Senior Planner

The Planning Division:

Planning is one of the four Divisions that comprise the Community Development Department. With a staff of 20 full time positions and two part time positions, the Planning Division is organized into the following four teams: Current Planning, Development Services, Advanced Planning, and Special Projects. The Division guides the planned physical development of the city in a manner that enhances the quality of life for its residents.

The Ideal Candidate:

The City of Carlsbad is currently searching for a Senior Planner with over 5 years of experience to assist with complex technical planning projects in the area of Advance Planning, which is responsible for implementing and updating the city’s general plan elements, zoning ordinance, growth management plan, and Local Coastal Program, among other city plans and policies. Candidates with public sector and planning experience within the state of California, with a focus on plans/projects within the California Coastal Zone, are highly desirable. Further, the ideal candidate will have supervisory experience with the ability to manage and lead a professional staff of one to two assistant and/or associate planners.

About the Position:

Under general direction, to perform difficult and highly complex technical staff work involving advance planning programs and other special projects as assigned; to assume lead responsibility for one or more planning program areas; and to do related work as assigned. Further, the position provides supervision of one to two professional planning staff. This is the advanced journey level of the professional planning services. Work of this class involves the responsibility for conceiving planning programs, developing analysis and work methods, and reviewing the work of subordinate, professional, and technical personnel. This class may be distinguished from the Associate Planner by the range and depth of experience required, and the next higher class of Principal Planner by the level of supervisory and administrative responsibilities, and degree of accountability required.

You belong in Carlsbad:

The City of Carlsbad embraces and recognizes the vital relationship of an inclusive, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. An equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.

• Meet with developers, architects, engineers and others involved in privately sponsored residential, commercial and industrial projects.
• Assist in providing supervision and guidance to other professionals and technical staff in the review and evaluation of project plans for conformance to established land use regulations, codes and policies.
• Participate in the evaluation of more complex projects and the implementation of more complex planning programs.
• May work independently on one or more complex planning studies or projects.
• May serve as team leader on one or more complex planning studies or projects.
• Make authoritative interpretations of applicable regulations and policies.
• Respond to difficult citizen complaints and requests for information.
• Represent the city in the community and at professional meetings as required.
• Coordinate and participate in the preparation of ordinances, resolutions and reports to the City Council, Planning Commission and others regarding departmental planning activities.
• Evaluate and monitor outside consultants hired to prepare planning or environmental studies.
• May serve as staff to committees as assigned.
• Coordinate program activities with other city departments and divisions, and with outside agencies.
• Assist in supervising, training and evaluating assigned staff.
• Make oral presentations to the City Council, Planning Commission, professional groups, civic groups and other public agencies. Reporting Relationships: This position reports to a Principal Planner and is responsible for helping oversee and review the work of Assistant Planners, Associate Planners, and Planning Technicians.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban planning.
• Recent developments, current literature, and information sources in the field of planning and zoning.
• Research methods.
• Law underlying general plans, environmental matters, zoning, and land division.
• Principles of organization, administration, budget, and personnel management.

Ability to:

• Plan the work of professional and technical staff in compilation of technical and statistical data, research, and the preparation of plans and technical papers.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and other city personnel.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Prepare and analyze planning studies and communicate findings of these studies in an understandable manner. Oversee, train, and review the work of professional, technical and clerical subordinates.

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge, skill, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

Five plus years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience.

Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major work in planning, geography, public administration, community development, urban design or related field. A master's degree in planning, public administration or a related field is desirable.

Special Requirements:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License may be required of some positions.