Senior Planner

Salary : $103,230.40 - $154,835.20 Annually
Location : Camarillo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-00024
Department: Community Development
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: 10/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
ABOUT THE CITY Nestled in the heart of Ventura County, just minutes from California's scenic coastline, Camarillo offers a unique blend of small-town charm, a vibrant community spirit, and an exceptional quality of life as a forward-thinking and innovative local government, we are dedicated to delivering outstanding service while fostering a dynamic, empowered workforce that reflects the high standard to the community we serve. Discover more about us and our organizational culture here. Learn more about the Community Development Department here. BENEFITS

To view our benefits page, click here.

THE POSITION

The City of Camarillo is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and service-oriented Senior Plannerto help shape a vibrant, sustainable community. This position is well suited for a planning professional with a strong background in both current and long-range planning, as well as experience leading, mentoring, and developing planning staff.

The ideal candidate brings advanced knowledge of municipal planning practices and a demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex, high-priority projects from initial review through implementation. They communicate clearly and effectively, build productive relationships with colleagues, applicants, residents, and partner agencies, and encourage collaboration and meaningful input to achieve timely, well-informed outcomes.

A successful candidate will be skilled at navigating competing interests, addressing challenging issues constructively, and developing practical solutions. Experience advancing climate action initiatives through coordination with City departments and external agencies is highly desirable.

Qualified candidates will have at least four years of progressively responsible professional planning experience in a local government setting, including supervisory experience. Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS


Please click on this link to see the entire classification description:

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program.
• Theory, principles and practices of urban planning, community development, and revitalization.
• Advanced principles, practices, and techniques of current and advanced planning including land use, environmental policy analysis, municipal service delivery, physical design, landscape architecture, demographics, and economic and social concepts as applied to municipal planning.
• Organization and functions of various agencies involved in the planning processes.
• Basic principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Basic principles of supervision and training.
• Project management principles and practices.
• Principles and practices used in building, architecture, and engineering.
• Development review procedures and requirements.
• Site planning and architectural design principles.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions, and applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• Recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
• Statistical methods and research techniques applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies.
• Methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues.
• Customer service techniques, practices, and principles.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications.

Ability to:

• Independently perform advanced professional level planning duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations.
• Apply policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process.
• Provide supervision and training to assigned contractors.
• Serve as project manager on multiple projects.
• Prioritize multiple projects.
• Staff and manage assigned commissions and committees.
• Interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives.
• Interpret planning programs to the general public.
• Analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality.
• Analyze site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services.
• Ensure project compliance with state, federal, and local rules, laws, and regulations.
• Participate in coordinating necessary communication between staff, developers, and other agencies.
• Understand, evaluate, and interpret complex technical engineering, architectural, structural, landscape, and topographical plans, maps, and related documents.
• Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence.
• Present technical data in verbal, written, graphic, and map form to City management staff, citizen groups, and variety of boards and commissions.
• Develop recommendations regarding the use of property.
• Process development applications and coordinate necessary communication between staff, developer, and other agencies.
• Read, analyze, and interpret information from professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, council members, committee and commission members, and the general public.
• Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person.
• Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective solutions.
• Operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

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

Education/Training: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban or regional planning, environmental design, architecture or a related field. A Master's degree is desirable.

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience in local government including some project management experience.

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid California driver's license at a level appropriate to the equipment operated. Possession of certification as a Certified Planner from the American Institute of Certified Planners is highly desirable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein 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 job functions.
Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites; occasionally works in outside weather conditions; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to operate a vehicle to travel from site to site; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

The City of Camarillo is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, or other factors. We believe in fostering an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected and empowered.


Disaster Services Assignments

As public employees, we play an enhanced role in the event of a disaster or other emergency in our community. You will be registered as a disaster services worker, and you will be issued a disaster services identification card. In the event of a disaster or other emergency, make sure that your family is safe and secure first, then report to your assigned emergency location. Temporary employees generally do not receive disaster services assignments.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view the correspondence.

FOR FIRST CONSIDERATION, CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE LISTED CLOSING DATE AND TIME. TENTATIVE FIRST ROUND INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 19 AND FINAL INTERVIEWS THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 26.

• Retirement - All regular employees are enrolled in CalPERS. "Classic" members: 2% @ 55; City pays the employee contribution. "PEPRA" members: 2% @ 62; employee contributes 8.25% of salary.
• Social Security - The City does not participate in Social Security. Receiving a CalPERS benefit may affect your Social Security upon retirement. For further information contact a Social Security office or
• Medicare - Employees hired after April 1, 1986 are required to contribute 1.45% of earnings, with an equal amount paid by the City.
• Defined Contribution - The City contributes 7% of employee's gross salary to a 401a Plan.
• Deferred Compensation - Employees have the option to contribute to a 457 Plan up to the maximum allowed by law.
• Health Insurance - The City contributes $162 per month towards a selection of plans. Health insurance is effective the first of the month after date of hire.
• Flex Benefit/Cafeteria Plan - $3,175 monthly, which may be applied toward health insurance premiums. Unused money may be taken as cash, payable twice a month.
• Dental/Vision Insurance - City pays premium for employees and dependents. Dental/Vision insurance is effective the first of the month after date of hire.
• Life Insurance - City-paid term life insurance equal to the employee's annual salary, plus $5,000, rounded up to next $5,000 and dependent life insurance of $2,000 per dependent, is provided.
• Short/Long Term Disability - City pays premium for employees. Eligibility period: 0 days for injury/hospitalization or 7 days for an illness.
• Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Plan - Investment vehicle funded by employee contributions to pay for medical benefits upon retirement or separation from the City. Mandatory participation for all employees.
• Holidays - 12 days plus 3 floating holidays (24 hours) per year.
• Management Leave - Executive and mid-management exempt employees receive 40-88 hours per year.
• Vacation - Vacation is determined by number of years of service. (0-4 years = 80 hrs; 5-9 years = 120 hrs; 10-14 years = 160 hrs; 15+ years = 168-200 hrs).
• Sick Leave - 96 hours per year.
• Comprehensive Annual Leave (CAL) - Sanitary District Only. Combined vacation, sick and floating holiday leaves. (0-4 yrs = 160 hrs; 5-9 yrs = 200 hrs; 10-14 yrs = 240 hrs; 15+ yrs = 248-288 hrs)

Benefits listed may not reflect all benefits offered. Not all benefits apply to all positions. Regular, part-time employees receive pro-rated benefits. Additional information is available by contacting Human Resources.
01


The supplemental questionnaire is part of the examination process for this position and will be used in determining your qualifications. In order to receive every consideration in the selection process you must complete all the questions with concise yet detailed answers and provide all the requested information. The experience you indicate in your response to the supplemental questions must also be described in detail, on the Work Experience section of your Employment Application. Failure to complete the "Work Experience" section of the employment application may result in your application not being considered. The hiring department may review each answer to evaluate your qualifications. Responses such as "See Resume" or "See Application" will result in disqualification and will not be considered further.By continuing in the recruitment process, you are certifying that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true to the best of your knowledge. If you are selected to continue in the recruitment process, your qualifications may be evaluated through employment verification, reference checks and written, skill assessment, and oral examinations.Select "Yes" to acknowledge that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

02


Describe your current and long-range planning experience.
03


Describe the most complex CEQA document you managed.
04


Describe your customer service philosophy.
05


Describe your approach to supervising staff and relevant prior experience.
Required Question