Assistant/Associate Planner

Salary : $78,130.00 - $123,487.00 Annually
Location : Rocklin City Hall, CA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-00026
Department: Community Development
Division: Planning
Opening Date: 06/29/2026
Closing Date: 7/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Description
Assistant Planner: $78,130 - $106,483

Associate Planner: $90,606 - $123,487
The City of Rocklin is seeking a motivated Assistant/Associate Planner to join our Planning Division. We're looking for a customer-focused professional with strong analytical, technical, and communication skills who enjoys solving problems and working collaboratively with the public, developers, and colleagues. This position offers the opportunity to work on a variety of current planning projects while helping guide responsible growth in one of the region's most dynamic communities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
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.

• Reviews commercial, industrial and residential development proposals, plans, and applications for issuance of zoning clearance; reviews for compliance with appropriate regulations and policies.
• Inspects properties and structures for compliance with current City zoning codes and regulations; identifies corrective actions to be taken by owners; recommends improvement and rehabilitation programs; conducts follow-up inspections and rechecks as required.
• Serves as project manager for routine application projects, including analyzing and evaluating site and architectural plans, performing technical review and making recommendations, ensuring plans and applications receive appropriate signatures, coordinating in-house review with contractors, administering contracts and giving approval for payment on projects.
• Processes permit applications and calculates appropriate fees.
• Compiles information for a variety of studies and reports; researches, analyzes, and interprets social, economic, population and land use data and trends; develops recommendations and prepares written reports on various planning matters and elements of the City's General Plan.
• Assists with the implementation and administration of the City's General Plan and development regulations.
• Researches, collects, records, analyzes, interprets, and summarizes statistical and demographic information; prepares spreadsheets and establishes and maintains a comprehensive database.
• Assists in preparing staff reports for the Planning Commission, City Council, various committees and advisory boards as directed; prepares research, reports, maps, and conducts briefings.
• Confers with and advises architects, builders, attorneys, contractors, engineers, and the general public regarding City development policies and standards; provides and clarifies information relative to zoning, general plan compliance, signage, and other issues.
• Conducts studies and needs assessments for the development of programs to address significant development issues.
• Researches and drafts ordinances for review.
• Participates in coordinating City planning and development related activities with other City departments and with outside agencies.
• Answers questions and provides information to the public; investigates complaints and recommends corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints concerning the City's planning function.
• Conducts field review as necessary to assess all pertinent issues of the assigned project.
• Maintains accurate records and files.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of :

• Researching and reporting methods, techniques and procedures.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning and zoning.
• Modern office methods, procedures, and equipment, including computer hardware and applications necessary for graphic presentation, mapping, and database management, such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, GIS and various Adobe software.
• Project management techniques.
• Practices of researching planning issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations and with property owners, developers, contractors and the public.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Associate Planner, in addition to the above:

• Principles, practices and procedures related to city and regional planning, development and zoning administration.
• Geographic, socio-economic, transportation, political and other elements related to city planning.
• Comprehensive plans and current planning processes and the development process.
• Site planning and architectural design principles.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations, as well as Community Development Block Grant and Housing Rehabilitation Program rules and requirements and related reports.

Ability to:

• Conducting routine research projects, evaluating alternatives, and making sound recommendations.
• Preparing clear and concise technical and staff reports, correspondence, policies, procedures and other written materials.
• Learning current literature, information sources, and research techniques in the field of urban planning.
• Preparing accurate display maps, plans, charts and tables.
• Effectively representing the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations and individuals.
• Analyzing and compiling technical and statistical information and preparing reports.
• Making sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Operating modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs.
• Using English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone and in writing.
• Using tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Associate Planner, in addition to the above:

• Interpreting planning and zoning programs to the general public.
• Reading plans and specifications and making effective site visits.
• Identifying and responding to public, Planning Commission and City Council issues and concerns.
• Interpreting, applying and explaining complex laws, codes, regulations and ordinances.
• Analyzing site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities and other urban services.
• Enforcing ordinances and regulations effectively and tactfully.
• Making effective public presentations.

Education and Experience
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Assistant and Associate Planner
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, community development, business or public administration or a related field.

Possession of a Master's degree in either city planning or public administration with emphasis in city planning is highly desirable.


Assistant Planner
No directly related professional experience is required but related internship experience is desirable.

Associate Planner
Two (2) years of professional experience in planning, zoning and related community development activities, equivalent to the Assistant Planner at the City of Rocklin.


License Requirement

• A valid California Class C driver license or higher with a satisfactory driving record is required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

• While always welcome, a resume will not be accepted in lieu of an official City application. The application must be completed in its entirety (including any supplemental questions).

• All required documents must be attached to the application; missing documents may be submitted until the final filing date. Human Resources will not accept documents after the final filing date . For college education to be considered, the degree or transcripts must be attached to the application.

• Applicants will be screened against the minimum qualifications and then the desired qualifications. Those who qualify may be further screened to identify the best-qualified candidates.
• The City of Rocklin reserves the right to close this recruitment without prior notice.

• Please note, if you are a CalPERS Retired Annuitant, this position is not a retired annuitant eligible position. If you are a retired annuitant considering applying, you must reinstate from retirement (i.e., termination of CalPERS retirement and enrollment as an active employee) to be hired into this position.

The City of Rocklin is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
To view the benefits for this position, visit our benefits page at:
01


Do you have equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, community development, business or public administration or a related field? If yes, attach your transcripts or degree to your application. Failure to do so may result in your application being disqualified.

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have two (2) years of professional experience in planning, zoning and related community development activities, equivalent to the Assistant Planner at the City of Rocklin?

• Yes
• No

03


Briefly describe your professional experience in planning, zoning, and any related community development duties you have performed. Include the name(s) of the employers where you gained this experience. If you do not have experience in these areas, please type N/A.
Required Question