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City of Richmond (CA)

Senior Planner

City of Richmond (CA), Richmond, California, United States, 94875


The City of Richmond’s Community Development Department is seeking an experienced Senior Planner to help coordinate the City's planning programs and serve as the project manager for complex development projects and long-range planning activities requiring coordination among multiple City divisions/departments, other public agencies, community-based organizations, and private entities. It is anticipated that this position will ultimately staff the City’s Design Review Board or the Historic Preservation Commission; therefore, the City is looking for a candidate with experience in architecture, urban design, CEQA, or historic preservation.

Annual salary

for this classification is as high as $145,567 at the top of the range, with additional approved Cost of Living Adjustment of 4% on 1/1/25. Additionally, City-paid benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, holidays, administrative leave days, sick time, CalPERS retirement contribution, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, annual professional development reimbursement, one week of paid parental leave, and more! All benefit information can be found in our

Benefits Summary

.

The Senior Planner manages and processes advance and current planning projects such as General Plan amendments, Design Review Permits, etc. The incumbent performs research, administration, and technical analysis necessary for making recommendations to various boards and commissions. The Senior Planner is the advanced level classification in the professional Planner series. Incumbents may provide lead direction for planning activities, supervise new or entry level planning staff, and perform highly specialized and difficult planning functions. The work may involve providing advice or working on current planning projects requiring considerable technical knowledge and independent judgment.

The ideal candidate for this position is:

A clear, strategic thinker with strong project management skills;Passionate about striving to improve the Richmond community;Collaborative with co-workers and stakeholders;Adept at managing multiple priorities in order to meet targeted deadlines;Reliable and flexible in a fast-paced work environment;A professional with great public speaking skills; andSomeone who enjoys analyzing and resolving complex challenges.The following list is intended to be illustrative and does not necessarily represent the entire range of work duties expected of employees within the classification. Depending on the assigned area and the specific work of the department, duties may include, but are not limited to:Reviews and investigates advance and current planning project applications to determine conformity with laws, policies, regulations, and procedures, and completes processing as appropriate.Identifies and addresses any problems with planning applications, and recommends alternatives to stakeholders, as needed.Collaborates with consultants on any necessary environmental reviews.Assists the public by answering a variety of questions and providing information regarding ordinance requirements as to general plan, zoning, environmental impact and other policies and regulations. Performs thorough technical analyses, and interprets the zoning ordinance to make final decisions regarding project approvals.Conducts field surveys and investigations related to planning and zoning projects or requests.Makes special investigations of a technical nature regarding planning projects; reports conclusions and recommendations in technical report form or in form for publication.Prepares and presents materials, including staff reports, for presentation to the City Council, Boards, Commissions, and community groups and participates in long-range planning and policy development.Composes a variety of communications, compiles analytical reports, and drafts revisions to local ordinances, policies, and procedures for review by senior leadership.Implements the City’s environmental review process.Serves as project planner for preparation of Environmental Impact Reports, and prepares other environmental documents consistent with state law and City regulations. Evaluates and processes a wide range of planning applications, including use permits, subdivisions, design review, and ordinance amendments.Reviews building permit plan checks for compliance with discretionary approvals.Evaluates improvement plans for consistency with approved subdivisions.Inspects public and private development projects to determine compliance with planning requirements.Conducts Zoning Code compliance review.Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees, and the public, using principles of good customer service.Directs the work of subordinate planning staff members, and serves as a technical expert and resource to answer questions and resolve issues.Collaborates with City Council, Boards, Commissions, and community groups; conducts presentations; and guides long-range planning and policy development.Assists in the identification, preparation, and submission of grant applications, and supports the administration of grant funds.Performs related work as required.Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in city, regional, or urban planning or a related field.Three (3) to five (5) years of planning experience with a local jurisdiction in California.Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.Required Licenses or Certifications

Possession of a valid California driver's license and satisfactory driving record is an ongoing requirement.Desired Experience or Qualifications

The City is looking for a Senior Planner that can demonstrate subject matter expertise and show their commitment to professional ethics and keeping their planning skills up to date; therefore, possession of an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification is highly desirable.Experience processing complex and controversial development applications involving industrial land uses, environmental impact reports, development agreements, and subdivision maps.Experience in the following areas is also highly desirable:General Plan UpdatesSpecific Plan Preparation/AmendmentsZoning Ordinance UpdatesHousing Accountability Act and Density Bonus LawEnvironmental Justice and Disadvantaged CommunitiesActive Transportation PlanningParks, Open Space, and Trails PlanningEconomic DevelopmentGrant Program ImplementationCOVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

