This position is Open Until Filled

First Review of Applications will begin on November 25, 2024 at 5:30 pm

Associate Planner Salary Range $85,284.05 - $103,663.30

Senior Planner Salary Range $99,012.14 – $120,349.88

The City of Del Mar Planning and Community Development Department is seeking qualified applicants to fill a vacant Associate/Senior Planner position assigned to long-range planning. This is a multi-level recruitment, and the position will be filled at either the Associate or Senior Planner level based on the successful applicant’s experience and qualifications.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, professional planner to contribute to the City’s long-range planning efforts. More specifically, the department is seeking a creative and dedicated long-range planner to assist with sea-level rise adaptation plan implementation; housing element program implementation; development and implementation of short-term rental regulations; and various related Community Plan (General Plan) updates and Local Coastal Program Amendments.

The successful candidate will be an active contributor toward implementing policy-based solutions for long-range planning challenges; understand and value Del Mar’s unique community character; actively engage with community and regional stakeholders; have knowledge of applicable regulations and processes; and possess a diverse planning skillset. The position is open until the needs of the City are met, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Interested applicants must submit an application and supplemental questionnaire.

Associate Planner (essential duties)

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the class.

Under general direction, performs responsible, professional planning activities involving current planning, long-range planning and special projects; and performs related work as assigned.

Plans, organizes and conducts research studies and prepares reports and recommendations regarding land use, zoning, community design, coastal resources, housing policy and environmental issues; participates in the review, development or revision of the various elements of the Community (General) Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Local Coastal Program (LCP), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination documents, ordinances and other policies and procedures

Reviews projects and development proposals for conformance with the City’s regulatory ordinances including Zoning, Design Review, LCP, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); communicates with and assists developers, property owners, the public and elected officials regarding laws, policies, regulations, standards and procedures with respect to the submission of plans, processing of applications and implementation requirements; determines conformity with codes, policies, regulations and procedures; recommends approval or identifies problems and assesses alternatives for projects.

Coordinates the preparation of meeting agendas for various committees, commissions, and community groups; including the Design Review Board, Planning Commission, and City Council; reviews draft materials and prepares comments; organizes and prepares agendas for public meetings and work sessions and ensures timely notification of appropriate parties.

Reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations on applications such as Design Review Permits, Coastal Development Permits, Conditional Use Permits, Variances, and Tentative Parcel/Tract Maps; reviews drawings or blueprints for structural conformity, proposed uses and aesthetics; conducts site evaluations and analyses.

Provides written and oral information to the public on a wide range of planning issues, including project development, long range policy issues and capital improvement projects.

Utilizes various software systems including digital plan review (Bluebeam), project tracking (TRAKiT), and Geographic Information System (GIS).

Acts as liaison with other governmental agencies; reviews regional projects and acts as City representative on regional project committees.

Coordinates with other planning staff and code enforcement staff as may be needed; may provide direction and oversight to others on a project basis.

Oversees the work of consultants, including monitoring consultant contracts and project budgets.

Keeps abreast of, and attends related training as may be available, new legislation and other related developments impacting land use planning and policy.

Senior Planner (essential duties):

• Plans, administers and coordinates multiple, complex advanced, and/or special projects; organizes and employs resources to achieve project objectives; prepares and monitors project budgets.

• Prepares and presents complex agenda reports, presentations, and other materials for public meetings including City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, City advisory committees, and community workshops.

• As assigned, acts as the liaison with other governmental agencies and the City’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board and attends public meetings; reviews regional projects and makes recommendations for City comments, and acts as City representative on regional project committees.

• Provides written and oral information and assistance to City staff, applicants, architects, builders, developers, attorneys, contractors, engineers, consultants, the general public, and outside organizations and agencies regarding a wide variety of planning and environmental issues, including current, long-range planning and capital improvement projects; explains the City's development and public hearing process to design and development professionals, property owners, and the general public; provides support at the public counter as necessary.

• Manages and administers consultant contracts; develops and negotiates scope of work; establishes timeframes; ensures adequate funding; prepares requests for qualifications or proposals; prepares contracts; monitors consultant contracts and project budgets; authorizes invoices; provides direction to consultant; reviews technical studies and environmental documents prepared by consultants.

