Associate Planner

Salary : $67,496.00 - $104,436.80 Annually
Location : Wildomar - City Hall, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-08
Department: Community Development
Division: Planning
Opening Date: 07/09/2026
Closing Date: 8/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt


Description
Associate Planner

Anticipated Pay Range - $44.57 - $48.00/Hourly

Salary offerings are based on the City's Pay Plan and the applicant's experience and qualifications.
The City of Wildomar is currently recruiting for an Associate Planner to join the Planning Division within our Community Development Department. As the City continues to grow; we are seeking an individual who is motivated and ready to support the City's development and contribute to projects that shape Wildomar's future.
The City provides great health benefits and a welcoming work environment! The City of Wildomar offers a 4/10 work schedule, generous annual leave and participates in the CalPERS Pension Retirement System, new members benefit from a 2% @62 retirement formula, and classic members have a 2.7%@55 retirement formula, with the City paying 100% of the employee contribution rate!
Applications are accepted through Sunday, August 2, 2026. Apply today!
DEFINITION

Under general supervision, performs a variety of duties related to the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of technical land use, environmental, zoning and other City planning data; provides land use and zoning information as part of the city's zoning counter efforts, and assistance on planning-related matters to the general public and other City staff; ensures compliance with the City's development standards; and performs related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

• Associate Planner: This is the journey level class in the Planner series. Incumbents at this level require demonstrated ability to perform a variety of responsible and increasingly complex professional planning tasks and duties with greater independence of direction and judgment; the Associate Planner is further distinguished from the Assistant Planner by the level of skill required, the complexity of assigned projects, and greater amount of time focused on planning projects as opposed to time spent working at the City's planning counter. Employees at this level receive general instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and they are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Principal Planner, Planning Manager, or Department Director, as assigned.

Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS STATEMENT -

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collects, records, and summarizes statistical and demographic information; establishes and maintains a comprehensive database.
• Participates in the research, analysis, and interpretation of social, economic, population and land use data and trends.
• Interprets the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance as it relates to project compliance with City plans, ordinances, and codes.
• Plan checks sign proposals, reviews business registrations, and other permit applications.
• Assists in reviewing development proposals and other requests made to the Planning Division for conformance with appropriate general plan and zoning regulations.
• Reviews and approves or denies plan checks for building projects.
• Compiles information and makes recommendations on special studies; prepares technical reports.
• Makes presentations to the City Council, Planning Commission and Planning Director, standing and ad hoc committees, developers, community groups, and outside agencies.
• Observes and complies with City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols. Reviews development proposals, applications, and other requests made to the Planning Department for conformance with appropriate zoning regulations; prepares reports and make recommendations.
• Checks commercial, industrial, and residential development plans for zoning clearance, processes zoning clearances, temporary use, sign and other permit applications.
• Advises and confer with architects, builders, attorneys, contractors, engineers, and the general public regarding City development policies, standards, guidelines, and current and approved projects.
• Performs inspections and related field work.
• Takes phone calls and inquiries from the public and other agencies; provides assistance to walk in customers at the counter.
• Prepares staff reports and resolutions related to development projects and graphic displays.
• Research and draft ordinances for review.
• Attends a variety of meetings, including City Council and Planning Commission meetings and predevelopment meetings.
• Interprets the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance as it relates to project compliance with City plans, ordinances, and codes.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of municipal planning; incorporates new developments as appropriate into programs.
• Performs environmental assessments, providing detailed written comments on negative declarations, mitigated negative declarations, environmental impact reports and special studies performed by outside consultants.
• Observes and complies with City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, methods, and procedures of urban and regional planning.
• Applicable local, State and Federal laws, regulations, codes and ordinances related to planning, zoning and environmental analysis.
• The relationship and responsibilities of Federal, State, regional and local government agencies in the planning and regulation of land.
• Research and investigation procedures.
• Drafting and graphic presentations.
• Statistical and research methods as applied to the collection, analysis and presentation of planning data.
• Methods and techniques for record keeping and report preparation and writing.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Operations and organizational structure of municipal government.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Principles and practices of filing and record keeping.
• Methods and techniques of public relations and customer service.
• Safe and efficient work practices as they relate to code enforcement.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

Ability to:

• Perform technical research and give reliable advice on planning problems.
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy with the public.
• Work well with people and handle a public counter and telephones of a public agency in a calm, self-assured, and confident manner.
• Use knowledge and experience to work with architects, engineers, contractors, real estate brokers, appraisers, and the public to solve problems and achieve cooperative relationships.
• Read maps and learn the City's geography.
• Maintain and follow department policies and procedures.
• Prepare reports and graphic presentations.
• Interpret and explain laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions.
• Prepare and interpret maps, site and building plans, specifications, charts and tables.
• Learn applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• Analyze, interpret, and compile technical and statistical information; and prepare reports.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Provide excellent customer service to all members of the public as well as City and other public agency personnel.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and inwriting.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Deliver quality customer service.
• Work independently and as a team member.
• Ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures.

Experience and Training Guidelines

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

• Experience : A minimum of two (2) years of responsible professional municipal or county planning experience.
• Training : Equivalent to the completion of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, geography, engineering, architecture, public administration or a related field.
• Licenses and Certifications: Possession of a State of California driver's license and or the ability to make reasonable and timely transportation accommodation(s) as needed.
• Special Requirements: Employees in these classes may be required to work varying shifts and extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Supplemental Information
WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics and physical/mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Environmental Conditions: Employees in this class generally work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with staff and/or the public and private representatives in various settings including the field or remote offices for meetings. The incumbent will be exposed to outdoor environmental elements on a limited basis with exposure to varying temperatures, moderate exterior noise levels including traffic, and may have limited exposure to dust and fumes.
Physical Demands: Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting including use of standard office equipment, including a computer; and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various City sites. Color vision is required to read printed materials and a computer screen. Hearing and speech is required to communicate in person and over the telephone. Touch is required in order to handle documents and use a computer. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time. Positions in this classification regularly bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 20 pounds.
Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information, and documents; analyzes and solves problems; observes and interprets people, and situations; learns and applies new information and skills; performs detailed work; deals with changing priorities, interruptions, and multiple concurrent tasks; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work.
The City of Wildomar provides a robust benefits package to all of its full-time staff, including a generous health allotment for medical, dental and vision coverage, as well as participation in the CalPERS retirement system. Please review the City's benefit summary for more information.
01


Please note: The following questions are designed to help us better understand your experience and qualifications as they relate to the position. All responses will be carefully reviewed.

• I understand.

02


Describe your experience, including dates and employer, for each of the following: Current Planning, Advanced Planning, Strategic Initiatives, Environmental (CEQA), and Project Management.PLEASE NOTE: This experience must be included in the work experience section of your application in order to be considered.
03


Describe your experience in leading and managing comprehensive development projects within a public agency setting, particularly in California. Please include with which employer you gained this experience. PLEASE NOTE: This experience must be included in the work experience section of your application in order to be considered.
04


Provide at least one example of a creative solution you used or implemented for a development project to resolve a challenge and explain the outcome.
Required Question