Associate Planner

About the Community Development Department and Position The Planning Division plays a key role in shaping the future of our community. We guide both current and long‑range planning efforts by overseeing the administration of State, regional, and local land use laws. Our work includes stewarding the General Plan, the California Environmental Quality Act, the Subdivision Act, and the citywide Planning Regulations. Join us and help create a vibrant, well‑designed, and sustainable city for generations to come. Definition Under general direction of the Planning Manager, the Associate Planner performs professional City planning work involving the development, administration, and enforcement of the City’s plans and related laws and regulations, and guidelines, including the Planning Regulations, General Plan, California Environmental Quality Act and Subdivision Map Act. Incumbents conduct planning studies, collect and present data, and prepare reports; and perform related duties as assigned. The Associate Planner is the journey‑level class in the professional Planner series. Incumbents independently perform a full range of professional planning assignments with minimal supervision. The Associate Planner is distinguished from the Assistant Planner in that the latter is the entry‑level position whose work is performed under close supervision. The Associate Planner is further distinguished from the Senior Planner in that the latter is the specialist or lead level of the series, exercising a higher degree of independent judgment on diverse and specialized assignments with a greater degree of accountability and on‑going decision‑making. Plans and conducts research studies, and collects and analyzes data regarding current and long‑range planning issues such as land use, transportation, urban design, population, housing, economic development, and community service needs. Reviews, investigates, and processes applications for planning permits including conditional use permits, design review, variances, planned unit developments, re‑zoning, and subdivisions. Prepares staff reports to the Planning Commission and City Council concerning current planning applications and long‑range planning issues, with recommendations, findings, and conditions of approval. Makes oral presentations to the Planning Commission, City Council, other boards and committees, community groups, boards of other governmental agencies, and others. Conducts field investigations of current planning applications and long‑range planning issues. Conducts community meetings as needed. Prepares, reviews, and processes environmental documents under the California Environmental Quality Act, including Initial Studies, Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and Environmental Impact Reports. Prepares a variety of written communications, including analytical reports, correspondence, commentary, tabulations and summaries, and drafts of revisions to local ordinances, policies, and procedures. Prepares maps, graphs, charts, and other visual aids to illustrate planning studies and concepts; develops and prepares materials for pamphlets, brochures, and publications. Meets with and assists developers, property owners, community organizations, and other groups and individuals regarding planning concepts and the planning process, including application requirements, applicable zoning regulations, and other policies and standards, and conflict resolution. Provides staff support to various City boards and committees, including meeting scheduling, preparation of agendas and meeting materials, facilitating discussion, taking minutes, making presentations, and timely notification of appropriate parties. Prepares requests for proposals, participates in consultant selection, develops and reviews scopes of service, monitors and coordinates consultant activity. Uses computers and software programs for various technical planning projects and studies, including Word processing, spreadsheets, graphic design, and is familiar with data management and analysis applications. May instruct others in work procedures and may provide direction to others on a project basis. Performs related work as assigned. Education Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major work in city or regional planning, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, or a closely related field. Experience Two (2) years of professional planning experience at a level equivalent to that of an entry‑level Planner. Progressively responsible related experience may be substituted for the college coursework on a year‑for‑year basis, with a maximum of two years of substitution. Licenses and Certifications Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable. Knowledge and Abilities Knowledge of principles, standards, practices, procedures, information sources, and trends in the field of city planning; planning concepts such as land use, urban design, transportation, housing, demographics, environmental issues, social issues, economics, and real estate development; laws, ordinances and regulations governing planning in California, including the State Planning and Zoning Law, Subdivision Map Act, and California Environmental Quality Act; implementation of zoning, subdivision, environmental review, and other related municipal ordinances; mathematical concepts, including statistical analysis and techniques for gathering and analyzing data related to the planning process; graphics methods and techniques used in plan and map drafting; local government organization and the functions and practices of a municipal planning unit; methods and practices of community organization and citizen participation in planning activities. Ability to understand and apply those aspects of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures and standards pertaining to the planning process; interpret maps, site and building plans and specifications, graphs and statistical data, aerial photographs, and other graphic and technical information; prepare clear, concise and complete technical documents, reports, correspondence and other written materials; make clear and persuasive oral presentations of ideas and recommendations; research, analyze, summarize, and present technical statistical and related information pertaining to planning and zoning issues; prepare clear visual displays, such as maps, graphs, and illustrations; instruct others in work procedures and provide specific project direction; provide services to the public in a courteous and effective manner; use a personal computer effectively, including word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs, the Internet, e‑mail, and other relevant applications; understand and relate to others the concepts, aims and principles current and long‑range planning; exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Special Requirements Must be able to attend evening meetings and make site visits, as required. Supplemental Information Bargaining Unit: SEIU – Service Employees International Union Annual Hours: 1820 (35 hours per week) FLSA Status: Non‑Exempt Created: N/A Last Revised: May 2026 #J-18808-Ljbffr City of Emeryville