Assistant/Associate Planner

Shasta County Planning Positions

The current vacancy is in the Shasta County Department of Resource Management. The oral exam is tentatively scheduled for October 2026. Responses to supplemental questions are required. The final filing date is October 23, 2026, at 12:00 PM. Possession of a valid driver's license is required. Salary information is as follows:

Assistant Planner: $4,659 - $5,946 approximate monthly / $26.88 - $34.30 approximate hourly.

Associate Planner: $5,393 - $6,883 approximate monthly / $31.11 - $39.71 approximate hourly.

This position is in the UPEC - Professional bargaining unit. Please refer to the applicable bargaining unit labor agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) for potential future salary increases: Shasta County Labor Agreements.

The salary range consists of six (6) salary steps, with approximately 5% between each step. Newly hired employees are appointed at Step A of the assigned salary range. Employees are eligible for a merit-based salary increase from Step A to Step B after six months of satisfactory service. Thereafter, employees may be eligible for annual merit-based step increases, beginning one year from the Step B effective date, until they reach the top step of the salary range.

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

The Planning Division administers policies and programs as directed by the County's planning agency. It processes development-related applications and provides zoning information to the public.

Assistant Planner: Under supervision, to learn to perform entry level professional planning duties with an emphasis on reviewing building permits and non-complex planning projects for conformance with the Shasta County Zoning Plan; responding to public inquiries; preparing plans and reports; and to do related work as required.

Associate Planner: Under direction, and with lesser supervision, incumbents will perform mid-level professional planning duties with an emphasis on reviewing non-discretionary and discretionary planning projects of greater complexity for conformance with the Shasta County Zoning Plan and consistency with the Shasta County General Plan and Development Standards; responding to public inquires; research and preparation of planning studies and reports; interpreting and explaining planning laws and policies to the public, Shasta County Planning Commission, and Shasta County Board of Supervisors; preparing and publicly presenting related oral and written reports; and other related work as required.

Assistant Planner: This class represents the entry or training level class in the professional planning series. Incumbents whose positions are assigned to this class perform tasks that familiarize them with the Shasta County General Plan and Zoning Plan. Incumbents are expected to complete routine and repetitive tasks in a thorough and timely manner involving frontline customer service at a public counter and processing non-discretionary planning projects. As they gain experience, incumbents will be assigned planning projects of a more complex and/or discretionary nature.

Associate Planner: This is the mid-level class in the series. Incumbents whose positions are assigned to this class perform professional assignments with greater latitude for initiative and independent judgment than positions found at the Assistant Planner level. In addition to the distinguishing characteristics of the Assistant Planner class, incumbents in the Associate Planner class are expected to process moderately complex discretionary planning projects in a thorough and timely manner with little supervision. May provide guidance to the Assistant Planner class in carrying out various planning projects. As they gain experience, incumbents will be assigned projects of increasing complexity, including ordinance updates and projects involving complex environmental review.

The ideal candidate will be a positive, inquisitive, and resourceful individual who enjoys working with a team and is meticulously detail oriented with outstanding customer service, organizational, and project management skills. Must be an internally motivated, well spoken, and self-driven individual with a desire to learn and convey what they learn to customers, staff, commissions, and the Board of Supervisors. Report writing, documentation, and public speaking abilities are essential to this role. A prior working knowledge of California land use planning, environmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and land use data research, compilation and analysis methods is highly desired.

Examples of Essential Duties

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

Assistant Planner: Gathers a variety of information and data for the preparation of planning reports and studies; develops statistics and engages in research preparatory to various phases of planning projects; develops maps, charts, and graphs used in planning studies and reports; assists in compiling, arranging, analyzing, and interpreting data; assists in making comparative studies of land use, population structure, and economic activity; researches, investigates, and surveys available sources of information used in planning studies and related projects; assists in the preparation of planning displays and exhibits; answers inquiries and assists the public in providing information about planning ordinances and policies; investigates complaints regarding zoning violations; and/or provides information to the public on various planning regulations, policies, permits, and applications; performs a full range of clerical support functions; sets up and maintains file systems and records; prepares routine reports; may conduct routine field inspections for Department of Resource Management programs, if needed.

Gathers and evaluates data for various planning studies relating to land use development, environmental review, economics, and population; researches and recommends General Plan policies and zoning ordinances; formulates tentative and final conditions for land division projects and use permits in accordance with established ordinances and laws; makes field trips and investigations pertaining to planning projects; prepares and assembles maps, tables, charts, and reports on planning projects, prepares recommendations and does graphic presentation; may supervise the work of subordinate planning personnel assisting on planning assignments and studies; conducts special research projects; attends staff meetings and consults with supervisors regarding work problems and progress; may make presentations before the Planning Commission; provides information to the public on all planning regulations, policies, permits, and applications.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Assistant Planner:

Knowledge of: Theory, principles, and practices of public planning, and environmental analysis; mathematical and scientific practices related to planning work; nomenclature, symbols, and instruments used in planning, drafting and mapping work; knowledge of methods and procedures for the conduct of Department of Resource Management inspections including modern office practices, record keeping, and reporting, as well as familiarity with federal, state, and local resource protection laws and codes.

Ability to: Compile and analyze technical and statistical information and data; comprehend and accurately carry out oral and written directions; learn and apply applicable laws and regulations; learn to prepare and present clear and concise reports and research studies; communicate with and advise the public in a tactful and courteous manner.

Associate Planner:

Knowledge of: Principles and practices of governmental planning; state and local laws affecting planning; nomenclature, symbols, techniques, and instruments used in planning work; statistical research methods as applied to the collection and tabulation of data affecting public planning; grant application preparation and grant administration; purposes, policies, procedures and regulations of a county Planning Commission and/or a development services agency; methods of graphic illustration and presentation.

Ability to: Collect, analyze, interpret, and apply data to various planning projects; prepare and present planning research studies; interpret and apply applicable laws and regulations to planning projects; meet and deal effectively with the public and other governmental officials; research and present laws and ordinances dealing with assigned areas.

Minimum Qualifications: It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Assistant Planner:

Either a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in planning or related subject; OR two (2) years of technical experience in the environmental quality and/or planning fields AND one (1) semester of related college course work from an accredited college or university.

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is preferred but not required.

Associate Planner:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in planning or related subject AND one (1) year of professional-level experience in the environmental quality and/or planning fields, including substantial experience in technical report writing.

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is preferred but not required.

Special Requirements:

Assistant/Associate Planner: Possession of a valid California driver's license.

Supplemental Questions: Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

1. Do you possess a bachelor's degree in planning or related subject? If "Yes," please list the issuing