Comment are off
Jobs View
Advance Planning Officer
City of Long Beach / Long Beach, CA 90802
Posted on: October 12, 2022
Application Deadline: November 7, 2022 by 11:59 PM
Job Description
The City of Long Beach requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their first day of employment unless a medical or religious accommodation is approved by the City of Long Beach’s Human Resources Department for the duration of the vaccine mandate.
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 two-term limit, which allows them to serve for a maximum of eight 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 2022 budget of approximately $3 billion, with the General Fund budget totaling $625 million. More than 5,900 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by eleven 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.
THE POSITION
The Advance Planning Officer is an at-will management position that reports to the Planning Bureau Manager and is responsible for and oversees the operation of the Advance Planning Division by providing day-to-day direction to and supervision of the professional and support staff in the division. The successful candidate will be a highly organized professional who is experienced in environmental review, historic preservation, policy documents, general plans, specific plans, and familiar with planning and development review permit procedures and processes.
The Advance Planning Officer will:
- Be an expert in the link between zoning and housing production, housing policy and contemporary approaches to addressing the housing availability and affordability crisis.
- Represent the department in regional planning meetings with the Gateway Cities communities, liaise with Council offices on neighborhood and historic preservation issues.
- Analyze and interpret planning data and trends for special studies on various planning programs and elements of the General Plan.
- Provide professional recommendations and support to the City Council, Planning Commission, and City Management.
- Research and write grants, as well as manage grant funds for compliance.
- Oversee the General Plan and specific plans including preparing updates, amendments, annual monitoring, and implementation efforts.
- Oversee a number of advance planning programs such as implementation and update of the Local Coastal Program, maintaining demographic data, and coordinating community and neighborhood outreach efforts.
- Provide oversight and management of the environmental review process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This may include preparation of environmental documents for private or public applicants with the City as Lead Agency, reviewing CEQA documents from other jurisdictions and writing detailed comment letters.
- Act as staff liaison to the Cultural Heritage Commission and historic preservation community, including staffing meetings, overseeing preparation of all staff reports, and Certificates of Appropriateness, new landmarks and Mills Act contracts that are issued on behalf of the City.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Required Experience / Skills / Education
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Graduation from an accredited institution with a Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related field and five years of increasingly responsible municipal planning/community development and historic preservation experience including at least three years of experience supervising professional staff involved in planning and zoning activities.
- A valid Class C driver’s license and proof of auto insurance are required. Position may be called to work occasional evening meetings.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The professional attributes that best describe the new Advance Planning Officer:
- Excellent project management/technical skills
- Highly organized multi-tasker
- Strong time management skills
- Excellent written/verbal communication skills
- Data-driven analytical skills
- Consistently exercises good judgment
- Self-motivated and results oriented
- Direct communicator with superior interpersonal and public relation skills
- Collaborative and inclusive management style
- Dedicated to quality customer service
- Creative, strategic thinker
- Adaptive to change
- Ethical and integrity based
Highly Desirable:
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
Application Instructions
SALARY & BENEFITS
The Salary will range between $135,000 – $145,000. Placement in the range will depend on qualifications. The City’s compensation package also encompasses an attractive benefits package that includes:
- 9/80 work schedule and hybrid/telecommuting after an initial six-months of service
- Retirement – City offers CalPERS with a benefit of 2.5% @ 55 for Classic members or 2% @ 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.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM (PST) on Monday, November 7, 2022. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must submit an online application, including resume and cover letter that reflects the scope and level of their current/most recent positions and responsibilities. To file an application, click here.
Candidates must also complete the online supplemental questionnaire.
Incomplete application packets and application packets that clearly do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered. The most qualified applicants will be invited to continue in the process.
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.
