Planning Manager

Salary : $128,556.00 - $172,272.00 Annually
Location : City Hall - 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2627-001
Department: Community Development Department
Opening Date: 07/01/2026


Position Overview
To be considered for this rewarding career, submit your application through the City's website.


Salary Range: Up to $172,272 annually DOE/DOQ

This recruitment is open continuous until filled.

This recruitment may close or be extended at any time without notice.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early!

First Review of Applications: July 22, 2026
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an experienced planning professional who brings both technical expertise and strong people-management skills. The Planning Manager will serve as a subject matter expert to the Community Development Department staff, City departments, and the Community. This individual will be a hands-on leader-comfortable jumping in at the counter, mentoring staff, and setting clear protocols and procedures to strengthen consistency and service delivery. The City of South Pasadena is committed to fostering a culture of Collaboration , Accountability , Courage , Ownership , Professionalism , and Service Excellence . Candidates are expected to demonstrate these values in their work and interactions with colleagues and the community.

Purpose
Under administrative direction, to manage, supervise and coordinate the assigned activities and operations within the Planning and Community Development Department including processing current planning applications, advanced planning functions, capital projects, and environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act; Coordinates assigned activities with other divisions, outside agencies, and the general public; and provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the Community Development Director.


Distinguishing Characteristics
This position is distinguished from the Associate Planner and Senior Planner level by its management of a variety of administrative and support functions of the highest complexity. A person in this position has the ability to manage special projects, which typically requires substantial knowledge of the department's operations.

Duties & Responsibilities


The duties listed below are examples of the work typically performed by employees in this class. An employee may not be assigned all duties listed and may be assigned duties that are not listed below:

• Assume management responsibility for assigned services and activities of the Planning Division including current and advanced planning functions, programs, and services; review and process community development, environmental, and planning projects and applications to ensure consistency with policies and procedures; oversee public counter services, permitting, and plan check review.
• Manage and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities for assigned programs; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
• Monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommend, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; identify and recommend opportunities for improvement.
• Plan, direct, coordinate and review the work plan for planning staff; assign work activities, projects and programs; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Assists the Community Development Director in planning, developing, overseeing and administering the Department's objectives, policies, programs, procedures and services, including organizing, managing, and providing administrative direction and oversight for major functions and activities.
• Researches, analyzes and interprets data collected, and makes recommendations on potential programs; prepares and administers budgets; draft RFPs/RFQs and selects consultants/contractors; coordinates administrative activities for a variety of City programs.
• Select, train, motivate and evaluate planning personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures; oversee the work of contractors and consultants.
• Assures the systematic implementation of the General Plan for the City; meets with developers, engineers, property owners, contractors, and other agencies to discuss project proposals, pre-applications, feasibility analysis, and/or status of development projects; responds to and/or assists with resolving difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints.
• Prepares, reviews and presents staff report to the City Council, Planning Commission, and boards and other commissions, and assists with maintaining official department files; coordinates committee activities, meetings, and related responsibilities; represents the City with other government agencies and community groups.
• Participates in the development and administration of the annual budget; participates in the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors and approve expenditures; implements adjustments.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of planning and community development.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in public administration or policy, urban planning/design preferred, or a related field.
• At least five years of increasingly responsible analytical and administrative experience with a government agency, preferably within a municipal setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in urban planning/design or a related field.
• A minimum of one year of supervisory experience, including work delegation, performance review, and mentoring.
• Experience with historic preservation.

Knowledge of :

• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a planning department;
• Principles and practices of program development and administration;
• Theories, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information sources and trends in the fields of current and advanced planning;
• Land use, physical design, demographic, environmental, and social/economic concepts as applied to municipal planning;
• Statistical analysis techniques related to municipal planning; application, modification, and inter-relationships among ordinances, policies, standards, procedures and practices associated with the planning function;
• Applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including state planning laws, zoning, Subdivision Map Act, and California Environment Quality Act (CEQA);
• Terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in planning and planning exhibits such as site plans, grading plans and architectural elevations;
• Local government organization and the functions and practices of a municipal planning unit;
• Research methods and statistical techniques and applications;
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and databases;
• Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration;
• Principles and practices of supervision, training and performance evaluation.

Ability to:

• Oversee and participate in the management of a comprehensive planning program including current and advanced planning activities and projects;
• Oversee, direct, and coordinate the work of lower-level staff; select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff;
• Participate in the development and administration of division goals, objectives, and procedures;
• Prepare and administer program budgets;
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports;
• Perform and coordinate technical current, advanced, and project-planning activities, such as the collection, analysis, and preparation of reports and recommendations pertaining to complex issues; interpret laws, policies, procedures, regulations, maps, specifications, census data, site and building plans, graphs and other statistical data;
• Direct the preparation of visual displays, such as maps, graphs, and statistical charts; exercise sound independent judgment within departmental guidelines;
• Represent the City effectively in meetings with commissions, community groups, governmental bodies, the media, and the public; conduct analyses and make accurate recommendations based on study findings;
• Independently complete a variety of assignments; prioritize multiple work projects and meet deadlines;
• Display a strong work ethic, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to foster effective working relationships with City Council, City Departments; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Long periods of sitting, dexterity and coordination in handling files and single sheets of paper. Reading and comprehending large reports. Occasional lifting of items weighing up to 25 pounds, such as files, file boxes, stacks of paper. Reaching for items above and below desk level. Hand and eye coordination are needed to operate office equipment. Strength, dexterity, coordination and vision to use keyboard and video display terminal.


