Senior Planner

Senior Planner

The City of Vacaville's Community and Economic Development Department is accepting applications for the position of Senior Planner. There is currently one vacancy. This recruitment will also establish an eligibility list for future vacancies that may occur over the next twelve (12) months. Salary Information: $117,105 - $142,361/Annually A 2% COLA is scheduled for 11/1/2026

Working for the City of Vacaville comes with an excellent benefits package, including:

• Medical Insurance at affordable rates - City covers up to 85% of Kaiser Premium, other plans are also available
• Vision and Dental Insurance monthly premiums covered 100% by the City
• Healthcare double coverage opt-out incentive of $3,000 per year for eligible employees
• Paid sick leave, vacation leave, thirteen holidays and two floating holidays a year
• Up to 97.5 hours per year of Administrative Leave
• Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment up to $2,200 per fiscal year
• Deferred compensation plan with up to 6% City contribution available
• California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) plan enrollment and Retiree Health Savings account

The Senior Planner in Community and Economic Development plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our community by contributing their expertise in urban planning, land use and community development.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops and implements comprehensive community plans, zoning regulations, and policies that align with the City's near-term and long-term goals and objectives;
• Evaluates and provides recommendations on land use proposals including zoning changes, conditional use permits, variances and environmental documents such as EIRs, MNDs and Categorical Exemptions;
• Prepares reports, presentations, and documents that convey planning findings, recommendations, and progress updates, such as the General Plan Annual Progress Report to City officials and the public at public meetings including the City Council and/or Planning Commission per City of Vacaville and State standards;
• Oversees planning projects (ensuring they are completed on time and within budget) and coordinates with other departments and agencies as necessary;
• Supervises professional and technical personnel and assigns, reviews and evaluates work products and provides support and guidance to staff; and
• Collaborates with local, regional, and State agencies, as well as external partners, to coordinate planning efforts and address issues.

The ideal candidate will take initiative, be flexible, work independently and have excellent organizational, oral and written communication skills. The candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills to successfully build solid relationships with staff, City leadership, partnering agencies, and other key stakeholders and enjoy the challenge of effectively managing a demanding workload of quickly shifting priorities and assuming ownership of key priorities and projects. Additional desirable skills in the ideal candidate include:

• Strong knowledge of municipal planning principles, zoning regulations, land use and housing laws
• Strong knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Proficiency in GIS, CAD, or other planning software
• Understanding of sustainable and community-oriented planning practices
• Exceptional communication and public engagement skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and manage multiple projects simultaneously

Minimum Qualifications: Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Education: Equivalent to completion of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning or related field. Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible journey level planning experience. License or Certificate: Select positions may require the possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record as conditions of initial and continued employment.

A completed City of Vacaville Employment Application and Supplemental Questionnaire must be received by the Human Resources Department at 650 Merchant Street, Vacaville, CA 95688 by 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 6, 2026. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line at An application packet may also be requested in person at the Human Resources Department or by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application packet. Contact with candidates will primarily be via email. Make sure you list a current email that you check regularly with your application.

The City of Vacaville is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.