Conditional employment offers are based
on successful completion of any pre-appointment background
investigation, drug testing, and medical/psychological
evaluation.
ABOUT
THE POSITION:The Senior Planner
classification is the highest level classification in the
Planner series.Senior
Planners perform a variety of tasks in support of programs
assigned to the Department of Planning and Building or General
Services Agency including: community planning, development
review, environmental review, energy and natural resources
management, airport planning, park planning, housing and
economic development and other related work as required.
Under
direction,
Senior Planners work independently and with minimum supervision;
performs complex and specialized assignments which may include
serving as a project manager and directly supervising project
staff, including consultant and contract staff; may review work
of other staff; trains subordinate staff; supervises subordinate
staff as assigned.
TYPICAL
TASKS:
(Not
in
order of importance)
Assists
the
general public in interpreting planning and environmental
regulations and policies
Collects
and
summarizes planning and environmental data including
provision of specialized assistance related to environmental
issues (e.g. biology, archaeology, geology)
Develops,
compiles
and indexes inventories of a wide variety of environmental
resource data from existing records and field surveys;
conducts field investigations and information surveys
Prepares
technical
reports maps, charts and other graphic displays to
illustrate research findings, project review and
environmental issues;writes
staff reports
Processes
routine
land use permits, land divisions and environmental
determinations and assists in the processing of more complex
land use permits, land divisions and environmental
determinations
Assists
in
the preparation of long range planning documents and grant
administration
May
be
assigned specialized projects such as serving as a
department liaison at advisory committee meetings
Processes
complex
land use permits and land use applications including
complete environmental review.
Meets
and
confers with a wide variety of individuals organizations and
agencies in the public and private sectors, including
applicants, general public, consultants and representatives
of federal, state and local agencies
Reviews
and/or
assists in the preparation of Environmental Impact Reports
Completes
application
processing including making recommendations to the Planning
and Building Director or General Services Agency Director on
the disposition of cases
Meets
with
the public to advise of the effect of county regulations and
policies on proposed projects and presents reports at public
hearings
Evaluates
development
projects to determine compliance with federal, state and
local land use and environmental laws, regulations and
policies (including compliance with the California
Environmental Quality Act)
Prepares
Desk
Manual procedures
May
obtain
funding and permits for county projects
Prepares
and
presents staff reports at public meetings and hearings
Completes
application
processing including making recommendations to the Planning
and Building Director or General Services Agency Director on
the disposition of cases
Makes
regular
presentations at committee meetings and public hearings
Prepares,
maintains
and updates general plan and policy related documents
including airportand
park land use plans
Prepares
Environmental
Impact Reports
Develops
land
use and environmental language to ensure clarity,
standardization, and conformity to policy guidelines for the
use in reports, specifications and manuals
Recommend
needed
changes to land use codes/ordinances
Amends
planning
documents and policy
Administers
grants
Manages
long
term planning programs such as updating or preparing new
general plan policy documents and the review of large
projects with environmental review
Prepares
and
administers grant and related entitlement programs;
represents the Planning and Building Director and the
Environmental Coordinator, or General Services Agency
Director as directed.
THE
REQUIREMENTS:
Knowledge
of:
General
land
use, environmental, airport and park planning principles
Engineering
principles
and practices pertinent to land use planning and
environmental impact determination
Federal
state
and local laws and regulations related to the environmental
and land use planning with special emphasis on Subdivision
Map Act, Zoning and Planning Law (Government Code) and the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Physical
and
life sciences
Basic
drafting
and drawing techniques
Principles
of
technical report writing
Statistical
computation
and mathematics
Computer
applications
and techniques such as Geographic Information Systems
Planning
and
Building Department or General Services Agency office
organization, procedures and standards as well as strategic
direction and goals
Office
procedures
and policies
Effective
oral
and written communication skills
Interpersonal
skills
using tact, patience and courtesy
Principles,
practices
and regulations that are pertinent to land use planning,
environmental review, airport planning, and park planning or
Principles
of
land use modeling, air quality modeling, transportation
modeling and acoustical modeling
Contract
management
to monitor completion of work specified and expenditures
Precedent
setting
court cases relating to land use and environmental law
Effective
conflict
resolution techniques
Basic
supervisory
techniques
Project
budgeting
principles
Ability
to:
Compile,
organize
and summarize information accurately in graphic and written
form
Learn,
interpret,
apply and explain departmental policies and procedures,
rules, laws and regulations
Use
sound
judgment in researching, interpreting, applying, and
explaining appropriate laws, codes, ordinances, regulations,
policies, procedures and guidelines
Follow
oral
and written instructions
Administer
land
use policies and regulations with good judgment, firmness
and impartiality
Assist
in
the review of project proposals against predetermined
standards
Work
effectively
in an environment that includes pressure to meet time
sensitive deadlines and critical review of work product.
Support
and
follow department policies, goals, guiding principles, and
Mission-Vision-Values Statement
Foster
a
spirit of teamwork and support when interacting with staff
and others
Work
effectively
and tactfully with other staff, public agencies, the general
public and advisory committees
Operate
standard
office equipment including a computer and assigned software.
