Assistant Planner (Open-Competitive)

Salary: $6,578.29 - $7,995.95 Monthly
Location : El Segundo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 24/25-00203
Department: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Opening Date: 05/29/2026
Closing Date: 6/12/2026 5:00 PM Pacific


Description

This recruitment will close on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time.
Definition: Under limited supervision, performs professional-level current and/or long-range planning work.

The City of El Segundo, incorporated in 1917, is a unique, quaint city by the sea. Home to approximately 17,000 residents and over 75,000 private sector employees of major aeronautical, sports, media, industrial and multiple Fortune 500 companies including Mattel, Chevron and most recently, the Los Angeles Times and Beyond Meat. Further, El Segundo has become the headquarters for major sports franchises, including the LA Lakers, LA Chargers and LA Kings. As the economy broadens, El Segundo is becoming home to a variety of high tech and "creative economy" start-up companies. This is reflected in the City motto "Where Big Ideas Take Off!"

Essential Job Functions

Essential Functions: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following duties and responsibilities, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list of duties and responsibilities is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
Position in this classification typically perform a full range of duties at a level of complexity represented by the following types of responsibilities:

• Receives and reviews permit applications;
• Assesses fees;
• Establishes conditions for project approval, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, ordinances, regulations and City policies;
• Recommends methods to reconcile project conflicts with zoning requirements and state environmental laws;
• Performs final inspections;
• Ensures collection of designated fees;
• Conducts research for planning projects involving land use, populations, economic activities, housing, transportation and related subjects;
• Confers with applicants and agency representatives to identify problems;
• Conducts and participates in interdepartmental planning reviews;
• Advises applicants on the status of projects;
• Conducts plan check reviews of commercial, industrial and residential construction projects;
• Reviews business license applications for conformance with municipal code requirements;
• Recommends and/or creates graphic examples to illustrate alternatives to specific project elements;
• Reviews final working drawings to ensure compliance with approved projects;
• Drafts ordinances and amendments; prepares professional staff reports of summarized data, conclusions and recommendations, and presents reports at Planning Commission hearings;
• Confers with and advises architects, engineers, attorneys, developers and the general public regarding City planning and zoning procedures and processes; and
• Responds to inquiries and provides information at the counter, by telephone and through correspondence.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Other Characteristics:
To perform this job successfully, and individual must be able to perform each essential function. The requirements listed below are representative of knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Knowledge of:

• Planning and environmental principles and practices, laws, ordinances, rules and related regulations;
• Site planning and architectural design; and
• Current literature, information sources and research techniques in the planning field.

Skill in:

• Reading and interpreting maps, plans and legal descriptions;
• Planning and organizing work;
• Preparing and presenting reports;
• Applying applicable laws and regulations to planning projects;
• Communicating effectively both orally and in writing;
• Dealing constructively with conflict and developing effective solutions;
• Operating typical office equipment, including personal computer and standard office programs; and
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with governmental officials, other City employees and the public.

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

Education: A Bachelors degree with major coursework in Planning, Environmental Design, Architecture or a related field.
Experience: Two (2) years of planning experience.
Licensing/Certification Requirements: A valid California driver's license.
Working Conditions: Occasional exposure to weather conditions.
CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (CEA)
Benefit Summary - Effective 5/17/2019


PERS Retirement: Tier I-2%@55. Tier II-2%@60 for individuals employed by the City on or after 12/30/12 who are already PERS members. Tier I and II members single highest year coordinated with Social Security and Medicare. Employee required contribution is 8% of pensionable income. PERS 2%@62 for new employees/members hired on or after 1/1/13 have three year average coordinated with Social Security and Medicare and payment of 50% of normal cost (6.75%).

Social Security: The City matches employee's Social Security contribution, which is 6.2% of your salary and is made on a pre-tax basis. The 2025 Social Security income cap is $176,100.

Retiree Medical: City offers paid retiree medical insurance at same rate as active employees.


Medical Insurance: $1,800 per month for employee and dependents' medical insurance under PERS.


Educational Incentive: Up to $334.21 for B.A. if job doesn't require it. Must be approved by Department Head. Future employees hired on or after May 10, 2017 not eligible.


Optical/Dental/Life/AD&D: $184.25 per month City contribution. Employee & eligible dependents may be covered for optical and dental. $50,000 term life policy provided by City; employee can purchase additional self and dependent coverage at group rates. AD&D insurance policies provided for employees.


Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Section 125 Plan, allows for payment of employee-paid insurance, medical treatment, and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.


State Disability Insurance (SDI): Coverage provided through State Employment Development Department for short-term disability. There is a 1% Employee deduction for this benefit.


Long-Term Disability: City provides fully-paid LTD insurance. Continuance of 66 2/3% of first $9,750 of employee's salary after a 60-day waiting period. Applies to non-job related occurrences.


Work Schedule: 9/80 with alternating Fridays off.


Holidays: 11 fixed paid holidays plus 2 days of Personal Leave per year.


Vacation Leave: 96 hours (1-5 years); 120 hours (6 - 10 years); 144 hours (11 - 15 years): 176 hours (16+ years). Leave can be used after 6 months of service. Annual cash conversion option.


Sick Leave: 8 hours per month.


Bereavement Leave: Three (3) working days (one workweek where travel is 500 miles or more) for qualifying incident. Two (2) additional unpaid days may be taken.


Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $1,750 per year for tuition and books.


Longevity Pay: Up to $66.84/mo for 5 yrs of service; Up to $133.68 for 10 yrs of service; Up to $200.53/mo for 15 yrs of service. Future employees hired on or after May 10, 2017 not eligible.


Uniform Allowance: Dollar amount varies for specific classes.


Other: Voluntary participation in Credit Union; Long-Term Care (premiums paid by employee); Mission Square 457 Deferred Compensation Program; Payroll Direct Deposit.


Revised: 12/12; 2/13; 1/14; 2/15; 8/16; 5/17;5/19; 8/22; 3/25
01


The information provided in the following supplemental questions will be used in conjunction with the application materials to determine whether the qualification requirements are met. The best qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the selection process. When applying for this position, I understand that I must thoroughly complete the Education and Work Experience sections of my application to be considered complete. A resume may not be submitted in lieu of completing the application and supplemental questions. I have read the above statement and acknowledge that failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in my application being rejected.

• Yes, I acknowledge
• No, I do not acknowledge

02


Please select the highest level of education completed:

• Master's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Associate's Degree
• Some College or Certification(s)
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• I do not have education equivalent to the 12th grade.

03


Please select the field in which you were awarded your degree:

• Planning
• Environmental Design
• Architecture
• Community Development
• Related field

04


Please select your year(s) of planning experience:

• 2 or more years
• At least 1 year, but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• I do not have any planning experience.

05


Please describe your year(s) of planning experience:
06


Do you possess a valid California Driver's license?

• Yes
• No

07


Do you now, or have you in the past, worked for a municipality (City)?

• Yes
• No

Required Question