Planner - Senior

This recruitment may be used to fill both open and promotional vacancies in various County departments as they arise, subject to specific position requirements and CEO approval.

Community Development  Resource Agency (CDRA) is currently recruiting for two permanent positions in the division of Planning Services. These positions will require the planner, on a routine basis, to review and process complex land development applications such as Tentative Subdivision Maps, Rezones, Use Permits and Design/Site Review applications. In addition, duties may also include the preparation and/or processing of advanced planning projects such as General Plans, Community Plans, Zoning Text Amendments, Specific Plans or Amendments to Specific Plans.

As part of processing current and advanced planning projects, these positions will require the planner to frequently prepare and analyze environmental documents; regularly convey Planning policies and ordinances to applicants and the public and make public presentations before Municipal Advisory Councils, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The planner will occasionally conduct field reviews and will be responsible for utilizing automated tools to track projects.

Perform a variety of highly responsible complex professional planning duties in the field of current and advance planning; assume a lead role over less experienced professional and technical staff; provide information and assistance to developers and the public on complex planning matters.

This is the advanced journey level class in the professional Planner series.  Positions at this level are able to work independently and receive minimal supervision and assistance from management staff.
 
Positions at this level are distinguished from other positions within the professional planning series by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned including overseeing the activities associated with a variety of complex planning projects and related assignments.

Receives direction from supervisory or management staff as assigned.
 
May exercise direct supervision over less experienced professional, technical and clerical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Trains and leads subordinate staff in planning duties. 
• Researches, analyzes and interprets social, economic and population and land use data and trends. 
• Researches planning information and concepts, land use and legal issues relating to current and long range planning matters and policy issues. 
• Analyzes and recommend long range comprehensive planning policy documents; collects, records and summarizes statistical and demographic information; establishes and maintains a comprehensive database. 
• Reviews and checks commercial, industrial and residential development plans and applications for projects approval and compliance with applicable County or Air Pollution Control Districtpolicies and procedures; performs site reviews; confers with and advises architects, builders, attorneys, contractors and engineers regarding planning issues; negotiates and develops binding contracts and development agreements relative to County development policies and standards.
• Reviews, investigates and enforces zoning and sign regulations or, when assigned to Air Pollution Control, reviews and prepares air quality rules and regulations. 
• Prepares and reviews environmental analysis of projects and ensures compliance with Federal, State and local laws, ordinances and regulations.
• Prepares initial studies and assists in preparation and review of environmental impact reports, Zoning and Design review requirements; compiles information and makes recommendations on special studies.
• Prepares staff reports for the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and Design Review Committee, various local and State regulatory agencies and advisory boards and the Board of Supervisors as directed.
• Prepares correspondence to project applicants, violators and other agencies regarding compliance issues. 
• Prepares and provides planning presentations to community groups; responds to community groups regarding impact and/or effects of projects. 
• Prepares advanced planning studies for the County General Plan including element preparation, community plan preparation, policy formulation, program implementation and public presentation of findings and recommendations. 
• Assists in production of major planning documents such as the County General Plan, environmental documents and specialized plans such as area specific plans, air and water quality plans, environmental compliance plans and related topics. 
• Conducts current planning reviews of large and/or complex land development projects including subdivisions, conditional use permits, design reviews, development agreements, rezoning and General Plan amendments.  
• Reviews the plans of other public jurisdictions for compatibility with County or Air Pollution Control District plans. 
• Performs environmental analysis for current and advanced planning projects, especially those of a difficult or complex nature; review environmental impact reports. 
• Assists the public by providing information and explaining particularly complex land use, environmental compliance, development and related regulations and procedures; meet with applicants as necessary and correspond with applicants and/or their representatives regarding project status; write staff reports; and make presentations of findings and recommendations at public hearings and to public agencies; conducts and participates in public hearings. 
• When assigned, administer public education and public service programs through assigned employees or by contact. 
• Coordinates with other County Departments and public agencies as needed; coordinates, directs and participates in interdepartmental land use development committees.  
• Prepares and administers contracts with independent contractors or consultants who provide planning, or environmental services to the County or Air Pollution Control District. 
• Recommend the appointment of personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; provide standards and operating guidelines, provide timely input to performance evaluations; recommend disciplinary measures, when necessary; implement discipline procedures as directed; maintain discipline and high standards necessary for the efficient and professional operation of the assigned functional area of responsibility. 
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service. 
• Performs related duties as assigned. 

