ASSISTANT / ASSOCIATE PLANNER

Job Title: Assistant Planner

The City of Riverside's is looking for a dynamic individual to join their team to fill one (1) vacancy in the Planning Division of the Community and Economic Development Department. The eligibility list established may be used to fill the current and/or upcoming vacancies within this classification for up to six (6) months. The Community & Economic Development Department is seeking the best and brightest planning professionals to join their Advance Planning, Current Planning, Historic Preservation, and Public Information teams committed to building a world-class City. The work environment is team-oriented, fast-paced, challenging, rewarding, and fun. The City values innovation, initiative, customer service, collaboration and community engagement. An ideal candidate has experience in case review and evaluation, working with applicants, writing staff reports and is comfortable with providing the public with information.

Assistant Planner ($5,553.00 - $7,444.00 Monthly) This is the entry level professional classification in the Planning Series. Assistant Planner performs semi-professional level work in the field of urban planning. Typical work responsibilities include case writing, analysis, and public information, requiring the application of fundamental planning principles.

Work Performed

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

• Provide customer service to the general public by providing information on Zoning and General Plan matters and development related case processing information;
• Perform office support relating to planning and permitting.
• Research, analyze and interpret social, economic, population and land use data and trends;
• Prepare written and graphic reports, for moderate to complex projects, and make recommendations on special studies pertaining to land use, zoning, housing, environmental and other planning matters;
• Research and draft ordinances for review with supervisor;
• Meet, communicate, and engage with property owners/applicants to answer questions related to their property and applications;
• Review re-zoning, variances, conditional use permits, design review, and other similar planning related applications;
• Prepare reports on planning applications and make recommendations on development permits;
• Review buildings plans, parcel maps, and subdivision proposals for compliance with appropriate regulations;
• Conduct field evaluations and assessments and provide feedback and information clarification;
• Prepare legal notices for public hearings;
• Prepare, compile, organize, and present reports and recommendations, with supervisor input, to the Development Review Committee, Planning Commission, and City Council;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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

• Provide customer service to the general public by providing information on Zoning and General Plan matters and development related case processing information;
• Perform office support tasks relating to planning and permitting;
• Research, analyze and interpret complex social, economic, population and land use data and trends;
• Research and prepare new policies and processes to implement as part of Planning applications;
• Prepare written and graphic reports, for complex projects, and make recommendation on special studies pertaining to land use, zoning, housing, environmental and other planning matters;
• Research and draft ordinances for review with supervisor;
• Meet, communicate, and engage with property owners/applicants to answer questions related to their property and applications;
• Review General Plan Amendments, Specific Plan Amendments, re-zoning, variances, conditional use permits, design review, and other similar planning related applications;
• Prepare reports on complex planning applications and make recommendations on development permits;
• Prepare draft documents and required public notices, reports, and memos related to CEQA.
• Review buildings plans, parcel maps, and subdivision proposals for compliance with appropriate regulations;
• Conduct field evaluations and assessments and provide feedback and information clarification;
• Prepare legal notices to public hearings;
• Prepare, compile, organize, and present reports and recommendations for complex projects, with supervisor input, to the Development Review Committee, Planning Commission and City Council;
• Provide general guidance, training, and direction for Assistant Planner, Planning Technicians, and other administrative planning support staff;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Assistant Planner: Education: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning or a related field. Experience: One year of experience in a professional planning environment.

Associate Planner: Education: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Planning or a closely related field. Experience: Two years of experience in a professional planning environment.

Highly Desired Qualifications:

• Experience managing City/Municipal (Current, Advanced, Historic Preservation) projects.
• Working knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act.
• Experience in conveying Historic Preservation related information to the public.
• Experience applying the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Selection Process

Documents Required at the Time of Application:

• Completed Employment Application
• Completed Supplemental Questionnaire

For directions on attaching a document to an on-line application, or general information on completing your on-line application, click here: (Application Guide).

Important information on scheduling assessments:

If you are selected to move forward in the assessment process, you may be required to self-schedule your appointment. You will be notified via email of your status and provided with self-scheduling instructions. Please check your email regularly following the closing date of this recruitment.

The selection process will begin with an employment application package screening, with the best qualified candidates being invited to participate further in the assessment process. This process may include any combination of written, performance, and oral assessments to evaluate job-related education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Those who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on the eligibility list for this classification.

Positions that require, or may require, a California Commercial Driver's License are considered Safety Sensitive and are monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Any candidate being considered for a Safety Sensitive position must submit authorization forms to the City immediately upon request to begin the pre-employment process.

It is the responsibility of candidates with a disability requiring accommodation in the assessment process to contact the Human Resources Department in writing to request such accommodation prior to the closing date of this recruitment.

Appointment may be subject to the successful completion of a pre-employment background investigation, drug screen, and/or medical/physical examination.

Note: The City reserves the right to modify selection devices and test instruments in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, and professional standards. Candidates may reapply when there is a posting to establish an eligibility list.

Educational Requirements:

Proof of education listed in your application will be requested at the time of conditional offer. Acceptable documentation consists of transcripts or degree, if applicable, by the accredited U.S. college or university.

Education obtained outside the United States (US) require one of the following options:

1. An equivalency statement from an evaluation company certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators Inc. (AICE).
2. An advanced-level degree from an accredited US college or university.

All applicants will be notified via e-mail or telephone of their application status and the assessment dates/times/locations after the closing date of this announcement.

The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.