Planner I/II/III

Salary : $69,347.20 - $114,732.80 Annually
Location : San Luis Obispo, CA
Job Type: Permanent - Hourly
Job Number: 0726PM-0022801-01
Department: Planning & Building
Division: Planning & Building Administration
Opening Date: 07/15/2026
Closing Date: 7/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


About the Position
The Department of Planning & Building is actively recruiting for a Planner to join our team!
Planner I is part of a career series for Planner I, II III and Senior Planner. Classes in this series perform a variety of tasks in support of programs assigned to the Department of Planning and Building or General Services Agency including: community planning, development review, environmental review, energy and natural resources management, airport planning, park planning, housing and economic development and other related work as required.
Distinguishing Characteristics

The Planner I classification is the entry level position in the series. Under supervision, learns departmental procedures, policies and regulations; independently performs routine tasks after demonstrating proficiency; develops skills and supports department programs by assisting other Planners with more complex tasks and projects as assigned.


The Planner II classification is the journey worker level in the series. Under general supervision, does professional planning and environmental work in all program areas, including long range planning, current planning, and housing and economic development. Planner II is expected to perform complex Planner assignments in a majority of program areas.


The Planner III classification is the full range journey worker level in the series. Under general supervision, conducts and processes the full range of discretionary land use permit and land division applications, including environmental reviews up to and including the preparation or review of an Environmental Impact Report; may review work of other staff; may train staff as assigned; acts as leadworker when assigned. Planner III is expected to perform the full range of complex Planner assignments in all program areas.

Anticipated Salary range for this position is Step 1-3 of each level of the series, depending on qualifications.
Click Here for full job description Planner I


Click here for full job description of Planner II.

Click here for full job description of Planner III

The Ideal Candidate
Education and Experience
All levels: Graduation from an accredited institution with either a Bachelor's or Master's degree in urban and regional planning, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, natural resources management, environmental, physical or life science, or a closely related field. (Para-professional or higher-level job-related experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)
In addition:

Planner I: No additional experience required.

Planner II: One year of professional level experience in urban and regional planning or environmental review and analysis.

Planner III: Two years of professional level experience in urban and regional planning or environmental review and analysis.

Licenses and Certificates

Certain positions within this classification may require driving. When driving is an essential function of the position, a valid CALIFORNIA driver license will be required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
Special Subclass Recruitment:
Recruitment for the positions in this series may be conducted according to the special requirements for each position. Requirements may be broadened to include experience more specific to the particular vacancy.
This class specification generally describes the duties and responsibilities characteristic of the position(s) within this class. The duties of a particular position within a multi-position class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class. Accordingly, the essential duties of a particular position (whether it be a multi-position class or a single-position class) will be identified and used by medical examiners and hiring authorities in the selection process. This information will also be made available for review at the time of any recruitment for that position and at such other times as reasonably required.

How to Apply
Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. To apply for this position, click "apply" at the top of this page. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.
An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.


Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process. The job includes duties and responsibilities that require frequent, regular attendance at our San Luis Obispo County office.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at Confidential inquiries are welcomed.


For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at .
Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance or e-mail View email address on click.appcast.io for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.
Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail .

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated .

Some benefits include:

- Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
- Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
- Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
- Free visits to the employee health clinic
- Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
- Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
- A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
- Optional deferred compensation plan
- Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
- Paid personal, sick and vacation days
- 12 paid holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Education and Wellness Allowance
- Post Employment Health Plan
- Family Friendly workplace policies
- Flexible work schedule options
-Rideshare commuter benefits
- Pet Insurance
The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.


Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or 'cafeteria' contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.


To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria),


Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.


Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

- Emotional Intelligence
- Supervisor/Manager academies
- Microsoft Suite courses
- Defensive Driving
- Financial management
- Retirement preparedness
- Teambuilding
- Written Communication
- Conflict Management
- Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
- Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.


Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the "Assist-to-Own" program sponsored by to get a loan for the down payment.
01


A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes: Graduation from an accredited institution with either a Bachelor's or Master's degree in urban and regional planning, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, natural resources management, environmental, physical or life science, or a closely related field. Please confirm you meet this requirement.

• Yes
• No

02


Please indicate what level experince matches yours most similarly:

• One year of professional level experience in urban and regional planning or environmental review and analysis.
• Two years of professional level experience in urban and regional planning or environmental review and analysis.

Required Question