Mechanical drawings, Grading plans, Experience conducting and coordinating field inspections for conformance to plans, specifications and departmental and County standards and conditions. Knowledge of the principles and practices of contract administration. Ability to prepare bid proposals, draft requests for proposal, requests of quotes for architectural and engineering services and review and make recommendations on bids and quotes. Knowledge of project budget preparation and control principles, proposal development and grant writing. Demonstrated ability to research grant sources and assist in the preparation of grant applications and assists in the administration of grant programs. Successful track record of establishing effective working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders with divergent interests. Experience working in a multi-jurisdictional land use regulatory environment including other County Departments and local, State and Federal agencies. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to analyze complex projects. Experience implementing projects using California State Housing Laws. Ability to conduct research, surveys and/or analysis of legislation, grants, contracts, work programs, and/or organizational and staffing patterns, and determine fiscal and administrative impact. Ability to formulate appropriate solutions based on data analysis and departmental input, prepare, and present comprehensive reports and documents to support functional efficiencies and improvements to operational performance. Advanced degree from an accredited university or college with major coursework in urban planning, regional planning, environmental studies, or life, physical, or social sciences or a closely related field.