Special Requirements;
Possession of a valid Class "C" California Driver's License.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Additional Information

HOW TO APPLY:
This recruitment is open until filled; applications will be screened as they are received. Interviews will be scheduled while the recruitment is open, so candidates are encouraged to apply immediately .
Selection Process:
To be considered, please apply online under "Current Openings". This recruitment may close, or be extended, at any time, without prior notice. Cover letter, resume and other attachments must be in PDF format. Only complete applications or applications that meet the minimum requirements may be considered. Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience and, level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate receiving a conditional offer of employment from the City for this position shall be required to satisfactorily complete the remaining phases of the pre-employment process outlined in the conditional offer. Unsatisfactory results and/or failure to successfully complete any part of the pre-employment process shall void any conditional offer of employment for this position. For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact View phone number on click.appcast.io.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The City of South Pasadena is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of South Pasadena intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io or email The City of South Pasadena is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work.
FAIR CHANCE ACT

The City of South Pasadena is committed to providing fair opportunities to all applicants, including those with a criminal history. Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, we will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of South Pasadena has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. For more information about the Fair Chance Act, please visit


Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

ABOUT THE CITY

The City of South Pasadena (population 26,047) is a charming community located only eight miles from downtown Los Angeles on the west side of the San Gabriel Valley. South Pasadena is known for its beautiful tree-lined streets, stunning homes, unique small businesses, top-quality schools and a strong commitment to community. South Pasadena is also a full-service city with its own fire, police and water departments.

Occupying 3.44 square miles of flatlands and hillsides, South Pasadena's unique character makes it one of California's most desirable locations. The City has a rich history of intact late 19th and early 20th Century neighborhoods and residences, giving it a strong claim as one of the oldest and most historic sites in the San Gabriel Valley. One of the first suburbs of Los Angeles, South Pasadena maintains small-town quality, with charming residential streetscapes, and a historic commercial core, making it one of Hollywood's favorite suburban filming locations, featured in numerous television and big screen productions.

South Pasadena is frequently recognized as a family and environmentally friendly community. The City enjoys quiet, attractive, walkable neighborhoods and a low crime rate. There are numerous active community organizations in South Pasadena, including the Oneonta Club, WISPPA, South Pasadena Arts Council, AYSO, Little League, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Women's Club, Chamber of Commerce, South Pasadena Preservation Foundation, Holy Family Church, St. James Church, South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, South Pasadena Chinese-American Club, Vecinos and many others. Boasting over 100 acres of parks and playgrounds and more than 21,000 trees, the City's picturesque environment invites residents and visitors to enjoy numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. South Pasadena offers an 18 hole, Par-3 golf course, tennis, racquet and pickleball facilities, horse stables and a dog park all in its picturesque Arroyo Seco area.

Small, proud and independent, the City of South Pasadena has preserved its status as a unique community for over a hundred years.

NOTE: The provisions in this job flyer do not constitute an expressed or implied contract; and any provisions contained in this flyer may be modified or revoked without notice.
01


To receive timely notifications about my application, I understand that I must provide a working email address and phone number on my City application. I understand that all important information regarding my application and the selection process will be sent via email, and it is my responsibility to ensure my email is active, check it regularly, and add View email address on click.appcast.io to my contacts to avoid messages being marked as spam. I acknowledge that the City of South Pasadena is not responsible for lost or misdirected emails.

• Yes
• No

02


I understand that any inaccurate information or an incomplete application may lead to disqualification from the recruitment process. I have supplied all the applicable and accurate information on my application. Examples of incomplete/inaccurate information leading to disqualification will include, but are not limited to the following: falsifying employment or personal information, incomplete/incorrect employment dates, stating "see resume" under job duties, not attaching requested copies of certificate(s), testing results etc.

• Yes
• No

03


Are you related to, reside with, or have a close personal relationship with any current City employee, elected official, or commissioner?

• Yes
• No

04


If you do share any relation to any city employee, elected official, or commissioner, provide the individual's name, position, and the nature of the relationship. If not, please write N/A.
05


Describe your experience supervising professional planning staff. What strategies have you used to improve staff performance and build a high-performing team?
06


How do you ensure consistency and quality control in staff reports, project reviews, and recommendations?
07


What is your approach to coaching and mentoring planners with varying levels of experience?
08


Describe your experience presenting recommendations before Planning Commissions, City Councils, or community groups.
Required Question