Assistant Planner

Assistant Planner

The City Located in the gateway to the Los Angeles metropolis, the City of Paramount offers secure quality of life to its residents and a business-friendly attitude that has created a growing retail and services sector, with a thriving Downtown. Paramount's government is a stable, innovative, and financially conservative organization, and the City has continually invested in its infrastructure and emphasized code enforcement and assistance programs to help residents and businesses upgrade and maintain their properties. For these reasons, the City has a distinctive appearance that appeals to current and potential residents. For its employees, Paramount offers a family-friendly organization that places emphasis on lifework balance and flexibility. City leadership highly values the input and impact of each employee. Rather than work from the top-down, Paramount chooses collaboration, fostering a professional, respectful, and fulfilling work environment. The City of Paramount is operated by 6 departments: Administrative Services; Planning and Building; Public Safety; Public Works; Community Services, and Finance. With an operating budget of $50.4M, City population of 52,000, and covering 4.8 square miles, the City of Paramount is dedicated to providing fiscally responsible services that maintain a vibrant community that is Safe, Healthy, and Attractive! We value respect and ethical behaviors, adaptability, service excellence, and accountability. The City promotes innovation through teamwork, and providing effective, inclusive, and transparent public information and engagement.

The Position Under direction, the Assistant Planner will perform professional planning and land use work involving the review, analysis, interpretation and presentation of planning and zoning data. They will complete environmental analysis, evaluate and process developer plans and permit requests, and ensure applications are in compliance with various local land development and zoning ordinances and regulations. The Assistant Planner will prepare and present reports and recommendations to the community and at public meetings relating to land use and environmental impact. Lastly, they will inform the public, land developers and others of various local code and ordinance requirements; and perform other related duties as assigned.

Examples of Duties Perform professional duties related to urban planning projects and programs; perform planning studies; review and analyze development applications; review development proposals. Confer with and provide oral and written consultative advice to the public including residents, property and business owners, architects, builders, attorneys, contractors, and engineers concerning land use applications and permits, and the interpretation of Department policies and regulations, zoning, subdivision, environmental impacts and other relevant land use-related regulations and procedures; research and respond to inquiries and concerns. Research, analyze, prepare and present reports concerning land use regulations and current and long-range planning issues, including changes to the organization's development plan and land development policies and standards; prepare and present recommendations as required for consideration by administrators and officials. Prepare and present reports and recommendations for administrators, public hearings and meetings relating to land use and environmental impact; conduct technical research studies and prepare statistical reports and recommendations for drafting or revising local codes and legislation. Review developer plans for compliance with setbacks, parking requirements, landscape design, and other related requirements; conduct field investigations of development sites to verify zoning code relevancy and status of potential environmental issues; review proposals for compliance with State and federal regulations; communicate with developers to review and discuss projects. Review business license applications for zoning compliance as assigned; review and approve a variety of applications such as special event permit applications; apply conditions to permits as appropriate; review permits for compliance with adopted local and State codes and regulations; determine appropriate permit fees. Attend a variety of departmental and organizational meetings, seminars and conferences to present, obtain and exchange information and training; participate in public meetings related to assigned projects; analyze information and prepare staff reports with recommended actions. Prepare and maintain a variety of records, reports and files to sign violations, zoning violations and assigned activities; prepare and distribute a variety of correspondence. Communicate with City personnel, outside agencies and members of the community to exchange information and resolve issues or concerns related to assigned activities. Update Planning and Building Department webpages on the City website. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience Experience: One (1) year performing professional urban planning, environmental planning, zoning or related work. Training: Bachelor's degree with major coursework in urban planning, architecture, sustainability, public administration, or a related field. A master's degree in urban planning is highly desirable. License or Certificate: Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license and insurability at regular rates for the City's automobile insurance. Knowledge of: Principles and practices of urban and community planning and zoning. General principles, practices, procedures and techniques of public administration and public policy. Applicable land use laws, codes, regulations, such as subdivision regulations, zoning, variances and conditional use permits. State and federal environmental laws, acts and regulations. Statutory authority regarding land use and development requirements. Research and analytical methods, techniques and procedures applicable to the collection and analysis of planning data, including policy analysis and the development of comprehensive analytical reports. Sources and availability of planning information, including demographic and economic data, environmental determinants of land use, land development trends and legal requirements. Site design principles and survey theory. Project management methods and techniques. Modern office practices, procedures and equipment. Recordkeeping and report preparation techniques. Public speaking techniques. Skill to: Effectively utilize modern office equipment, including personal computers and standard business software such as the Microsoft Office Suite. Operate a variety of office equipment including a calculator, copier, fax machine, computer and assigned software. Gather accurate information through interviews and inquiries. Safely operate one or more types of vehicles if required by assignments. Exercise analytical and critical thinking. Ability to: Apply the principles, practices, methods and techniques of public administration and management analysis to the solution of problems. Understand and interpret land use policies, procedures, rules and regulations to make work decisions requiring skilled judgment and assure compliance with various local ordinances and regulations related to land development and zoning. Coordinate and conduct analytical planning studies, projects, operations and functions and make sound policy and procedural recommendations. Research, analyze and evaluate planning-related information and prepare effective and accurate correspondence and reports. Effectively represent the department in in-person and virtual meetings with developers, regulatory organizations, governmental agencies, community groups, businesses, professional and individuals; attend and make presentations at Planning Commission, Public Art Advisory Committee, and/or other public meetings. Work effectively with sensitive and confidential information. Interact with the public and provide customer service in a calm, courteous and helpful manner. Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs. Use tact, initiative and prudence within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.

Supplemental Information Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment: Physical Demands Work is primarily performed in an outdoor setting and requires: physical ability to travel to different sites; vision to see and conduct self safely around power tools and machinery; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over telephone; frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing and pulling while performing duties; ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 30 pounds. Environmental Elements Primary duties require working from heights, below ground or in cramped or restrictive locations; some exposure to general hazards associated with maintenance activities, including chemicals, fumes, gases and odors; may require interaction with upset staff and/or public and private representatives and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental and City policies and procedures. Emergency Disaster Worker City employees are registered as Emergency Disaster Workers and must take an oath. In the event of a declared emergency, City employees shall initially remain at work, or if recalled, shall report to work after completing critical personal and family emergency responsibilities. Selection Procedure Completed application and resume must be submitted by the filing deadline listed above. Application packets will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in the job announcement. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not ensure an invitation to the recruitment process. The selection process will include an oral interview and may include other testing processes designed to predict successful job performance. Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application. Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method. Equal Opportunity Employer The City of Paramount 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.