Overview

Step into a leadership role where your work truly shapes a community. The City of Pacific Grove is seeking its next Principal Planner to help guide thoughtful growth while preserving the charm and character that make this coastal city so special.

Pacific Grove is known for its tight-knit community, picturesque coastline, and beautifully preserved Victorian homes. It’s a place where residents care deeply about their city, and where planning is not just about policy—it’s about people. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to provide exceptional public service, working closely with residents, stakeholders, and colleagues to ensure projects and programs reflect the community’s shared vision.

We’re looking for a planning professional who brings outstanding communication and problem-solving skills, along with a collaborative and service-oriented mindset. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic environment, values transparency, and is committed to delivering clear, responsive, and thoughtful guidance to the public and development community.

The successful candidate will have more than five years of progressively responsible experience in planning, including long-range planning, current planning, coastal planning, and CEQA. Experience managing programs related to housing services and the development of affordable housing is important, as is a strong background working within a government agency. A solid understanding of government finance, regulatory authority, and grant management will be key to success in this role.

As Principal Planner, you will serve as a manager, leader, and mentor within the Community Development Department. You’ll guide staff, oversee complex projects and programs, and help foster a positive, high-performing team culture grounded in professionalism and public service.

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact in a charming coastal community that values both its history and its future, we invite you to explore this opportunity.

Compensation

The salary range for this at-will position is $107,598 - $140,774 annually, An additional 3% management incentive is also provided and is calculated from the base salary (annual salary x 3%). The selected candidate will enjoy an excellent benefits package including CalPERS retirement.

Classification Description

Under general direction, plan, organize and direct a section of the Planning Department; act as designated, on behalf of Director in their absence, and do other work as required. Assignments could be made either to Development Review or to Long-Range planning responsibilities. The Principal Planner may also be assigned to act as Zoning Administrator.

Responsibilities

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, essential functions may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Supervises the work of professional and administrative personnel who are engaged in compiling data and preparing recommendations and reports directly related to municipal planning needs.
Supervises and coordinates the investigation of unusually complex or difficult zoning matters and preparation of reports and recommendations regarding ordinance interpretation and modification.
Analyzes and prepares recommendations regarding zoning, annexations, City boundary changes, variances, exceptions, and adjustments of zoning requirements.
Makes presentations before City Council, Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Committee, community meetings or other agencies.
Confers with the public to provide advice and consultation on problems associated with planning or zoning functions.
Informs Department Director and City Manager as necessary about matters requiring their attention and keeps them up to date on the progress of planning projects and studies.
Speaks and distributes information to civic groups to provide information on significant planning projects and conducts negotiations with other agencies for the development and financing of joint projects.
Prepares the preliminary budget for the division.
Coordinates the work of professional and technical personnel in the preparation of maps, graphs, and reports and in the design and presentation of media in support of planning functions.
Trains and supervises subordinate personnel.
Supervises and coordinates the development , amendment and interpretation of the City's comprehensive General Plan, Local Coastal Program and other Specific Plans.
Supervises and coordinates the preparation of special studies assigned by the City Council and Administration leading to the development of land use policies.
Provides consultation for public projects as needed.
Prepares and monitors contracts for service providers.
Prepares grant applications for funding and monitors compliance of grant award.

Typical Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:

Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Business or Public Administration; AND five years of experience managing community development and urban planning or related programs including two years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. A Master's degree may substitute for one year of the required professional experience.

Knowledge Of

Knowledge of zoning administration and subdivision regulations, practices and procedures.
Ability to formulate and manage difficult and complex urban planning programs, projects, and longitudinal plans.
City policies and procedures.
Federal regulations, state statutes, case law, and local ordinances governing planning, zoning, municipal services, and urban development, including California Environmental Quality Act.
Principles, practices and procedures of urban planning, community development, land use, zoning regulation, permitting, code compliance, and environmental protection.
Principles and practices of public sector administrative management, including performance management, personnel rules, accounting, budgeting, and contract management.
Environmentally responsible and resource-efficient community development techniques.
Principles of records management, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Geography, roads, and landmarks of City and surrounding areas.

