Assistant Planner: $7,841.60 - $9,529.87 monthly

Associate Planner: $9,618.27 - $11,682.67 monthly

This unique classification offers the successful candidate the ability to promote from Assistant Planner to Associate Planner without a competitive recruitment, upon recommendation of the Department Head after a performance evaluation review, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications and demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Are you looking to make a positive impact by helping to shape the future of a community? The City of Ontario has a unique opportunity for a highly talented, motivated and solution orientated Assistant/Associate Planner. The successful candidate will be hired as an Assistant Planner or Associate Planner depending on their qualifications for the position and the needs of the department.

The City of Ontario's economy continues to thrive and is projected to grow. At 181,103 residents, up 8 percent since 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts Ontario's population will double by 2035. From new construction and historic preservation efforts in the downtown area, to the long-anticipated development of Ontario Ranch (8,200 acres of former Agriculture Preserve), which is to be developed with approximately 44,000 residential units, over 15 million square feet of commercial/office development and 11 million square feet of industrial development, the City of Ontario provides varied and unlimited opportunities for a planner interested in gaining valuable professional experience.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the standards and requirements needed to ensure compliance and be a problem solver for landscape design, modifications, and challenges. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be a strong resource to our community, developers, and internal staff. Even more, the successful candidate will embody the Department's mission and vision as well as the qualities of a "Five Tool Player" - Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant - and the principles of the City's Customer Service Philosophy – Empathy, Respect, and Problem Solving.

The Following Procedures Will Apply:

The Eligibility List will consist of both internal and external applicants who meet the qualifications and successfully complete any required selection processes.
The hiring department has the discretion to consider internal applicants on the Eligibility List prior to considering external candidates on the Eligibility List.
The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below.
Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

The Planning Department

The Planning Department is within the Community Development Agency, plays a critical role in achieving the City Council's goals and objectives relative to land use, urban design, and the quality and sustainability of the built environment. The department focuses on development that enhances economic value, quality of life, and complete community. The Planning department is comprised of three divisions: Administration; Land Development (includes Entitlements, Landscape and Airport Planning); and Advanced Planning (includes Historic Preservation, Healthy Ontario, and General Plan). Please review the Planning Department’s webpage for additional information.

The City of Ontario

The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including, but not limited to: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City’s team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.

The City’s Vision For The Future Is Very Exciting, And We Foresee Tremendous Growth Within The Years To Come. We Welcome You To View The City Of Ontario’s 2025 State Of The City Video By Clicking On The Link Below As Well As The Other Links To Learn More About The City:

State of the City

The Ontario Plan

Smart Ontario

Downtown Ontario

The essential functions typically performed by the Assistant Planner include the following:

Provides information and assistance to the public on a daily basis.
Assist with the preparation of revisions to the Development Code.
Assist with the preparation of long-range planning studies.
Advises property owners, developers and the public on the Developmental Code rules and regulations.
Reviews development proposal and prepares written reports.
Reviews graphic production on assigned projects.
Assists superiors in the preparation of material for presentation before various board and commissions, including the Planning Commission and City Council.
Performs other duties as assigned.

In addition to the above, the following functions are typically performed by the Associate Planner classification:

Assists in the preparation of revisions to Development Code and long-range planning studies.
Produces a variety of graphic materials for assigned projects including maps, flyers and slide presentations.
Prepares, complies, organizes and presents staff reports on complex zoning matters, development plans, specific plans and amendments including variances, conditional use permits for various boards and commissions involving Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, and City Council.
Conducts California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and historic resource analysis.
Conducts independent investigations and performs technical analysis and administration of long-range projects, including general plan amendments, specific plans, environmental impact reports, ordinance preparation/revision, and airport land use reports.
Reviews building plans, parcel maps, and subdivision proposals for compliance and ensures appropriate regulations are applied.
Supervises the working consultants and subordinates assigned to long-range planning projects.
Provides general guidance, training, and direction to subordinates.
Meets and confers with government officials and the public on planning matters.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Assistant Planner

Education

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Geography, Public Administration, Landscape Architecture, or closely related field

NOTE: Proof of education must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.

Experience

One (1) year of recent, full-time experience in Urban Planning, preferably with a public agency.

Desirable

Previous experience working for a public agency, and working knowledge of GIS mapping systems.

Licenses

Valid Class C California driver’s license and acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment.

Advancement

An Assistant Planner may be considered for advancement to Associate Planner upon recommendation of the Department Head after a performance evaluation review, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications and demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform at the Associate Planner.

Associate Planner

Education

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Geography, Public Administration, Landscape Architecture, or closely related field.

NOTE: Proof of education must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.

Experience

Two (2) years of recent professional and responsible experience in Urban Planning, preferably with a public agency.

Note: A Master’s degree in Urban Planning or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of required experience.

Desirable

Master’s degree in Urban Planning or closely related field. Experience and knowledgeable in the following: urban design, land development, current planning, Tract/Parcel Map subdivisions, residential, commercial, and industrial development plan entitlements including legislative applications pertaining to General Plan Amendments, Development Code Amendments, and Specific Plan Amendments.

Licenses

Valid Class C California driver’s license and acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment.

How To Apply

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com, you will be prompted to create a new user account, otherwise, log in with your username and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:

List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.

A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.

NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit required certification(s) or other required documentation as outlined in the Qualifications Guideline section of this bulletin. Please use the attachment function found on the City's online application to attach copies of the requested certification(s) or other documentation. Failure to attach required documentation may result in the rejection of your application. Please contact the Human Resources/Risk Management Agency if you have any questions regarding the application process.

Your application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. Failure to complete these sections may result in the rejection of your application.

Supplemental Questions

To complete your application for this position, you may be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.

Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.

Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.

Email Notices

Email is the primary way that the Human Resources/Risk Management or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the City of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.

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Assistant Planner/Associate Planner