Senior Planner

Typical Duties Supervises the activities of staff in a Planning Division section; assigns, trains, directs and evaluates and coordinates the work of subordinates; helps select staff as needed; assists with disciplinary action when appropriate. Assists the Department's management team; confers with peers and superiors to keep fully informed of new legislation, regulations, and other developments; helps develop Division goals and objectives; recommends and implements policies and procedures as needed. Prepares a variety of reports including complex planning reports; supervises and participates in the preparation of ordinance changes, regulatory amendments, environmental impact reports, and other complex planning documents. Participates in difficult planning projects; helps review, analyze and make recommendations regarding development projects. Assists in the development, organization and implementation of community participation programs as well as the preparation/implementation of planning programs. Supervises the collection, synthesis, analysis and reporting of data; supervises and performs research assignments; may prepare complex graphic displays and/or illustrations. May meet and consult with other governmental agencies, private organizations, and others as necessary to address issues of common interest. Supervises and participates in the process of assisting the public with the interpretation of zoning and planning regulations; helps investigate and resolve complaints. Participates in staff meetings as required; may attend Planning Commission meetings, Board of Supervisors hearings and other meetings/conferences as assigned; may make presentations as assigned. Performs special projects as assigned; may assist with budget preparation and other administrative activities. Minimum Qualifications Option I: Two years as an Associate Planner in San Joaquin County service. Option II: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in urban or regional planning, public administration, geography, architecture, architectural engineering, landscape architecture, economics, ecology or a related field. A minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in urban or regional planning. A Master’s Degree in urban or regional planning may substitute for one year of qualifying experience. Knowledge Principles and practices of public administration and supervision; principles, practices, methods and techniques of urban and regional planning; current laws and regulations pertaining to zoning, environmental issues, land development and the county planning process; principles and practices of economics, sociology, architecture and legal procedure as they relate to modern urban and regional planning; methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation; research methods and analysis. Ability Plan, assign, train, direct, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff; supervise and implement a comprehensive planning program; analyze and summarize statistical/technical data and prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports; identify and help address a wide variety of interests in the development of land use policy; interpret and apply laws and regulations relating to urban/regional planning; appear before boards and commissions and present reports; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with department personnel, County managers, various County and other government officials, private agents, and the general public. Physical and Mental Requirements Mobility: frequent operation of keyboards, sitting for extended periods, standing for long periods, walking, pushing/pulling, bending, squatting, driving, climbing stairs or other objects; occasional crawling; Lifting: frequently 5‑30 pounds or less; occasionally 30‑70 pounds; occasionally restraining, lifting/turning heavy objects; Vision: good vision; frequent reading and close‑up work; normal hand and eye coordination; Dexterity: normal dexterity with frequent writing and repetitive motion; Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking on the telephone and in person; Emotional/Psychological: frequent public contact and decision making; frequent concentration required; Special Conditions: may be exposed to dust and varied outdoor conditions; may require occasional weekend or evening work. Equal Opportunity Employer San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Benefits Health Insurance: Option of three medical plans: a Kaiser Plan, a Select Plan, and a Premier Plan. Employees pay a portion of the premium. Dependent coverage is also available. Dental Insurance: Choice of two dental plans: Delta Dental and United Health Care‑Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan. No cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage available at the employee’s expense. Vision Insurance: Vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). No cost for employee only coverage; dependent coverage available at the employee’s expense. Life Insurance: 1 but less than 3 years of continuous service: $1,000 3 but less than 5 years of continuous service: $3,000 5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000 10 years of continuous service or more: $10,000 Employees may purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $200,000 at the group rate. Regular employees in this unit shall be provided with a supplemental life insurance policy with a face value up to $75,000. Flexible Benefits Plan: Voluntary program allowing employees to use pre‑tax dollars to pay for health‑related expenses not covered by medical, dental or vision plans; Health Flexible Spending Account $2,550 annual limit with a $500 carry over; Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5,000 annual limit. Retirement Plan: Employees covered by the County Retirement Act of 1937. Prospective employees may consult the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA) at for more information. Deferred Compensation: County maintains a deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. Annual contribution up to $22,500 or 100% of includible compensation, whichever is less; individuals aged 50 or older may contribute up to $30,000; Roth IRA (after tax) also available. Vacation: Maximum earned vacation is 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; and 23 days after 20 years. Holiday: Depending on date of hire, employees earn either 10 or 14 holidays per year. Administrative Leave: Each fiscal year, department heads grant 10 days of administrative leave to eligible salaried employees. Not carried over to the next fiscal year. Sick Leave: 12 working days of sick leave annually with unlimited accumulation. Sick leave incentive: an employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one‑half of the cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue, provided the employee is on payroll for the entire calendar year. Bereavement Leave: 3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member; 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of spouse, domestic partner, parent or child. Merit Salary Increase: New employees receive the starting salary, the first step of the salary range. After serving 52 weeks (2,080 hours) on each step, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step. Educational Reimbursement Program: Eligible employees may be reimbursed for career‑related coursework up to a maximum of $850 per fiscal year. Employees enrolled in an approved four‑year college or university program may be reimbursed up to $800 per semester for a maximum of $1,600 per fiscal year. Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton: County contributes up to $20 per pay period for employees who pay for parking and are assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area. School Activities: Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities. Incentives and Bonuses (if job offer signed before July 1, 2026) Vacation Accrual Rate: Consistent with the candidate’s total years of public service. Sick Leave: Candidates leaving other employment may receive credit for actual non‑reimbursable sick leave hours (up to 160 hours) from their last agency. New Hire Retention Bonus: $2,000 upon completion of first year equivalent employment (2,080 hours). $1,000 upon completion of third year equivalent employment (6,240 hours). $3,000 upon completion of sixth year equivalent employment (12,480 hours). #J-18808-Ljbffr