Principal Planner

Salary : $109,465.47 - $154,028.91 Annually
Location : Sacramento, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Career
Job Number: 001795-26-PW
Department: Public Works
Division: Mobility and Sustainability
Opening Date: 05/22/2026
Closing Date: 6/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


THE POSITION
With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The Public Works Department, Division of Mobility and Sustainability is seeking a Principal Planner to lead the Transportation Planning section to support the efforts to improve and expand mobility in Sacramento. The section's work is long-range transportation planning and includes policy, project and program management. Specific tasks for this position include leading the team comprised of transportation planners, mentoring the team and supporting their work, as well as leading large high-profile efforts such as updating the Transportation Demand Management regulations as well as amendments to the City's Street Design Standards to support safety and mobility.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT


The ideal candidate will be an innovative leader, preferably with background in transportation planning, programs and policies around safety, mobility and access. This candidate will have excellent communication skills, ability to work collaboratively, ability to manage a large workload, and a commitment to community engagement and equity. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical and project management skills. They will be results oriented and have the ability to manage and navigate change and political environments. Lastly, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience and success mentoring staff and teams to success.
Under general direction, the Principal Planner plans, organizes, supervises, and reviews the work of professional planning personnel and provides technical advice; performs responsible administrative and professional planning work in carrying out the current, long range and environmental functional areas of the Planning Division; represents the City and the Department in public and official meetings; and makes recommendations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This management classification is populated with multiple incumbents who are responsible for carrying out, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with existing regulations, policy and methods. The Principal Planner is distinguished from the next lower level classification of Senior Planner in that the latter is a first line supervisor over a project team while the former has responsibility for overseeing several teams of staff engaged in implementing a comprehensive planning program and participating in the development of the goals, objectives, and policies of the division. The classification is distinguished from that of Planning Manager in that the latter has a broader responsibility in the administration of the Planning Division and assists in the administrative duties of the Director of Planning.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General direction is provided by the Director of Planning or Planning Manager. Responsibilities include the direct and indirect supervision of professional and technical personnel.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


TYPICAL DUTIES

- Plans, organizes, supervises, and reviews the work of professional planning personnel and others in the preparation, revision, and administration of master plans, zoning ordinances, and development regulations for a large region within the City.
- Coordinates preparation and maintenance of the general plan and long range planning work program; provides technical advice to subordinate personnel engaged in performing difficult assignments.
- Compiles and evaluates data and makes recommendations for the more complex planning projects and participates in special studies as required.
- Makes administrative decisions in the absence of the Director of Planning and Planning Manager.
- Coordinates regular and special meetings of the Planning Commission; represents the City in public and official meetings with other City departments, organizations, and professional groups on planning matters.
- Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities.
- Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel.
- Performs other or related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS


Knowledge of:

- Principles and practices of effective supervision.
- Principles and practices of governmental planning.
- Current literature and recent developments in the field of public planning.
- Planning law, theory, and practice.
- General Plan and specific plan preparation.
- Regulations and procedures affecting local planning agencies.
- Other disciplines related to city planning such as architecture, urban design, historical preservation, urban studies, environmental studies, transportation, public administration, economic development.
- Statistical concepts and methods.
- Project management.
- Applicable Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Skill In:

- Use of modern office equipment including computers, computer applications, and software.

Ability to:

- Plan, assign, and supervise the work of professional and paraprofessional planning personnel.
- Participate in technical research on planning, environmental, economic, transportation, and related problems.
- Provide technical advice to subordinate personnel engaged in performing difficult assignments.
- Participate in technical research on planning, environmental, economic, and transportation problems.
- Perform research, analyze data, prepare reports, and present recommendations on complex planning projects.
- Establish effective working relationships with employees, public officials, and the general public.
- Develop alternatives and resolve conflicts among competing interests.
- Represent the City in meetings with other City departments, organizations, and professional groups on matters pertaining to development applications.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; make presentations before large and small groups.
- Organize and manage complex planning teams.
- Develop planning policies and implementation strategies.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

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

Experience:

Six years of progressively responsible professional experience in urban planning, including two years in a supervisory capacity.

Education:

A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in planning, architecture, engineering or other design-related field, urban studies, environmental planning, public administration, political science, economics, or closely related field. A Master's Degree in one of these fields is desirable.
PROOF OF EDUCATION

Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment . Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.


An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential's evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.
THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.


1. Application: (Pass/Fail) - All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline;

• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
  1. If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
  2. If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.
• Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
• Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.

2. Supplemental Questionnaire: (Pass/Fail) - In addition to the City of Sacramento employment application, all applicants must complete and submit online responses to the supplemental questionnaire to the City of Sacramento Employment Office by the final filing deadline;

• Responses to the supplemental questionnaire must be submitted online; paper questionnaire will not be accepted.
• Incomplete supplemental questionnaire will not pass the review process; omitted information cannot be considered or assumed.
• A resume will not substitute for the information required in the supplemental questionnaire.
• Possession of the minimum qualifications is not necessarily a guarantee for further advancement in the selection process.

3. Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail) - All applications received by the final filing deadline will be forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.


4. Interview Process: Human Resources will forward applications to the hiring department. Those determined to be the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process.


5. Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.


QUESTIONS:
For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

• Please visit for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Application Support at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at ;
• Send an email to View email address on click.appcast.io; or
• Call the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io

Bilingual Pay
Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.

Pension Reform Act
The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information

Civil Service Rules:


Union Contracts:


Salary Schedule:
01



APPLICATION : I understand my application must meet the minimum qualifications for consideration of employment with the City of Sacramento. The experience I list in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section of the employment application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum qualifications as stated on the job announcement. A resume, responses to the supplemental questions requiring a narrative response, employment history listed elsewhere in the application or attachments will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Applicant Resources Page for Screening Instructions:

• Yes

02



PROOF OF EDUCATION: To qualify for this classification you may use any combination of education and/or experience as listed to provide required knowledge, skills, and abilities.I understand proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment if I am using education to qualify for this position.Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Proof of Education Requirements ( for information on accepted documentation.

• Yes

03



EDUCATION CONFIRMATION: If I am using education to qualify for this position, I attest I possess or will possess the following level of education by time of appointment if I am selected for this position.

• No units from an accredited college or university
• Less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Associates Degree
• 90 semester or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate

04



SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE : The answers to the questions below will be reviewed by the hiring department along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of completing this Supplemental Questionnaire. Lack of clarity, incomplete or inconsistent information, and/or disorganized presentation may negatively affect the hiring department's review of your Supplemental Questionnaire. I understand and agree to the above instructions.

• Yes

05


Describe your experience mentoring staff and teams to success and include specific examples of your approach, the size and composition of the team(s), and the results achieved.
06


Describe your experience incorporating equity into processes, application, and outcomes. Include specific examples of how you have identified and addressed barriers and measured outcomes.
07


Describe your experience with leading major safety initiatives, programs, and efforts. Include examples of your role, the scope of the effort, and the outcomes achieved.
Required Question