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Planning Bureau Manager
City of Long Beach, Department of Development Services / City of Long Beach
Posted on: May 23, 2022
Application Deadline: 06/10/22 11:59 PM
Job Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Planning Bureau Manager is an at-will management position that reports to the Deputy Director of Development Services and directly supervises the divisions of Advance Planning and Current Planning. In addition to this leadership role, general responsibilities include ensuring the physical development of the city is in the best interests of the public, resolving controversial planning issues through technical analysis and negotiation, preparing and monitoring the Bureau’s annual work program and budget, providing accurate information on city growth and change to the City Council, recommending policy and plans for the physical development of the city, and serving as the lead staff support to the City Planning Commission, and will be expected to provide a high level of communication and collaborate on with the Deputy Director regarding Bureau operations and initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess proven management and leadership skills to direct and guide the Bureau’s talented staff in identify opportunities for efficiencies in processes and procedures and ensuring thorough, timely, consistent, and equitable throughout the development process, thereby enhancing customer service.
THE COMMUNITY
Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles and just west of Orange County, Long Beach is the seventh-largest city in the State of California. Offering all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city, coupled with its strong sense of community and pride, Long Beach is one of the most vibrant communities in the country. The City has been referred to as the “Most Diverse City” in the country by USA Today and one of the “Best Communities for Young People” two years in a row. With its ideal location in Southern California, year-round comfortable climate, healthy business environment, and far-ranging cultural pursuits, the City is alive with activity. Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. Expansive beaches, three marinas, five golf courses, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, and the annual Grand Prix of Long Beach serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City’s full-service commercial airport has preferred flight schedules, carriers, and overall accessibility that makes it the travel-friendly alternative to other Southern California airports. In addition, Los Angeles’ rail transit system, the most used light rail system in the country, connects the city to the entire region. Long Beach continues to make significant investments in its parks, beaches, streets, and other amenities (including a new city hall) indicative of the financial stability and health of the City.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach is a full-service Charter City governed by nine City Council members who are elected by district and a Mayor that is elected at-large. Elected officials also include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The Council Members and the Mayor are subject to a three-term limit, which allows them to serve for a maximum of twelve years. The City Council appoints a City Manager and a City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board, or Commission. The City of Long Beach provides all traditional public services. In addition to its traditional services, the City also maintains one of the world’s busiest seaports, which serves as a leading gateway for international trade. Long Beach also has its own full-service commercial airport and is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department. Long Beach is supported by a total FY 2021 budget of approximately $2.6 billion, with the General Fund budget totaling $543.6 million. More than 5,581 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by twelve employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to www.longbeach.gov.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
The Department of Development Services has approximately 200 employees and includes Administrative & Financial Services, Building & Safety, Code Enforcement, Housing & Neighborhood Services, and Planning Bureaus. The overall goal of this department is to build a dynamic, safe, and sustainable city that honors its past and embraces the future.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
The Planning Bureau Manager will be cognizant of the opportunity to focus on long- range planning for the city while balancing workload demands from increases development.
The Planning Bureau Manager responsibilities include:
- Ensuring the physical development of the city is in the best interests of the public;
- Resolving controversial planning issues through technical analysis and negotiation;
- Preparing and monitoring the Bureau’s annual work program and budget;
- Providing accurate information on city growth and change to the City Council;
- Recommending policy and plans for the physical development of the city;
- Serving as the lead staff support to the City Planning Commission;
- Providing a high level of communication and collaboration with the Deputy Director regarding Bureau operations and initiatives.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The Salary will range between $155,000 – $170,000. Placement in the range will depend on
qualifications. The City’s compensation package also encompasses an attractive benefits package
that includes:
- Retirement – City offers CalPERS with a benefit of 2.5% @ 55 for Classic members or 2%at 62 for new members as defined by PEPRA, subject to the limitations set by PERS. Employee pays the employee portion. The City also participates in Social Security.
- Vacation – Twelve (12) days after one year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19.5 years of service.
- Executive Leave – Forty (40) hours per year.
- Sick Leave – One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.
- Holidays – Twelve designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee’s discretion.
- Paid Parental Leave – City pays up to 30 days consecutive days for eligible employees to take paid time to bond with child upon birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
- Monthly Auto Allowance
- Health and Dental Insurance – The City offers an HMO and PPO option for health and dental insurance coverage. The City pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/dental plan selected.
- Life Insurance – City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.
- Disability – City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
- Flexible Spending Account – Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.
- Management Physical – Annual City-paid physical examination.
- Deferred Compensation 457(b) Plan – Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available and the city will match up to 1% (2% effective September 30, 2022).
- Health Advocate – No cost confidential one-on-one service that provides answers to any healthcare issue.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – City paid service that provides advice or assistance with a serious concern.
Required Experience / Skills / Education
EDUCATION:
- Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Geography, Demography, Sociology, or a closely-related field. Supervisory experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-to-year basis.
EXPERIENCE:
- Seven years of progressively responsible experiencing supervising employees in the preparation of land use and zoning documents, environmental review, public outreach and stakeholder engagement or other closely related duties. This experience should include extensive experience presenting before boards and commissions, city council and the public.
- Membership with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
- A Master’s degree in a planning related field.
SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE DESCRIBED AS:
- An ethical leader.
- An excellent communicator who explains difficult technical information in a clear, concise simple language for internal and external stakeholders and decision-makers.
- A team player who encourages cooperation and cohesion within the Bureau.
- A firm, but fair manager who sets expectations, delegates and ensures accountability.
- A balanced decision maker, who is able to listen to all sides of an issue, makes a decision, and sets the course.
- A consensus builder who cultivates strong working relationships with other Department Bureaus, other City departments including the Public Works Department, Economic Development and others, and also the Planning Commission.
- Being politically sensitive and astute.
- A mentor skilled in succession planning and staff development.
- Having management and leadership skills to direct and guide the Bureau’s talented staff in identifying opportunities for efficiencies in processes and procedures and ensuring thorough, timely, consistent, and equitable throughout the development process, thereby enhancing customer service.
- Being forward thinking as it relates to process an zoning reform, online electronic plan check and permit issuance and take a progressive approach to supporting new business and housing opportunities while maintaining and preserving neighborhoods
- Having excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Having knowledge of the general principles of all aspects of planning, including zoning, CEQA, historic preservation, advance planning, and special studies.
- Having experience or a strong familiarity with coastal zoning and working with the Coastal Commission, updating general plan elements, updating zoning code and specific plans, and working in a fast-paced environment with active stakeholder groups.
Application Instructions
Interested candidates must apply online at www.longbeach.gov/jobs with your cover letter and resume as PDF attachments. This recruitment will close on Friday, June 10, 2022 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. Applications that do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered.
The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.