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Manager – Planning
City of Lancaster / Lancaster,CA
Posted on: January 14, 2026
Application Deadline: 2/2/2026
Job Description
Job Summary: The Planning Manager supervises and participates in advanced, highly-complex professional planning activities under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Planning and Permitting. The position provides highly responsible management support in the planning, analysis, coordination, and operation of programs and activities; and supervises assigned staff.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Assists in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities of the Community Development department of the City to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
- Performs and manages complex and sensitive professional planning projects, research and analysis Monitors and ensures compliance with local, state and federal laws including the Subdivision Act and the California Environmental Quality Act.
- Oversees specialized planning functions such as large-scale new development proposals and environmental studies Provides overall management of division-related planning issues.
- Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the performance of staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides. coaching for performance improvement and development; makes decisions to recognize performance; takes disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with the City’s personnel rules and policies.
- Recommend staffing levels, select, train supervise, and establish performance requirements for permanent and part-time staff.
- Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high-performance, customer service-oriented work environment that supports achieving City and departmental mission, objectives, and service standards.
- Serves as liaison and performs all necessary functions in support of the City’s Planning Commission
- Applies best practices and quality assurance processes to assigned areas of responsibility.
- Enforces the maintenance of safe working conditions and ensures safe work practices are followed by staff.
- Provides leadership to ensure a fair and open work environment in accordance with the City’s commitment to equal employment opportunity.
The duties listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may also perform other related duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor. This position is considered exempt
Required Experience / Skills / Education
Typical Knowledge:
The Planning Manager will be a seasoned professional with an expansive background and knowledge of the following:
- Urban planning and development and local government policies and procedures.
- Thorough knowledge of land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, and economic development.
- Research methods and statistical principles related to urban growth and development.
- Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
- Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including the Subdivision Map Act and the California Environment Quality Act (CEQA).
- Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management.
- Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to municipal planning and administration.
- Knowledge of local government procedures and practices.
- GIS programs and applications such as Acela.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban studies, planning, public administration, or related fields
- Master’s degree highly preferred
- Five (5) years of experience with three (3) years supervisory experience
- Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered
Application Instructions
apply here: Career Center | Recruitment