• Utilizes various software systems including digital plan review (Bluebeam), project tracking (TRAKIT), and Geographic Information System (GIS).

• May participate in selecting, training, motivating, and evaluating assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; participates in the conduct of performance evaluations; implements discipline in coordination with Human Resources; provides supervision and technical assistance to professional and technical planning staff, as assigned; instructs and checks the work of less-experienced planning staff.

• Keeps informed of current trends in the planning field, including legislation, court rulings, and professional practices and techniques; evaluates their impact on City operations and recommends any needed policy and procedural improvements.

• Conducts the review, development, or revision of the various elements of the Community (General) Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Local Coastal Program (LCP), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination documents, ordinances and other policies and procedures; analyzes planning issues and determines project schedules and priorities.

• Organizes and administers complex research studies, conducts analyses, and prepares reports/recommendations regarding land use, zoning, environmental requirements and issues, coastal resources, housing policy, and other matters.

• Performs and directs complex professional planning work related to long-range planning projects, including but not limited to amendments and maintenance of the City’s General Plan, Local Coastal Program, Housing Element, Specific Plans, Zoning Ordinances, and municipal code amendments.

• Areas overseen may include, but are not limited to, historic preservation, coastal and housing programs

Associate Planner: The Associate Planner is a full professional, journey-level class in the planning series. Incumbents conduct planning research and analysis on moderate to difficult and complex projects. The work requires independence in preparing planning studies and reports on short- and long-range, well-defined assignments and making presentations on such projects. Work may include assisting with the work instruction or project direction of lower-level professional and para-professional staff members, including coordination with the City’s code enforcement officer. This class is distinguished from the Senior Planner classification in that the latter is a management class, exercising a higher degree of independent judgment on diverse and specialized assignments with a greater degree of accountability and ongoing decision making.

Senior Planner: The Senior Planner is an advanced professional class in the planning series. The incumbent oversees complex, sensitive projects in current and long-range planning, as assigned, environmental planning and capital improvement planning. Assignments may include directing the work of lower-level staff members and interns. This class is distinguished from the Principal Planner in that the latter participates in the department’s fiscal and administrative management and completes the most complex current and/or long-range planning projects independently.

The Senior Planner classification may be assigned to the Planning and Community Development Department’s Current Planning division or Long-Range Planning division.

To view the full job description and to learn more about the specifics of each position, please follow the links below:

Cit y of Del Mar - Associate Planner Job Description

Cit y of Del Mar - Senior Planner Job Description

Education:

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in planning, public administration, law, environmental, or a closely related field

Experience:

Associate Planner: Three years of professional planning experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Senior Planner: Five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning/community development, including one year of project management experience. An advanced degree in urban planning is desirable as is prior planning experience in a California coastal municipality. Supervisory experience is desirable but not required.

Special Requirements:

A valid Class C California driver's license may be required.

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is desirable

WHAT DEL MAR HAS TO OFFER:

Hybrid work schedule with up to two remote/telework days per week.
A monthly cafeteria allotment of $1,544 (maximum) which also allows employees to cash out unused cafeteria excess or receive $400 monthly opt-out provision.
Vacation Cash Out -eligible employees may cash out up to 80 hours of vacation time annually.
104 hours of paid management leave per fiscal year in addition to vacation leave for the Senior Planner. Associate Planner position is non-exempt and receives overtime.
Voluntary retirement savings/deferred compensation: 457(b) plan and 457(b) Roth plan.
12 recognized holidays and an additional 2 floating holidays per calendar year
The City provides tuition reimbursement of up to $1,000 per fiscal year for reimbursement of directly related costs of tuition, school fees, books, and required materials for approved courses and professional development opportunities.
Sick Leave Conversion – eligible employees can convert up to 72 hours of sick leave to vacation hours at a rate 2 sick leave hours for 1 vacation hour.
The Retirement Benefit Formula for Classic CalPERS Tier 2 Members is 2% at 60. The current employee contribution rate is 7%.

City of Del Mar

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Associate/Senior Planner