It is the City’s policy that all persons hired on or after October 18, 2021 must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including the booster. New employees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before employment may commence. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Human Resources.REQUIRED KSA FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of:

Project managementThe principles and practices of governmental planning and zoningCurrent trends in federal, state and local planningNational, state, and local laws relating to planning of governmental and private agencies affecting community planning including, but not limited to, the Subdivision Map Act and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)Zoning Code, General Plan, and Specific PlanPrinciples of Urban Planning and emerging trendsPlanning regulations and processesStatistical analysis techniques, and formulas relevant to the planning processModern office practices and equipment, including computers and applicable softwareSkill in:

Analytical thinkingPublic speakingOrganization and time managementRecord keepingAbility to:

Review architectural and civil plans, and understand various scopes of workInterpret and explain City ordinances and zoning codesAnalyze a potential use, design, or project for consistency with regulationsResearch, analyze, and compile planning data to generate reportsSupervise staff, and delegate work assignmentsExercise sound independent judgmentCommunicate effectively, both orally and in writingEstablish and maintain effective working relationshipsOrganize workload and prioritize assigned responsibilities to ensure accomplishment of Planning Division goals and dutiesArticulate and effectively communicate feedback to stakeholdersOther Requirements

Work involves attendance at off-hour meetings and field investigative work. Work is deadline orientated to meet City Council, Planning Commission and community group information requirements.Application and Selection Process

To Apply: Interested individuals must

apply online

by fully completing the City of Richmond Employment Application, including answers to supplemental questions, by 11:59 p.m. PST on the final filing date. Incomplete applications or those lacking in sufficiently detailed information will be rejected. Resumes or prior applications will not be accepted in lieu of a thoroughly completed application. All communication regarding this recruitment will be via email. Each applicant must apply with a monitored email address.Qualifying Phase:

All completed applications will be evaluated based on job-related qualifications criteria, which could include desirable qualifications and the specific needs of the hiring department(s). Candidates may be screened for better qualified.Examination Phase:

The most suitably qualified candidates will be asked to respond to an additional set of supplemental questions. An employment list will be established and your placement on the list will be determined solely by the responses to these questions (weighted 100%). Having all of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement nor placement on the employment list.Employment Eligibility List:

A ranking of "A" (Best Qualified), "B" (Well Qualified), or "C" (Qualified) is required to achieve a position on the Employment Eligibility List. This List will be in effect for a maximum of two (2) years; however, the list may be canceled, without notice, after six (6) months.About the City of Richmond

The City of Richmond lies on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, five miles north of Berkeley and seven miles northeast across the Bay from downtown San Francisco. A hub of multimodal transportation, many of our residents and businesses are located in Richmond because of its central location and easy access to the Amtrak/Capitol Corridor, BART, AC Transit, the ferry, and two freeways (I-80 & I-580). Residents, visitors, and employees enjoy Richmond’s numerous recreational opportunities, which include 32 miles of shoreline and over 3,000 acres of shoreline parks, more segments of the Bay Trail completed than any other city, several recreational boat harbors and yacht clubs, and thousands of acres of contiguous inland regional parks and open space. The City has substantial economic resources but is still affordable compared to other Bay Area cities. Our community is welcoming, diverse, and actively engaged.Richmond is truly the City of Pride and Purpose!Immigration Reform Control Act

In compliance with the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986, individuals offered employment by the City of Richmond will be required to show documentation of eligibility to work in the United States as a condition of employment.Non-Discrimination Policy

The City of Richmond is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer, and prohibits discrimination against any applicant on the basis of race, religion, citizenship, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), sexual orientation, or military or veteran status or any other basis protected by law.Disaster Service Workers

California Government Code Title I, Sections 3100 - 3109, declare all public employees to be Disaster Service Workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law. More information can be found

here .EEO/ADA/DRUG-FREE WORKPLACEWEBSITE:

www.ci.richmond.ca.usAnalyst: C. Selkirk09/24

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