Assistant Planner

Salary : $66,292.50 - $93,280.21 Annually
Location : Sacramento, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Career
Job Number: 017002-26-CDD-2
Department: Community Development
Division: Current Planning
Opening Date: 09/06/2026
Closing Date: 9/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


THE POSITION

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The Planning Division of the Community Development Department is seeking an Assistant Planner to join the Current Planning Section. This position is part of a team focused on the Central Area; a region that includes the River District, the Railyards, Downtown, Midtown, East Sacramento, and Campus Commons. This position primarily manages the review of development applications that require a public hearing. Secondary functions include assisting with general inquiries received from the public and facilitating pre-application discussions with developers. This recruitment is being conducted to fill one vacancy.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will exhibit success with the following:

• Technical Skill: Demonstrates knowledge of principles and practices of planning within an urban setting, including architectural and site design review, historic preservation, the California Environmental Quality Act, and/or the Subdivision Map Act.
• Collaboration & Conflict Resolution: Establishes rapport and maintains mutually productive relationships with internal and external customers, and pursues solutions centered on shared goals.
• Professionalism & Adaptability: Demonstrates ability to create an action plan using available information and resources, manage multiple tasks based on established priorities, and maintain effectiveness when experiencing changes in processes and regulations.

ASSISTANT PLANNER / ASSOCIATE PLANNER

To perform professional, technical, statistical and analytical duties involving land use or other planning studies for a variety of public or private development projects. The scope of assignments includes project management work, land use studies, policy development recommendation, revision or implementation, and preparation of a variety of documents for compliance with state or federal environmental laws.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Assistant Planner

The class of Assistant Planner is distinguished from Associate Planner by performing less complex to moderately difficult project management work. Incumbents in this class may work independently on assignments but generally do not have the responsibility for team leadership. Positions are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the Junior Planner class.


Associate Planner

The class of Associate Planner is distinguished from that of Assistant Planner by the greater complexity of assignments received, and the advanced planning project management work. Associate Planners manage projects with greater independence and limited supervision and lead project teams made up of individuals from various technical disciplines. Positions are flexibly staffed and are normally filled from the Assistant Planner class

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General direction is provided by a manager who is usually a Senior Planner. Associate Planners may provide direct or indirect supervision and training of other subordinate technicians, planners, or interns. The Assistant Planner usually does not perform direct or indirect supervision of staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


Depending upon assignment, duties performed by the Assistant Planner may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Review and analyze proposed minor development projects for conformance with adopted City plans, design/architectural guidelines and standards, applicable codes and ordinances and other regulations, and prepares recommendations on approval of such projects.
• Review proposed tentative subdivision and parcels maps, and recommend necessary revisions to meet City requirements.
• Evaluate the environmental effects of proposed projects and prepare, or supervise the preparation of environmental documents.
• Conduct onsite investigations of proposed development projects or community areas.
• Provide information to the public on City of Sacramento requirements related to City planning, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare and present data in the form of written, graphic, or oral reports for use by elected and appointed officials, special committees, or community organizations involved in planning matters.
• Assist in the coordination of departmental activities with other City departments and divisions, and with outside agencies.
• Participate in special projects and perform related duties as assigned.
• Negotiate, prepare and manage consultant contracts.
• Facilitate discussion groups to aid in building consensus, and resolve conflicts on projects and policy matters, under supervision of a Planning Manager.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed may necessarily be performed by each individual holding this classification.

Depending upon assignment, additional duties performed by the Associate Planner may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Compile and analyze data and make recommendations on complex planning matters, involving issues related to land use, traffic, parking, aesthetics, environment, landscaping, energy and preservation.
• Review and analyze proposed major development projects for conformance with adopted City plans, City design/architectural guidelines and standards, applicable codes and ordinances and other regulations; prepare recommendations on approval of such projects.
• Review criteria for various Federal and State grants and prepare necessary reports.
• Develop work programs, budgets, scope of work, and time estimates.
• Program, coordinate, and oversee the work of other planners and individuals from other disciplines and sectors as their work relates to completion of a project.
• Supervise and train staff as assigned, and provide technical advice to subordinate staff.
• Prepare, analyze, and interpret recommendations of new revisions and existing City regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Assist in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities.
• Confer with, and conduct meetings with elected and appointed officials, other City departments, members of the public, neighborhood organizations and developers to explain policies, procedures, proposed development, proposed regulations and policies, and code enforcement.
• Represent the City in community and official meetings with other City departments, organizations and professional groups on planning matters.
• Facilitate discussion groups to aid in building consensus, and resolve conflicts on projects and policy matters.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

QUALIFICATIONS


Assistant Planner

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of local urban planning, environmental planning, economics, public administration and/or other related disciplines as applied to urban planning.
• Research techniques, sources and availability of information, methods of report presentation, and basic project management skills.
• State and federal planning and environmental laws.
• Computer applications such as GIS, spreadsheets, databases, word processors.

Ability to:

• Prepare required maps and other graphic material; evaluate statistical data and present facts and conclusions clearly in written and oral form.
• Conduct meetings with other public agencies or citizens groups.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public.
• Read and understand architectural plans.
• Understand and apply the adopted City plans, code, ordinances, and other materials in evaluating specific projects or plan elements.
• Work with interested parties to resolve issues related to planning and policy projects.
• Build consensus among diverse groups.
• Learn new computer software programs.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning or a closely related field.


Experience:
One year of professional planning. A Master's degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field may substitute for the required experience.