Maintain
a
safe and orderly work area
Read
and
understand site plans, architectural drawings and
topographical maps
Review
and
evaluate project proposals against predetermined definitive
standards and general performance objectives
Implement
departmental
policies and procedures in all program areas
Prepare
concise
and accurate staff reports and presentation at public
meetings
Develop,
prepare
and present comprehensive reports that deal with land use
planning,airport
planning, park planning and environmental issues
Use
organizational
acuity when dealing with the public, media, and various
committees and boards
Use
software
and other automation related techniques for personal and
mainframe computers to maximize staff efficiency
Make
concise
and professional formal and informal presentations of
technical material
Complete
the
processing of large or moderately complex projects
Orient
and
train staff
Act
as
a leadworker; plan own work and work of others for
successful results
Manage
the
most controversial development and policy projects
Effectively
conduct
and facilitate public meetings
Supervise
and
evaluate the performance of assigned staff
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS:Graduation from an
accredited institution with either a Bachelor's or Master’s
degree in urban and regional planning, architecture, landscape
architecture, geography, natural resources management,
environmental, physical or life science, or a closely related
field.(Para-professional
or higher level job related experience may substitute for the
required education on a year-for-year basis.) IN ADDITION: Four
years of professional level experience in urban and regional
planning and environmental review/analysis or
environmental impact assessment work which requires a state
approved specialized professional license or certification.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATES: A valid
driver’s license is required at the time of application. A valid
CALIFORNIA driver’s license is required at the time of
appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
IN
ADDITION:This
class specification generally describes the duties and
responsibilities characteristic of the position(s) within this
class. Duties of a particular position within a multi-position
class may vary from the duties of other positions within the
class. Accordingly, the essential functions of a particular
position (whether it be a multi-position class or a
single-position class) will be identified and used by medical
examiners and hiring authorities in the selection process. If
you have questions regarding the duties or the working
conditions of the position, please contact the Human Resources
Department.
AGENCY
SHOP:Employees
hired
into the Public Services, Supervisory and Clerical bargaining
units represented by SLOCEA labor contracts are covered by
Agency Shop provisions which require that new employees become
SLOCEA dues paying members or pay an agency shop service fee in
lieu of dues.
NOTIFICATION:Applicants will be
notified 2-4 weeks after the final filing deadline. However,
some recruitments may take less or more time depending on the
type of exam and number of applicants. Notifications
will be posted on-line on the Applicant Status Board for each
phase of the recruitment process and will be sent by US mail
and/or email.Therefore,
notify the Human Resources Department of any mailing or email
address changes for all applications submitted.
SELECTION
PROCESS:The
examination process will include a competitive examination
consisting of an evaluation of job-related education and
experience through one of the following methods of testing:A) competitive
application rating, based solely on application information
presented OR B) oral board rating as determined by an interview
panel OR C) application screening and an oral board rating OR D)
any combination thereof.In
any case, the evaluation will be weighted 100% in determining a
candidate’s placement on the eligible list.Applicants are urged
to submit sufficiently detailed information in their application
materials for proper qualification evaluation.The
hiring department will be provided a list of the top nine ranks
of eligible candidates and one additional rank for each vacancy.
The hiring department may hire any of the candidates certified
to the department. Veterans and disabled veterans
preference points will be assigned when applicable. Please note:
any part of this selection process may be waived or changed as
deemed appropriate by the Human Resources Department at any
point during the recruitment. Eligible lists may be used to fill
regular, limited term or temporary positions.
PENSION
BENEFIT INFORMATION:Effective
January
1, 2013 the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA
or AB340), makes substantial changes to public employee pension
plans. PEPRA impacts the pension benefits of current
employees (employees hired on or before 12/31/12) and
all future hires (those hired on or after 1/1/13).Please refer to our
website for additional information including summary of impacts
and FAQs at:http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/hr.htm
Should
you have additional questions, please contact Human Resources
staff at 805.781.5959 or hr_labor_relations@co.slo.ca.us .Note:Those employees with
reciprocity who are returning or entering into SLO County
employment within a 6 month break in service, may be eligible to
enter into the SLO County pension plan that was in existence for
new hires as of December 31, 2012 for that bargaining unit.Contact Pension Trust
(805.781.5465 or pension@co.slo.ca.us) for specific questions related to
reciprocity.All
other questions should be directed to HR.
OTHER PROVISIONS:New
employees are required to complete an INS Employment Eligibility
Verification form to certify citizenship or legal residency and
authorization to work. Essential functions of a job for purposes
of the Americans with Disabilities Act will be determined prior
to the filling of each vacant position. A reasonable effort will be
made to accommodate the needs of the disabled and the
religious needs of an applicant. If you require special
arrangements to participate in the recruitment process, you
must inform the County Human Resources Department in writing
of the type and extent of accommodation no later than
the final filing deadline.
