The Port of San Diego is currently going through a class and compensation study. The job title and job duties are subject to change.
Unlike many of California’s commercial-oriented Ports, the Port of San Diego has a large visitor-serving, public access, and recreation component that includes public parks, public access-ways, hotels, restaurants, retail shopping districts, and recreational boating facilities, as well as more traditional industrial and commercial fishing facilities. The Port of San Diego manages over 34 miles of area, crossing five member cities, and has a need for planning professionals with a passion for taking an active role in shaping San Diego’s diverse waterfront.
The Port of San Diego is seeking a self-motivated Associate Planner to join the Development Services Department, to help advance projects that create and support a well-planned and integrated waterfront, to help guide the development and management of San Diego’s waterfront through excellence in customer service, while balancing development and protection of the environment. The Associate Planner position will be assigned current planning functions of routine to moderate complexity, while also supporting senior-level staff in more complex functions. The candidate must have familiarity with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), be a good communicator and possess excellent writing skills; familiarity with the California Coastal Act is a plus. Possible work assignments include CEQA documents and Coastal Development permits for projects related to redevelopment, maritime, marinas, hotels, restaurants, capital improvements, public access, and more!
If this describes your talents and interests, and you are looking for a positive, innovative, and creative teamwork environment, this could be the job for you.
GENERAL PURPOSEUnder general supervision, reviews, processes and presents diverse and sensitive development plans and proposals; performs a variety of environmental and land use planning research, studies and analyses; develops, reviews and presents specialized graphic displays, reports, documents and correspondence; represents the Port or department in interactions with the public, tenants, other governmental agencies, member city representatives and internal contacts; assists in developing and maintaining the Port's Master Plan; and performs related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICSAssociate Planner is the full working level professional class in the Planner class series. Incumbents perform a wide range of specialized and moderately complex land use and environmental planning review, studies and analyses requiring the application of technical expertise and the exercise of sound independent judgment and initiative consistent with legal, regulatory and policy provisions. Work is performed with limited supervision and direction, and results are reviewed for quality of research, analysis and recommendations.
Associate Planner is distinguished from Senior Planner in that the latter class is the advanced class in the planning class series and incumbents in the latter class typically carry out the most complex planning assignments, and provide supervision to a team of planners and technicians and are required to exercise significant problem-solving ability on complex or political issues involving frequent contact with elected and appointed officials.
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.
1. Reviews and analyzes assigned development plans and proposals to verify compliance with all pertinent environmental and land use planning laws, regulations, codes and Port Master Plan requirements; reviews plans and technical documents and ascertains compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Port's Coastal Development Permit guidelines, regulations and standards and other federal, state and local laws, regulations and codes; verifies adherence to Port's Master Plan, other established jurisdictional plans and other Planning criteria, goals and requirements; evaluates accuracy and validity of provided data; identifies plan or proposal non-compliance issues and formulates and offers appropriate and clear actions, recommendations and alternatives for resolution.
2. Plans, organizes and performs a variety of environmental and land use planning research, studies and analysis projects, including environmental impact, land use research and legislative analyses; plans, organizes and conducts studies to evaluate a potential project's impact on the environment and analyze other assigned environmental or land use issues; researches, collects, organizes, evaluates and analyzes highly technical and specialized information and data; conducts and oversees field and office investigations to collect field data, verify site conditions and note potential problems; presents clear, concise and accurate findings, recommendations and alternatives; reviews, assesses and comments on consultant and other pertinent studies related to development or environmental impact, such as traffic studies, historical surveys and geo-technical and biological studies; conducts coastal assessments; assists in the review and evaluation of environmental or other pertinent legislative impact on the Port.
3. Develops, writes, reviews and presents a variety of reports, documents and correspondence related to environmental and land use planning; composes and presents written technical reports, including findings and recommendations regarding projects; drafts agenda sheets; completes and reviews environmental documentation for Port and tenant projects, including categorical exemptions, negative declarations and mitigated negative declarations; develops presentation materials and presents or assists in presenting designated projects to Board of Port Commissioners.
4. Utilizing manual or computer tools, creates a variety of visual materials, including advanced graphic displays, maps, charts and photographs for presentation of planning concepts, alternative land use development scenarios and site layouts to a variety of internal and external audiences.
