The City of Diamond Bar's Planning Division is looking for a dynamic planning student, to join its team of outstanding professionals, as a paid intern.
The City of Diamond Bar is a general law city incorporated on April 18, 1989. It is governed by the city council/city manager form of government. A five-member city council is elected by the residents, and a mayor is elected annually by the council to serve a one-year term. The city manager is appointed by the council to oversee the daily activities of the city.
The Planning Division of the Community Development Department prepares and administers the zoning and subdivision ordinances and reviews development projects in compliance with the City's ordinances. The Planning Division ensures all projects comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, and provides the community with long-range planning in order to coordinate and monitor growth and development. It is also charged with updating and implementing the General Plan.
Planning has embarked upon a number of long-range planning projects including the ongoing efforts with the Town Center Specific Plan. These projects provide a rare and exciting opportunity for a talented and motivated Planning intern to gain experience and develop work habits that will pay dividends long after launching a career in this highly-competitive profession.
The assigned intern will report directly to the Senior Planner and have the opportunity to work with all staff in the Community Development Department. The intern assignment will take place at Diamond Bar City Hall, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, Ca 91765. All assigned job duties will allow an intern to develop a perspective and provide insight in the interdisciplinary fields of work as a planner in a municipal agency. In addition to the day-to-day duties, there will be opportunities for the intern to attend Planning Commission and Administrative Review hearings, which will help the intern experience the public hearing process. Staff will also take the intern on field/site visits to provide some basic tools for assessing site conditions and design schemes in order to understand the issues, identify the opportunities and constraints, and provide recommendations related to a project.
The selected intern will have the opportunity to be exposed to a wide variety of planning-related tasks in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department. The Planning intern would be assigned to perform and receive exposure to the following:
- Process discretionary projects such as Administrative Development Reviews for additions to single-family residences and Minor Conditional Use Permits for alcohol sales;
- Process non-complex applications, such as routine business licenses, plan checks, patio covers, walls/fences, and sign permits;
- Assist customers at the front counter, on the phone and via email; and
- Conduct and compile research using resources such as the Planners' ListServ, the internet and direct contact with other public sector agencies.
These duties provide the foundation to learn the City's zoning regulations, policies and procedures, project and file management, time management, and problem solving, and communication skills. The internship will also provide the opportunity to learn the nuts and bolts of land use administration, such as how to read site, grading and architectural plans; and checking for compliance with zoning regulations.
Some additional routine tasks may include the following:
Administration - Purging and organizing closed planning files to support records scanning needs, etc.
Current Planning/Discretionary Review - Serve as an apprentice to planners on their more complex projects.
Education: Currently enrolled college or university students that have attained Senior level status in the undergraduate Urban and Regional Planning degree program and graduate level students in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree program will be considered.
Experience: None required
The following skills, knowledge, and abilities are highly desirable for program participation:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to apply research techniques, survey methods, and data collection
- Flexibility and ability to handle multiple priorities
- Excellent customer service skills
- Ability to foster effective working relationships with all levels of staff and the public
- Computer experience with Microsoft Office
This is a year-round internship opportunity. The successful candidate will be assigned a minimum of two to three working days during business hours (7:30am – 5:30pm) preferably on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for approximately 18 hours/week.
Some of the many benefits to the interns include the following:
- Build resumes/work history and explore career options
- Apply skills and knowledge acquired in an academic setting to the workplace
- Fulfill college/university internship requirements
- Network with professionals in their fields of interest
- Intern with one of the premier public employers in the region
- Flexible scheduling to allow for finals and changes in class schedule
- As scheduling permits, engage in employee events, such as holiday luncheon, city-wide meetings, Commission and Council meetings
- Meet with City Manager and other City Executives
Candidates whose education, experience and/or training appear to be best qualified will be invited to participate in an Oral Interview: 100%.
The top candidate(s) will be required to successfully pass a criminal background check, verification of work experience, and submit an official copy of educational transcripts verifying obtained degrees or certificates as indicated on the employment application. The selected candidate will be required to successfully pass a medical examination after a conditional job offer is made.
