Assistant Planner

Assistant Planner

The City of Norwalk is looking for a self-motivated person to join our Community Development Team. The role of Assistant Planner involves carrying out various routine and complex technical and professional tasks in the City's current and long-term planning, as well as in the development of related policies and regulations. The Assistant Planner should have excellent customer service skills and work collaboratively with both internal and external customers, and be able to provide guidance and interpretation of codes and regulations enforced by the Planning Division.

Essential Duties

Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducts assigned planning projects involving land use, populations, structures, economic activities, housing, transportation, and related subjects; conducts primary research and confers with applicants and agency representatives to identify problems.
• Analyzes data concerning relevant laws, ordinances, regulations, and policies; determines methods to reconcile project conflicts with zoning requirements and state environmental law.
• Assists in planning projects, including area and topographical calculations, scaling, and data collection, and conducts field inspections.
• Prepares professional staff reports of summarized data, conclusions, and recommendations; participates in oral presentations.
• Serves as staff to the Planning Commission and other commissions and committees.
• Receives and reviews permit applications, assesses fees, and records payments; responds to inquiries orally and in writing; interprets planning policies, state laws, and local ordinances and explains procedures.
• Participates in urban design analysis; prepares and collects data; inventories land use; assists in developing design solutions; attends design team meetings.
• Assists in the coordination of Planning projects with other departments and outside agencies.
• Performs counterwork in answering inquiries from the public, developers, and other City departments; deals directly with the public and over the phone, responding to inquiries and answering routine questions concerning zoning, land use, the general plan, and current projects.

Qualification Guidelines

Knowledge of: planning principles and practices, laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations; implementation of zoning and other municipal ordinances; application of land use, physical design, economic, environmental, and social concepts to the planning process; housing trends, and market analysis techniques, terminology, symbols, methods, techniques, and instruments used in planning and map drafting. Ability to: understand and apply federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards about the planning process; interpret maps, site and building plans and specifications, graphs, and statistical data; research, analyze, summarize planning data both manually and with computer applications; prepare and publicly present ideas and recommendations; plan and organize work; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; deal constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Education and Experience Any combination of education and experience has provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. Example combinations include: completing a four-year college curriculum with significant work in planning, architecture, urban design, or a related field and one year of related work experience. Required Licenses and Certificates Requires possession or ability to obtain an appropriate California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands and work environment described here represent those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Physical Demands Work is performed mainly in office settings. Some outdoor work is required to inspect various land use developments and construction sites. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and different pieces of office equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand or sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work Environment While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office and moderate in the field.

Selection Process Apply online at An employment application must be completed. Resumes will not be accepted instead of a City application. Applicant must be specific in describing qualifications for this position on application. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Saying "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application. Faxed materials or postmarks will not be accepted. Applications will be screened about the criteria outlined in the job announcement. Candidates with qualifications that best relate to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not ensure continuation in the selection process. The selection process will include an oral interview and other testing processes designed to predict successful job performance. For a complete copy of the class specification, please click here. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be requested by calling the Department of Human Resources at least three (3) business days before the scheduled examination/interview date. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

The City of Norwalk, in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, religion, disability, sex, or sexual orientation in its employment actions, policies, procedures, or practices.