Principal Planner

Salary : $129,687.37 - $157,635.80 Annually
Location : City Hall, 1050 Camino del Mar, Del Mar, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-04
Department: Planning and Community Development
Opening Date: 03/18/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


The Position
The City of Del Mar is recruiting for a seasoned Principal Planner assigned to the Current Planning Division of the Planning and Community Development Department. The Planning Department is responsible for managing land use, processing development applications, and ensuring compliance with local zoning and design ordinances, the General Plan, the Local Coastal Program, and environmental regulations (CEQA).


The ideal candidate will be a seasoned professional with desire to lead complex and sensitive planning projects and experience in many aspects of municipal planning, preferably in a coastal community. This position oversees day-to-day operations of the Current Planning Division, including interpreting provisions of the City's municipal code, administering the design review process, managing complex and controversial development projects, overseeing customer service delivery, and supervising several employees. See the position flyer:

About the Recruitment
The position is open until the needs of the City are met, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately and must submit an application and supplemental questionnaire. The first review of applications will begin on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 8:00 a.m.

Summary
Under general direction from the Planning/Community Development Director, manages, coordinates and directs the City's major planning efforts, from current planning to long-range projects; assists the department Director in organizing, integrating and administering the department's operations and service delivery; supervises professional and technical departmental staff; and performs related work as assigned.

The Essential Duties


The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the class.


The following general duties are performed by the Principal Planner classification regardless of assignment to Long-Range Planning or Current Planning:

• Plans, organizes, directs and evaluates the work of assigned Planning Division's staff; develops, implements and tracks work plans to achieve planning/community development objectives; contributes to budget development and monitors operational and program performance against the budget; participates in the development and implementation of schedules, work processes, systems and procedures to achieve the department's annual goals.
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; subject to management concurrence, administers disciplinary action to address performance deficiencies in accordance with the City's personnel rules and policies.
• Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high-performance public service-oriented work environment that supports achieving the Department's and the City's mission.
• Reviews environmental technical and federal studies and evaluates findings with consultants, internal departments, and public agencies Coordinates federal and state environmental review and permitting for City Capital Improvement Projects; advises other departments of environmental and permitting requirements and recommends a course of action; prepares environmental documents; coordinates public notice requirements; coordinates with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare appropriate clearances and to secure regulatory permits; coordinates public information workshops; participates in contractor preconstruction meetings to brief contractors on environmental requirements.
• Interprets provisions of the City's municipal code and associated state and federal regulations for staff, City boards, developers and the public; researches and responds to officials' requests for information.
• Ensures the maintenance of appropriate planning records, maps and files.
• Keeps informed of current trends in the planning field, including legislation, court rulings, and professional practices and techniques; evaluates their impact on City operations and recommends any needed policy and procedural improvements.
• May assume the responsibilities of the department head in the Director's absence and, as assigned, represent the City at regional meetings and when working with outside agencies.
• Personally manages complex, highly visible, sensitive and/or controversial projects, including meeting with developers, architects, engineers; preparation and review of agenda reports for the City Council, Planning Commission; reviews and authorizes Notices of Decision and Notices of Exemptions for development projects; administers various capital improvement plan projects; analyzes planning issues and determines project priorities/schedules; manages project resources to completion.

In addition to the general duties listed above, the Principal Planner assigned to Current Planning will be responsible for the following:

• Oversees Planning and Community Development Department customer service including public counter operations and resolving complex citizen complaints and requests regarding current planning activities.
• Administers the City's design review process and prepares agenda reports on development applications received.
• Prepares for and manages input for Design Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council meetings; serves as a professional/technical resource to these bodies; prepares and makes oral presentations to decision-makers and the public.