When assigned to Air Pollution Control: 

• Promotes, directs and administers annual clean air grant programs. 
• Oversees development and updating of state and federal air quality plans, including regional State Implementation Plan (SIP) updates, and maintains/validates/updates jurisdiction emission inventory.
• Oversees development and implementation of transportation control measures and land use development mitigation measures. 
• When assigned to the Air Pollution Control District, performs the most difficult and highly complex or politically sensitive air quality planning assignments.
   

It is the applicant's responsibility to identify in their application materials how they meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible planning experience performing duties similar to those of an Associate Planner. 

When assigned to Air Pollution Control: Three years increasingly responsible experience including two years performing duties similar to those of an Air Pollution Control Specialist II.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban, regional or environmental planning, or a closely related field.

License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of land use planning and development.
• Principles and practices of environmental planning and administration of environmental policies.
• All applicable local ordinances and State and Federal statutes.
• Operation, policies and procedures of the assigned functional area of responsibility. 
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluations.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Arithmetic, basic statistics and mathematical calculations. 
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Planning related software applications. 

In addition to the above, when assigned to Air Pollution Control:

• Principles and practices of governmental air quality planning trends and statistics affecting air quality planning.
• Operation, policies and procedures of the Placer County Air Pollution Control District.
• State and federal air quality statutes and legislation, and air district rules and regulations.
• Air monitoring devices, siting requirements, data reporting requirements, maintenance and calibration procedures.
• Dispersion modeling techniques and applications.
• Point and area emission source inventory determinations and reporting procedures.

Ability to:  

• Compile, analyze and evaluate technical, statistical and economic information of a difficult and complex nature; read and interpret maps and legal property descriptions; read and interpret applicable laws and regulations.
• Interpret, explain and apply a wide variety of Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Interpret and explain complex planning and zoning programs to the general public.
• Coordinate multiple projects and meet required deadlines; problem solve complex planning issues; negotiate and develop contracts and agreements.
• Analyze and compile complex technical and statistical information and prepare appropriate reports.
• Plan, supervise, train and evaluate the work activities of supervisory and/or professional, technical and clerical staff; act as a positive and effective team member.
• Obtain information through interview and dialogue, and deal fairly and courteously with the public; work effectively with interruption.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• On a continuous basis sit at desk or in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently stand at counter for long periods of time; twist and reach office equipment; see and hear with sufficient acuity to successfully perform all aspects of the job; perform simple grasping and fine hand manipulation; use telephone and write and/or use keyboard to communicate through written means; and occasionally lift moderate weight.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job and assigned functional area of responsibility activities; analyze, interpret and evaluate technical reports and special projects; know laws, regulations, codes and operational procedures; problem solve operational issues related to assigned functional area of responsibility; understand, interpret and explain applicable ordinances and statutes and policies and procedures; visually differentiate between colors on land use maps.

In addition to the above, when assigned to Air Pollution Control:

• Supervise the collection, analysis and interpretation of data pertaining to air quality planning.
• Review land use permit applications and identify potential emission sources and environmental review requirements.
• Analyze test data reports and monitor data for accuracy and compliance.
• Enforce applicable laws, rules and standards.
• Determine compliance of facilities with state and federal law, District Rules, and air quality plans.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants for regular full and part-time positions must pass a medical examination which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation. Applicants for extra help positions may be subject to a drug screening. All applicants must sign a constitutional oath, submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. and be fingerprinted. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, be bonded or undergo a background check.

All new permanent employees, with the exception of sworn law enforcement and management, shall be required to join the employee organization or pay an 'Agency Fee' as a condition of employment.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County now offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. Please contact the Personnel Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Personnel Department.

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