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Planning Manager
City of West Hollywood / City of West Hollywood City Hall
Posted on: February 13, 2025
Application Deadline: March 12, 2025
Job Description
The City is seeking a strong Planner with experience supervising staff and strategically managing a dynamic team through a diverse and fast-paced work plan. The Planning Manager (Current and Historic Preservation Planning) has the responsibility for managing the Division budget, personnel, and report preparation, and must be able to make presentations, facilitate meetings, and monitor projects for accuracy, protocol, and on-time completion. The position is responsible for coordinating with other Departments and Divisions throughout the City, including Public Works and Engineering, Building and Safety, Long Range Planning, Housing and Rent Stabilization, Finance, etc.
The successful candidate for Planning Manager (Current and Historic Preservation Planning) will be an innovative and collaborative leader, capable of mentoring and developing staff, skilled at strategically managing the many projects and programs within the different divisions, and adaptable to the ever-evolving environment of the local government stage. The Planning Manager (Current and Historic Preservation Planning) will need to be an effective and articulate communicator, both verbally and in writing. They must be comfortable and confident in making presentations and communicating with elected and appointed officials, City staff, and residents, and facilitating project meetings with consultants and community members. The successful candidate will also possess a strong technical planning background in areas such as: CEQA, Housing Law, plan implementation, and project management.
The position of Planning Manager (Current and Historic Preservation Planning) requires an individual who is effective at visioning, consensus-building, planning, and programming. The successful candidate is a team player, politically intuitive and sensitive, a problem-solver, attentive to timelines, and effective at training and educating personnel.
The ideal candidate will:
- Possess strong ethics, openness, honesty, and responsiveness.
- Be attuned to the nuances of factors that affect processes and decisions.
- Motivate and mentor Division staff.
- Thrive in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
- Serve as a subject matter expert.
- Embrace working with the community on issues.
- Be organized and mission/goal-focused to maintain scheduled and complete projects on time.
- Recognize the City’s past and present identity to shape future policies and plans.
- Lead presentations to residents, boards, commissions, businesses, and other groups; represent at meetings.
Job Brochure link: Planning Manager (Current and Historic Preservation Planning)
Required Experience / Skills / Education
JOB SUMMARY:
Manages staff and performs highly complex technical and professional functions related to urban planning projects and programs, including: responding to inquiries from elected officials and executives; preparing and monitoring the budget and work plans; reviewing staff reports and recommendations; and analyzing planning data and reviewing staff recommendations regarding same.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.)
- Carries out managerial responsibility in accordance with policies, procedures and applicable laws, including: interviewing, hiring and training staff; planning, assigning and directing work; establishing deadlines; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; coordinating, developing and approving staff training; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.
- Plans, coordinates, assigns, and monitors performance and coaches, counsels, mentors, trains, and advises employees in department for the dual goals of meeting department goals and employee career development; assists staff in the completion of assigned tasks.
- Interacts with a variety of high level individuals, both internally and within the community to provide information, disseminate departmental information and assist in resolving administrative issues.
- Develops and administers the division budget and work plans; monitors expenditures.
- Plans and directs various planning projects, including: reviewing staff reports; reviewing, revising, administering and coordinating contract services, the General Plan, zoning ordinances and other municipal planning regulations; assisting in the technical review of construction plans; and analyzing plans, data and planning trends.
- Represents the City and/or serves as a liaison and/or member of various committees/teams and collaborates, persuades, presents reports to and negotiates with others outside own work area to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative and efficient relations.
- Researches, develops, interprets, communicates, and monitors policies, procedures, codes, standards, etc.; recommends improvement when necessary and writes/revises same.
- Plans long-range goals, objectives, management systems, organizational structure, and overall direction for the division; plans and implements short-term or annual goals, objectives, strategies, projects or programs to ensure efficient organization and completion of work.
- Coordinates division activities with other departments, divisions and/or outside agencies; responds to citizen inquiries.
- Serves as technical resource on division operations.
- Develops and implements capital improvement program.
- Prepares reports and make presentations to various boards and commissions.
- Ensures quality standards and compliance with regulations are maintained.
IMPORTANT JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Prepares and/or reviews complex reports and analysis utilizing a variety of software; receives, sorts, and summarizes material for the preparation of reports; relays and interprets administrative decisions, policies and instructions.
- Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
- Follows up on inquiries from various agencies, groups, media, etc., regarding department programs and services.
- Disseminates a variety of information to various agencies, divisions, or departments via telephone, mail or FAX.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field; and,
- Five to seven years of progressively responsible related experience; or,
- Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Licenses and Certifications:
Certificate requirements depending upon assignment:
- American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) Certification (desirable) (Must be able to obtain within 12 months of hire.)
- American Institute of Certified Transportation Planner (AICP) Certification (desirable)
Application Instructions
Apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/weho
Important Dates/Tentative Schedule
If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received:
- First round of virtual interviews will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
- Round two, In-person Finalist interviews will be held tentatively on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Selected candidates will be notified once the dates are finalized. It is recommended that you plan your calendar accordingly.