Substitution
Additional years of professional planning experience beyond the minimum may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
PROOF OF EDUCATION
Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.
An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

Associate Planner

In addition to the qualifications for Assistant Planner:

Knowledge of:

• Regulations and procedures affecting local planning agencies.
• Specific comprehensive knowledge of one or more activity areas utilized in urban planning, and advanced project management skills.

Ability to:

• Program and manage projects and lead project teams; motivate individuals assigned to a project team.
• Present written and oral reports, representing Department positions to elected and appointed officials, special committees, or community organizations.
• Identify and define issues, and solve problems.
• Build consensus among diverse groups.
• Manage multiple projects at one time.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning or a closely related field.


Experience:
Two years of professional planning experience performing duties comparable to those of an Assistant Planner in the City of Sacramento,


- OR -

One year of experience performing duties comparable to those of an Assistant Planner in the City of Sacramento AND a Master's degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field.

Substitution
Additional years of professional planning experience beyond the minimum may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Employees must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.
1. Application: (Pass/Fail) - All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline;

• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:

• If applicants do not list current and/or past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
• If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.

• Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.

• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
• If you're requesting Veteran's credit, a copy of your DD214 must be submitted online with your application or emailed to the Employment Office by the final filing deadline. Information regarding the use of Veteran's credit can be found in the Civil Service Board rules under rule 4.9C.
• Applicants are responsible for attaching a copy of their DD214 to each position for which they apply.

2. Training and Experience Exam: (Weighted 100%) -The questions located at the end of the application are the Training and Experience (T&E) Exam. Responses to the T&E questions will be rated and scored. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. The exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. When completing the T&E questions, please note:

• Responses to the T&E questions must be submitted online; paper questionnaires will not be accepted.
• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the T&E questions.

3. Eligibility: Candidates who pass the Training and Experience Test will be placed on the eligible list. The hiring department may contact candidates for interview at any time during the life of the one-year list. Candidate's eligibility expires one year from the date of notification of a passing score for the Assistant Planner examination.
4. Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail)- All candidates that pass the examination and are in one of the top three ranks will have their application forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
5. Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.
QUESTIONS: For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

• Please visit for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Applicant Support at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at
• Send an email to View email address on click.appcast.io;or
• Call the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io

Bilingual Pay
Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.

Pension Reform Act
The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.


Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information
Civil Service Rules:


Union Contracts:
Salary Schedule:
01



APPLICATION : I understand my application must meet the minimum qualifications for consideration of employment with the City of Sacramento. The experience I list in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section of the employment application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum qualifications as stated on the job announcement. A resume, responses to the supplemental questions requiring a narrative response, employment history listed elsewhere in the application or attachments will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Applicant Resources Page for Screening Instructions:

• Yes

02



PROOF OF EDUCATION: To qualify for this classification you may use any combination of education and/or experience as listed to provide required knowledge, skills, and abilities.I understand proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment if I am using education to qualify for this position.Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Proof of Education Requirements ( for information on accepted documentation.

• Yes

03



EDUCATION CONFIRMATION: If I am using education to qualify for this position, I attest I possess or will possess the following level of education by time of appointment if I am selected for this position.

• No units from an accredited college or university
• Less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Associates Degree
• 90 semester or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate

04



SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE : The answers to the questions below will be reviewed by the hiring department along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of completing this Supplemental Questionnaire. Lack of clarity, incomplete or inconsistent information, and/or disorganized presentation may negatively affect the hiring department's review of your Supplemental Questionnaire. I understand and agree to the above instructions.

• Yes

05


Describe your project management experience with current planning, design review, and/or preservation. In your response, include an example of a project or assignment in which you played a key role. Describe your responsibilities, the strategies or techniques you used, any project challenges, and the lessons learned.
06


Describe your experience presenting information to an audience. Include in your response a description of the information provided, your role in the presentation, your preparation strategy, the format of the presentation, and the outcomes or lessons learned after the presentation.
07



TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION : The following questions are the Training and Experience (T&E) Examination. In addition to the City of Sacramento employment application, applicants must complete and submit online responses to the T&E questions. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. Therefore, your responses to the T&E Exam questions should be thorough and complete because the exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. In accordance with the City of Sacramento's Racial and Gender Equity Action Plan (RGEAP), this examination contains non-binary names and pronouns. For additional information regarding the City's RGEAP, please copy and paste the following link into a web browser: I understand and agree to the above instructions.

• Yes

08


Select the one option that best describes your experience and/or education reviewing development projects to comply with principles and practices of urban planning including the application of land use regulations.

• Two years or more
• At least eighteen months, but less than two years
• At least one year, but less than eighteen months
• At least six months, but less than one year
• Less than six months

09


Select the one option that best describes your experience and/or education conducting meetings and building consensus amongst numerous stakeholders who may have competing interests and/or conflicting agendas.

• Two years or more
• At least eighteen months, but less than two years
• At least one year, but less than eighteen months
• At least six months, but less than one year
• Less than six months

10


Select the one option that best describes your experience and/or education understanding highly technical information and conveying it to the public via phone, email, presentation, or in-person.

• Two years or more
• At least eighteen months, but less than two years
• At least one year, but less than eighteen months
• At least six months, but less than one year
• Less than six months

11


Select the one option that best describes your experience and/or education consulting with multiple stakeholders to reach an agreement for a proposed project with conflicting policies, guidelines, and/or regulations.

• Two years or more
• At least eighteen months, but less than two years
• At least one year, but less than eighteen months
• At least six months, but less than one year
• Less than six months

12


Select the one option that best describes your experience and/or education constructing an architectural plan, evaluating project elements, or presenting report findings.

• Two years or more
• At least eighteen months, but less than two years
• At least one year, but less than eighteen months
• At least six months, but less than one year
• Less than six months

Required Question