In addition to the general duties listed above, the Principal Planner assigned to Long-Range Planning will be responsible for the following:

• Maintains and updates Community Plan elements as required; drafts and processes various municipal code amendments.
• Prepares ordinance language and associated exhibits for the Del Mar Local Coastal Program (LCP); administers grant reimbursement requests related to the program; presents and defends LCP at public hearings before local officials and the California Coastal Commission.
• Ensures a high level of customers service to the public and internal customers related to the City's long-range planning activities and policies.
• Conducts research and compiles, analyzes, and evaluates information related to planning studies, such as demographic, economic, social, environmental, land use and housing data.
• Prepares for and manages input for Planning Commission, City Council meetings, and advisory committee meetings; serves as a professional/technical resource to these bodies; prepares and makes oral presentations to decision-makers and the public.

The Desired Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Theories, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information sources and trends in the fields of current and long-range planning and community development;
• Supervisory principles and practices, including budgeting, goal development, personnel management and work planning/ organization.
• Application, modification and interrelationships among codes, ordinances, policies, standards, practices and laws associated with the City planning function in a California coastal community;
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and codes including state land use planning and housing laws, general plan, zoning, and land divisions; National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
• Land use, physical structure design, demographic, environmental, social/economic concepts and code enforcement as applied to municipal planning in a California coastal community;
• Statistical analysis techniques and research methodologies related to municipal planning;
• Terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in planning and the preparation of planning exhibits, documents and recommendations;
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications used for managing planning and building permit application processes.
• California Coastal Act is highly desirable.

Ability to:

• Independently perform responsible and highly complex current and long-range planning, environmental planning, housing, and capital improvement assignments.
• Plan, organize, assign and evaluate the work of department professional, technical and administrative staff and do so to meet changing priorities and deadlines;
• Prepare clear, concise and complete highly technical planning documents, agenda reports and correspondence on routine to very complex issues;
• Conduct planning analyses and make accurate recommendations;
• Interpret, explain and apply complex land use laws, codes, regulations and procedures; analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with zoning ordinance standards, planning and environmental regulations, general planning principles, Community (General) Plan, policies, and architectural quality.
• Perform and manage technical current and advance planning activities;
• Exercise sound independent judgment within City and department guidelines;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered in the course of the work.
• Represent the City effectively in a wide variety of meetings and forums. Staff and manage assigned Planning Commission and Design Review Board meetings.
• Provide a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, City officials, and City staff.

Training and Experience:
A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, public administration, environmental studies, architecture or a closely related field; and at least six years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning/community development, including significant project management and supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.


An advanced degree in planning is desirable as is prior planning experience in a California coastal municipality.

Supplemental Information

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

• A valid Class C California driver's license is required.
• Professional certification, or membership in the American Planning Association (APA) and/or American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is highly desired but not required.
• Coastal planning experience is highly desired but not required.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL 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 class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Hearing in the normal audio range with or without correction is required by this job.
Mental Demands:
While performing the duties of this class, the incumbent is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve complex problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions; and interact with officials and the public.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee works under typical office conditions; the noise level is usually quiet. Incumbents may be required to conduct site visits and field inspections and travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.
In addition to the benefits listed above, please refer to the
Please email for a readable PDF Benefits Sheet.
01


This supplemental questionnaire must be completed in order to be considered for the Principal Planner position. The purpose of this questionnaire is to obtain additional information that will assist in the evaluation of training and experience. Please note, entering "See Resume/Application" does not qualify as an acceptable response. I understand and I certify that my answers to the below questions are complete, factual, and truthful to the best of my knowledge.

• Yes
• No

02


How many years of related work experience do you have?

• No experience
• 1-3 year of experience
• 4-5 years of experience
• 6-8 years of experience
• 8+ years of experience

03


What is your highest level of education achieved?

• No high school degree
• High school degree or GED
• Bachelor's Degree
• Some college
• Master's Degree or higher
• Trade of vocation School

04


Please list some of the major planning projects you have worked and personally managed? If you do not possess this experience, please indicate "N/A".
05


Please describe your experience managing and supervising professional and technical staff. Please include number of years in the role and how many staff members you managed. If you do not possess this experience, please indicate "N/A".
06


Do you currently possess a valid AICP or APA Certificate?

• Yes
• No

07


Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question