Skill in:

Interpreting and applying technical standards and procedures, federal and state rules and regulations, and City policies and procedures governing Community Development functions.
Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
Supervising staff, delegating tasks and authority, and coaching to improve staff performance.
Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with City employees, representatives from other regional agencies, community groups, and advisory groups.
Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands.
Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.
Grant-funded project management accounting systems and documentation standards.

License And Certification Requirements

A valid California State Driver's License may be required. Professional certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred.

Physical Demands And Working Environment

Work is performed in a standard office environment. May anticipate lifting approximately 25 lbs at a time and be able to stand on a ladder for file property files in banker boxes on shelves.

Supplemental Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYEMENT

Required to take an Oath of Office.
Must be willing to attend evening or weekend meetings and/or critical events and activities, as appropriate.
City employees are disaster relief workers in the event of natural disasters or emergency conditions.
Employees must have and show their Social Security Card on the first day of work. Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form 1-9.
As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background investigation, including a social media and criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history,(if any),will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered.
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list that may be used to fill other related vacancies. The duration of the eligibility list is 14 months unless abolished by Human Resources.
The Principal Planner is exempt and represented by the Management Employee Association (MEA).

Full-time employees are eligible for all benefits listed below. Less than full-time employees may be eligible for pro-rated benefits depending on the bi-weekly hours worked.

Health Insurance: Medical, dental and vision insurance coverage offered to employees and dependents
Life Insurance: $75,000 death benefit
Supplemental Short Term and Long Term Disability Plans
Participation in State Disability Insurance
Holidays: Paid Holidays and floating holidays
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Flexible Spending Accounts: Voluntary health care or dependent care flexible spending accounts
PERS Retirement: Employer/Employee shared contributions
Deferred Compensation Plan: Voluntary participation in a 457 deferred compensation plan with an up to $100 employer match per pay period.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The City does not participate in Social Security except for the mandatory Medicare Program.

Benefits are subject to change and do not constitute a contract.

01

As part of the application and recruitment process, you are required to complete this supplemental questionnaire. Your completed responses to the supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated to determine your qualifications and must be completed properly in order to be given full consideration for the next phase in the selection process. Additionally, your responses will also be evaluated and used in the selection process in order to identify the best qualified applicants. Only the best and most suitably qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the oral interviews. Responses should be thorough and specific. A lack of detail and explanation in the supplemental questions and in your application may result in failure or disqualification for this position. Clarity of expression, content, experience, grammar, spelling and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. Information provided in your responses to the supplemental questionnaire regarding your employment experiences should also be detailed in the Work Experience section of the application for this recruitment. Please be sure to list all employers and required information, on your application, especially if you are referencing those employers in your responses to the supplemental questions. Do not answer any question by indicating "see attached resume" in your responses to the questions; a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for properly completed responses. Do you understand the statement above?

02

Do you have five (5) years of related professional work experience, which includes at least two years of supervisory and administrative experience?

03

Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Business, Public Administration or related degree or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience?

04

Describe a recent project (within the last 3–5 years) where you personally applied zoning regulations and subdivision requirements to resolve a conflict or ambiguity in a development proposal. A. Identify the jurisdiction, zoning designation, and specific code sections involved B. Explain the conflict and how you interpreted or applied the regulations C. Describe the outcome, including any conditions of approval or modifications D. Name one thing you would handle differently if faced with the same situation again

05

Select a specific California planning law or regulation (e.g., CEQA, housing law, coastal regulation) that you have applied in your work. A. Describe a real situation where you implemented or enforced this regulation B. Explain how you balanced compliance with local priorities or community concerns C. Identify any legal, political, or environmental constraints you had to navigate D. Provide one example of how your understanding of local geography, infrastructure, or community context influenced your decision-making

Required Question

City of Pacific Grove

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