Senior Planner

Salary : $115,498.00 - $173,248.00 Annually
Location : City of Anaheim, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00121
Department: Planning & Building
Opening Date: 06/10/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Description
The City of Anaheim Planning & Building Department seeks a dynamic and well qualified Senior Planner to provide expertise and leadership in the Planning Services Division. Senior Planners perform the most technical and complex tasks within their assigned areas of responsibility and must be technically proficient, collaborative, and effective working in a team-oriented environment. Anaheim is an exciting, complex, and dynamic city in which to work, with major planning efforts and transformative projects such as , a $4 billion entertainment and housing development, and reflecting the scale and significance of development activity occurring in the City. The successful candidate will serve as an integral member of the Planning and Building team and will support the Department's work in providing high-quality planning services to the Anaheim community. Experience working in a municipal planning agency is highly desirable.
When Assigned to Current Planning, specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: coordinate and provide project management for large and complex planning projects; analyze and ensure compliance with land use policies and regulations; prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for planning commission and city council; and supervise current planning staff.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the advanced journey level class in the Planner series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to the assigned Planning Department area.
Deadline for the first review of applications is Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 5:00PM.

Essential Functions
The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Provide lead supervision and technical assistance to professional and technical planning staff; coordinate and assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor work flow; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures; provide staff training.
• Coordinate the revisions of policies and procedures; research, analyze and prepare recommendations to adopt ordinances; perform research regarding implementation of policies established by the general plan, zoning ordinance or other land use and development ordinances.
• Review proposed legislation; evaluate the effects of outside policies, regulations, and legislation on the City's planning goals.
• Review development proposals and agreements; prepare requests for proposals, scopes of work, and agreements for professional services; oversee and monitor the work of consultants.
• Coordinate and provide project management for large and complex planning projects.
• Attend and represent the Planning Services Division at public meetings and interdepartmental meetings and serve on related committees as needed; respond to requests for information at public meetings; make presentations related to current and advanced planning; and provide technical planning information to elected and appointed City officials.
• Coordinate and serve as liaison between the business community and City staff with regard to current or advanced planning special projects; advise City staff, developers and the general public on planning policies, issues and concerns.
• Research and analyze requests for code amendments and special studies; prepare reports to the City Council and Planning Commission; coordinate the preparation and submittal of new ordinances.
• Confer with engineers, developers, architects, agencies representatives, realtors, and appraisers, and the general public in researching and coordinating planning and zoning matters; provide information regarding City development requirements and policies.
• Interpret and apply codes, laws and regulations to ensure development applications, City projects and municipal code amendments are in compliance; assist in the negotiation of development agreements.
• Respond to questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Develop and monitor Planning Services Division program budgets; submit justifications for development projects; monitor and control expenditures.
• Assist in the development and implementation of goals and objectives, policies and procedures for assigned area; establish schedules and methods for current and advanced planning projects.
• Stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the fields of current and advanced municipal and regional planning and zoning.
• Perform related duties as required.

Qualifications
Experience and Education: Three years of increasingly responsible professional urban planning experience supplemented by a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, architecture, or a related field; or, an equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.
Knowledge of: Complex principles and practices of urban planning, development, zoning and redevelopment; methods and procedures used in the planning and zoning processes; methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation; principles of project management; principles of contract administration; recent developments, current literature and sources of information related to municipal planning; research methods and sources of information related to urban growth and development; methods and procedures of computer database usage; basic budgeting and accounting principles; principles of supervision and training; pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and state zoning and environmental laws.
Ability to: Lead, organize, and review the work of professional and technical staff; independently perform the most difficult planning projects; interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures; analyze and compile complex technical and statistical information; manage and coordinate the work of consultants; assist in implementing goals, objectives and practices in providing effective and efficient program services; assist in the analysis, evaluation and modification of current and advanced planning methods and procedures; interpret and explain division policies and procedures; analyze site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities and other urban services; participate in a variety of public and board meetings; make public presentations and recommendations on various advanced and/or current planning issues and concerns; interpret and explain City and program policies and procedures; work independently; make sound and supportable recommendations; analyze and assess community needs; analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques; develop creative approaches to, and concepts for, addressing planning problems; research, analyze and evaluate new zoning regulations and procedures; interpret, apply and ensure compliance with federal, state and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations; prepare clear, concise, thorough and accurate technical reports; work independently in the absence of supervision; understand and follow oral and written instructions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
License/Certification Required: Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Supplemental Information
IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. The deadline for the first review of applications is on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 5:00PM Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applicants that apply after the first review are not guaranteed to be considered for this recruitment. This recruitment may close at any time without notice after the first review date. The selection process will consist of a writing assessment and oral interview.

The eligibility list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill the current and/or additional vacancies throughout the Planning and Building Department.


Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference / background check (to include a conviction record) and pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination (which will include a drug/alcohol screening). The City of Anaheim utilizes E-Verify and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization.
Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method.
The City of Anaheim offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefits amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.

To view the current benefits summary, visit:

For additional information about the City's benefits, visit:


RETIREMENT BENEFITS - The City contracts with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) to provide retirement benefits. Retirement formula is based on appointment date and membership status with CalPERS.


Note : Pension contribution limitations are set by CalPERS each calendar year, with compensation limit requirements for Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) members and Classic members. Employee contributions will be deposited into a 401(a) account after reaching this limit. Employees with CalPERS membership dates prior to July 1, 1996 are not impacted by these limits.


To view the current limits and additional CalPERS information, visit:


01


Candidates will be evaluated based on the information provided on both the application and the responses to the following Supplemental Questions. Failure to fully detail all experience or stating experience in response to the Supplemental Questions but not listing the experience in the application, copy/pasting information, or responses referring to your resume may eliminate you from consideration. Do you understand this requirement?

• Yes
• No

02


How many years of responsible urban planning experience do you possess?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• At lease 1 year, less than 2 years
• At least 2 years, less than 3 years
• At least 3 years, less than 4 years
• At least 4 years, less than 5 years
• At least 5 years or more

03


Please describe your responsible professional urban planning experience. Also highlight any Current Planning, Advanced Planning, and large-scale development project management experience. If none, type N/A.
04


Do you possess municipal planning agency work experience?

• Yes
• No

05


Briefly describe your municipal planning agency experience. Please include the agency name and your title. If none, write N/A.
06


What is your level of education?

• Did not graduate high school / obtained GED
• Graduated high school / obtained GED
• Completed some college-level coursework
• Completed at least 60 semester units or obtained an associate's degree
• Obtained a bachelor's degree
• Obtained a graduate degree

07


Please list your area of study for your degree. If none, write N/A.
Required Question