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Senior Planner
City of Whittier / Whittier, CA
Posted on: April 22, 2021
Application Deadline: May 23, 2021
Job Description
**Please Apply on our City of Whittier website***
DEFINITION:
Under direction, leads, oversees, reviews, and performs complex professional land use and urban planning work, including current and advance planning, and implementation of the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code; reviews the more complex zoning and development applications; performs complex research; prepares maps, graphs, models, and reports; presents projects to the Planning Commission and other bodies; supervises special projects; provides supervision, including allotting duties, providing training and assisting with reviewing work performance; performs other related duties as required.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (include but are not limited to the following)
Develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned functional areas; performs complex professional land use and urban planning work, including current and advance planning, and implementation of the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code; reviews the more complex zoning and development applications.
Provides supervision to professional, technical, and office support staff in assigned functional areas; instructs staff in work procedures and reviews and evaluates work performed; confers with personnel from other departments and agencies in coordinating work activities; meets with representatives of community organizations and other groups to encourage cooperative action or to resolve problems.
Performs the more complex research and analyses; performs major planning and zoning studies for development; investigates planning problems while considering legal and public relations aspects, as well as planning and makes presentations of findings; confers with developers, building designers, contractors, architects, and the general public on planning and zoning related matters; interprets planning policies, state laws, and local ordinances or explains procedures.
Provides information and assistance to developers, property owners and the public regarding laws, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures related to the submission of plans, processing of applications and implementation requirements; performs field inspections; communicates and coordinates with other City departments and outside agencies.
Prepares maps, graphs, charts, models, and reports; plans, organizes, and executes projects or surveys; prepares staff reports, resolutions, reports, letters, zoning ordinance changes, and environmental review documents.
Supervises coordinates and participates in advanced planning activities, including major General Plan updates and amendments; monitors the effectiveness of the General Plan implementation, zoning, and design guidelines; recommends action or petitions for general planning, zoning, and development.
Provides technical assistance to the Planning Services Manager, other City personnel, and the public regarding current or long range planning issues; plans and organizes work, and may alter work methods and schedules to meet operational needs and ensure achievement of work objectives.
Receives and reviews applications, including for conditional use permits, tentative tract and parcel maps, zone changes, and planned developments; establishes conditions for project approval by analyzing projects with respect to relevant laws, ordinances, regulations, and city policy; determines methods to reconcile project conflicts with zoning requirements and state environmental laws; reviews final working drawings to ensure compliance with approved projects.
Supervises and coordinates various planning studies and related matters with consultants; responds to public inquiries at the public counter, on the phone and through email; coordinates with regional and sub-regional agencies to address certain regional and inter-jurisdictional issues.
Makes presentations to the City Council; provides information to homeowners and architects regarding Historic Resources Ordinance, CEQA, California State Historic Building Code, and the U.S. Department of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Establishes positive working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies and associations, City management and staff, and the public.
OTHER DUTIES: (include but are not limited to the following)
Assists in the interpretation of planning and zoning policies and local ordinances; may draft policy statements and ordinances according to general instructions.
May represent the City by serving on various planning committees, commissions, and task forces, in an advisory capacity and/or as a voting member.
May be exposed to confidential and privileged information during the course of duties, which should be maintained as such.
Performs other related duties as required.
Required Experience / Skills / Education
Education and/or Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for a Senior Planner. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to possess the equivalent of three years of increasingly responsible experience in urban or regional planning comparable to that of an Associate Planner for the City of Whittier, some experience in a lead capacity, a bachelor’s degree in urban or regional planning, or a related field, and a AICP Certification is highly desirable.
License/Certificate:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license.
KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES/SKILLS: (The following are a representative sample of the KAS’s necessary to perform essential duties of the position.)
Knowledge of:
Methods and techniques of supervision, training, and motivation; methods and techniques of scheduling work assignments; modern principles, practices, and techniques of current and advanced planning; land use, physical design, demographic, environmental, economic, and social concepts as applied to municipal planning; statistical methods and research techniques applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies; techniques and methods for making effective public presentations of complex information; methods and techniques of supervision, training, and motivation; applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including the City Municipal Code, the California Environmental Quality Act and California laws relating to subdivisions, annexations, zoning, and land use; basic principles of mathematics; methods and techniques of scheduling work assignments; standard office procedures, practices and equipment; modern office practices, methods and equipment, including a computer and applicable software; methods and techniques for record keeping and report preparation and writing; proper English, spelling, and grammar; occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
Ability to:
Plan, organize, evaluate, and direct the work of assigned staff; make adjustments to standard operating procedures to improve effectiveness and comply with regulatory changes as appropriate; lead, oversee, and perform complex professional planning work; apply policies, procedures and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process; review complex project plans and concepts to determine compliance with the General Plan and plan principles; interpret and prepare maps, site, and building plans and specifications, graphs, and statistical data; attend evening meetings, including Planning Commission, City Council, and other agency meetings as required; collect, analyze, and interpret data pertaining to planning and zoning; make comprehensive presentations; perform mathematical calculations quickly and accurately; interpret, explain and apply applicable laws, codes, and regulations; read, interpret, and record data accurately; organize, prioritize, and follow-up on work assignments; work independently and as part of a team; make sound decisions within established guidelines; analyze a complex issue, and develop and implement an appropriate response; follow written and oral directions; observe safety principles and work in a safe manner; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Skill to:
Operate an office computer and a variety of word processing and software applications, including, graphic and presentation programs.
Application Instructions
Prior to hiring, candidates will be required to submit proof of U.S. Citizenship or employment authorization if not a U. S. Citizen.
Medical:
Applicants will be required as a prerequisite to employment to successfully pass a physical examination, including a drug screen, the cost of which will be paid by the City.
Selection/Exam Process:
The person selected will be expected to perform all the functions of the position. Based on a review of the applications and the supplemental applications received, the candidates appearing to be the most qualified and meeting the City’s particular needs will be invited in writing to the exam process. A candidate must achieve a passing score on each exam to proceed to the next exam.
Exam Information: (Dates to be determined.)
Panel Oral Interview: 100%
**Please Apply on our City of Whittier website***
The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.
The City of Whittier is an Equal Opportunity Employer