5. Represents the Port or department in interactions with the public, tenants, other governmental agencies, member city representatives and internal contacts; coordinates with other departments and governmental agencies during the review process to obtain input; provides information, interpretations and assistance on Port planning projects and on issues regarding environmental and land use planning laws, policies, regulations, standards and procedures; researches and responds to a wide variety of inquiries and concerns; presents information to and obtains information from staff, other District departments, Port tenants, community groups, civic leaders, the public, professional associations, public officials, foreign visitors and the academic community; conducts and coordinates public outreach efforts and makes formal public presentations; serves as liaison for, provides expertise and consultation to and actively represents the Port's planning interests with outside agencies (MTS, SANDAG, NCTD, Caltrans) for the planning of projects that affect District property.
6. Assists in developing and maintaining the Port's Master Plan and other related plans; processes, prepares and presents Port Master Plan amendments for Board of Commissioner approval; develops and offers recommendations for revisions to assigned Master Plan and other related plans.
7. Assists in developing and administering professional services contracts with outside consultants; drafts request for proposal and contracts; coordinates work of consultants to ensure contract terms are met; monitors work programs and schedules to ensure timely project completion; reviews invoices and identifies discrepancies.
8. Processes and issues coastal development and other regulatory permits within designated time frames.
OTHER DUTIES1. Keeps abreast of and incorporates training regarding new legislation and other related developments impacting Port environmental and land use planning.
Knowledge of:1. Theory, principles, standards, practices and information sources of land use, natural resource, ecological sciences and environmental planning.
2. Principles, methods, techniques and procedures of environmental impact analyses.
3. Federal, state, regional and local laws, codes and regulations, including CEQA and the National Environmental Policy Act, and Port policies and practices pertinent to areas of responsibility.
4. Practices and procedures to issue specified coastal permits.
5. Application of land use and environmental design and ecological science theory and practices to the planning process.
6. Math concepts, including statistical analysis techniques and formulas, relevant to the planning process.
7. Terminology, symbols, methods, techniques and instruments used in land use and environmental planning.
8. Operations and uses of a computer and standard and specialized software applicable to the work.
9 .Basic principles and practices of program/project planning and management, including contract and budget management for individual projects.
10. Principles and practices of public administration, including purchasing, contracting and maintenance of public records.
11. Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.
12. Principles and practices of sound business communication
Ability to:1. Understand and apply federal, state, regional and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures and standards and planning principles and practices to the land use and environmental planning process.
2. Understand and apply Port policy in formulating recommendations on specific planning issues and requests.
3. Research, analyze and summarize planning data, both manually and with computer programs.
4. Interpret maps, graphs, statistical and other technical data.
5. Communicate effectively orally and in writing to both internal and external program stakeholders
6. Prepare clear and concise technical documents, reports, correspondence and other written materials.
7. Exercise independent judgment and initiative within established policies and guidelines.
8. Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations.
9. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered in the course of the work.
10. Ensure the maintenance of all required files, records and documentation.
11. Manage multiple projects within a given time frame.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTSEducation, Training and Experience:Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in environmental resources, planning, biology, ecology, environmental science, natural resource management or geography, with courses in urban or regional planning or a closely related field; and three years of progressively responsible experience in land use, environmental, urban or regional planning or environmental research and analysis
or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.A Masters Degree in planning, environmental or a closely related field can be substituted for one year of experience. Time served as a District Intern will count towards the years of experience.
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:Certain assignments may require a valid driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance program.The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training, and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.
Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the assessment process which may be administered by a written examination, panel interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of People Services to be appropriate. The Department of People Services will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.
Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.
THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT (40%) AND APPRAISAL PANEL (60%) ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025 AND THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025.
To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/portofsd Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded) to your application or your application will be considered incomplete. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.
Placement on Eligible List: The Department of People Services may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the assessment process. Candidates who are successful in all phases of the assessment process will be placed on an eligible list. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of ninety (90) days or up to one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to Rule 8, Section 4.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The District firmly believes in, and is committed to, the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. It is the policy of the District to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to age (40 and above), ancestry, color, disability (mental or physical), gender (including identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth), marital status, medical condition, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDSPersons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depends, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the hiring department to accommodate the limitation.
Resolution #: 2017 - 130
Dated: September 12, 2017