Principal Planner

Principal Planner

The City of Poway is recruiting for a Principal Planner to lead complex current, long-range, and environmental planning initiatives, while supervising staff, managing major development proposals, coordinating consultant contracts, and implementing the City's General Plan, zoning ordinances, and Habitat Conservation Plan. This role works closely with developers, engineers, architects, partner agencies, and the public; prepares and presents staff reports; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations; improves departmental processes; and supports budgeting, policy development, and staff training. Key qualifications include strong knowledge of zoning, land use, CEQA, municipal planning, and project management; the ability to analyze and interpret complex plans and regulations; excellent communication and presentation skills; and the capacity to lead teams, manage multiple projects, and build effective working relationships. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, drive innovative planning solutions, and help guide a thriving community, we encourage you to apply!

Key Responsibilities

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of assigned staff; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems, assigns work activities, projects and programs; monitors work flow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures.
• Assumes management responsibility for some City planning functions and activities, which may include current, long-range, and/or environmental planning activities.
• Provides assistance to Planning and Code Compliance staff, including reviewing plans, establishing project recommendations, discussing Code interpretations and resolving Code Compliance cases.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; recommends, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Participates in the selection, training, motivation, and evaluation of assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees on performance issues in coordination with Human Resources; effectively recommends initial disciplinary action.
• Participates in the development and administration of the assigned division's annual budget
• Assists in the administration and implementation of the City's General Plan and zoning ordinances, including providing staff direction regarding department policy interpretation and conducting meetings with the public regarding related issues.
• Participates in advanced-level land use and planning activities, including analyzing and reviewing complex development proposals; negotiates and manages consultant contracts for planning projects as well as development agreements.
• Provides project management for complex planning studies; analyzes site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services for all planning applications; performs field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process; ensures compliance with federal, state, local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Implements and administers the City's Habitat Conservation Plan, including preserving large corridors of lands to protect wildlife, setting limitations on how much, if any, of this land can be used for developments, establishing the grading and clearing criteria for these lands, and preparing the annual regulatory reporting.
• Confers with engineers, developers, architects, and a variety of agencies and the general public in acquiring information and coordination of planning, zoning, subdivision, building, environmental, and related matters; provides information regarding City development.
• Provides technical information and instruction regarding applicable procedures and methods; interprets and explains rules, regulations and procedures; answers questions and resolves concerns.
• Serves as a liaison for the Development Services Department with other City departments, divisions, and outside agencies; attends meetings, as necessary; provides staff support to commissions, committees and task forces, as necessary; negotiates and resolves significant and controversial issues.
• Provides highly complex staff assistance to the City Planner; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to planning programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate.
• Prepares a variety of environment documents and reports; determines technical studies required for projects.
• Develops and reviews staff reports related to planning activities and services; presents information to the City Council and various commissions, committees and boards; performs a variety of public relations and outreach work related to assigned activities.
• Participates on a variety of boards, commissions, committees, and task forces; attends and participates in professional groups and committees; stays abreast of new trends and innovations.
• Receives, investigates, and responds to problems and complaints from citizens in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.
• Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement and reviews with the City Planner; directs the implementation of improvements.
• Assists in planning and coordinating the Development Services Department's work plan; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures.
• Oversees advanced-level land use and planning activities, including analyzing and reviewing complex development proposals; negotiates and manages consultant contracts for planning projects as well as development agreements.
• Provides project management for the most complex planning studies; analyzes site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services for all planning applications; ensures compliance with federal, state, local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Negotiates contracts and agreements; coordinates with City department representatives to determine City needs and requirements for contractual services.
• Participates on and makes presentations to a variety of boards and commissions; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of planning and other types of public services as they relate to the area of assignment.
• Maintains and directs the maintenance of working and official departmental files.
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect City or departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.
• Responds to difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
• Maintains attendance and punctuality that is observant of scheduled hours on a regular basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements/License or Certificates Required

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Any combination of the following education and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this classification. Experience: Six years of increasingly responsible professional urban planning experience in local government including project management experience including two years of supervisory, management and/or administrative experience. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) experience is highly desirable. Education/Training: A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed California units = 120 semester/180 quarter) from an accredited educational institution with major coursework in urban planning, regional planning, environmental studies, architecture, or a related field. A Master's degree is desirable. Licenses and Certifications:

• A valid class C driver's license or the ability to arrange alternate and timely means of transportation in the performance of assigned duties.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is highly desirable.

Physical Demands Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to inspect City development sites, to operate a motor vehicle, and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally 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 weighing up to 25 pounds. Environmental Elements Employees work primarily in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees occasionally work outdoors. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.