THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for a Senior Planner position in the Development Services Department’s Planning Division. Currently one position is available. Senior Planner roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Performing advanced professional planning work;
Supporting both current and long-range planning activities such as the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) initiatives;
Managing coastal zone planning and sea level rise adaptation efforts in compliance with applicable State regulations (e.g., Senate Bill 272);
Implementing and updating the City’s Local Coastal Program; and,
Integrating grant-funded resilience initiatives (e.g., RE:BEACH Pilot Project) into land use and coastal policy documents.

The Senior Planner works in coordination with City team members and representatives from outside agencies such as staff from various City disciplines, the California Coastal Commission (CCC), and the State Department of Housing and Community Development. The position supports a broad range of planning functions including development review, environmental and coastal review, zoning implementation, and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) coordination.

The Senior Planner performs a variety of professional planning functions supporting the City's development review process, long range planning, zoning ordinances updates, capital improvement projects and environmental review; confers with the general public and private contractors regarding development projects; conducts field investigations and compiles data for the preparation of reports, maps, charts and other graphic materials; prepares and presents reports to the Planning Commission and City Council; supervises the preparation of Planning Commission packets and agendas; supervises and coordinates census projects; supervises filing of development applications; conducts investigations and research involved in studies of land use, population trends, community design, transportation and environmental concerns; assists in the identification of the City's long range planning needs; prepares strategy plans for residential and commercial revitalization; participates on assigned boards and commissions and prepares related reports; serves as liaison to the community regarding long range planning, development projects; provides assistance to the public regarding renovation of historical buildings; reviews and prepares environmental impact reports, negative declarations and exemptions for private and public development projects; ensures conformance with applicable coastal and environmental laws and regulations; prepares applications and processes Resource Agency Permits; interviews, hires and supervises consultant teams in the preparation of environmental impact reports and technical documents; conducts field visits of project sites and environmentally sensitive areas; reviews and comments on environmental documents for projects in surrounding areas that may affect the City; assists in the preparation of grant applications involving City projects and plans; performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Coastal Planning Responsibilities

In addition to core planning functions, Coastal Planning responsibilities may include, but not be limited to (examples below):

Managing development and approval of coastal planning documents, including the Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan and Local Coastal Program updates;
- Preparing and processing Local Coastal Program Amendments (LCPAs), including drafting administrative documents, coordinating required review periods, preparing staff reports, and providing support at pertinent regulatory bodies (i.e. City Council, Planning Commission, Coastal Commission).
- Coordinating with regulatory agencies (e.g., CCC) to ensure compliance, timelines, and consistency.
- Assisting with public outreach and stakeholder engagement processes associated with coastal adaptation planning efforts.
- Ensuring consistency between coastal planning documents and the City’s General Plan, zoning regulations, and CIP project planning environmental review processes.
- Processing Coastal Development Permits.
- Assisting with identification of long-range coastal resilience strategies and funding opportunities.

Knowledge of:

Contemporary principles, practices and techniques of land use, planning, zoning, community development and environmental protection.
Methods and techniques of long range planning.
Development review processes and procedures.
Methods and techniques of research and analysis as related to community development, growth and planning.
Principles and practices of record keeping.
Principles and practices of report preparation and presentation.
Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations including zoning, coastal and environmental.

Ability to:

Perform a variety of professional planning duties in support of the City's development review process and long range planning activities.
Conduct field investigations and compile data for the preparation of reports, maps, charts and other graphic materials.
Prepares and present reports to the Planning Commission and City Council.
Conduct investigations and research involved in studies of land use, population trends, community design, transportation and environmental concerns.
Identify long term planning needs and prepare plans for residential and commercial revitalization.
Ensure conformance with applicable coastal and environmental laws and regulations.
Interview, hire and supervise consultant teams in the preparation of environmental impact reports and technical documents.
Meet and deal effectively with local public officials, developers, land owners, consultants and the general public.
Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Coastal Planning Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge and Experience of:

Principles and practices of land use, planning, zoning, community development and environmental protection;
Preparing, implementing, and amending the City’s LCP for consistency with the California Coastal Act (CCA);
Integrating sea level rise adaptation planning into land use policy, hazard mitigation, and/or coastal permitting processes;
Conducting California Environmental Quality Act reviews;
Research and analysis methods related to community development and planning;
Record keeping and report preparation.
Understanding of applicable Federal, State, local laws related to zoning, coastal and environmental regulation;
Coastal processes, hazards, and adaptation strategies.

Ability to:

Perform complex professional planning duties in support of the City's development review process and long-range planning activities.
Analyze and interpret planning regulations and environmental laws.
Conduct field investigations and compile data for the preparation of reports, maps, charts, and other graphic materials.
Prepare and present clear reports to decision makers and the public.
Identify long term planning needs.
Prepare plans for residential and commercial revitalization.
Ensure regulatory compliance.
Supervise staff and consultants in the preparation of CEQA and technical documents.
Coordinate with agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
Respond to public inquiries.
Manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
Represent the City in meetings and public forums.
Communicate effectively.
Establish effective working relationships.

Experience and Training

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible professional land use planning experience.

For the Senior Planner position:Three of the five years of experience in the implementation, and amendment of state and local regulations, Local Coastal Program, climate adaptation, environmental reviews, and policies is highly desirable.

Training:A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in community development, planning, business administration or a related field.

License or Certificate:Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Environmental Conditions: Office environment; exposure to computer screens; extensive public contact. Occasional travel to work sites or other sites for meetings, or to undeveloped areas of the City for field visits. Field sites may include construction sites, steep terrains, agricultural areas, and habitats of native flora and fauna, insects, native animals and endangered species.

Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for walking, sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time; speaking and hearing to exchange information; visual acuity to read and interpret specifications and drawings.

Selection Process: All applications will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. The process may include a written, oral examination, or application appraisal, to assess job-related education, experience and training. Candidates who successfully complete the examination process will be placed on an eligible list according to their scores and will remain eligible for employment consideration for a minimum of six months.

Note: Prospective candidates will undergo a background reference check and a medical examination, a drug screening may be required.

RESUMES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS BUT MAY BE ATTACHED.

CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.

City of Oceanside

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Senior Coastal Planner