Senior Planner

The City of San Mateo Community Development Department is seeking a Senior Planner

Why Join our Department?

The Community Development Department, also known as CDD, is organized into four core divisions — Planning, Building, Code Enforcement, and Housing.  CDD has broad responsibilities including, but not limited to, long-range planning, review of applications for new developments, construction permitting and inspection, and implementation of the City’s housing and code enforcement programs. You will be joining a talented team in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment dedicated to serving the San Mateo community.  The Community Development Department’s core function is to ensure a quality-built environment, healthy neighborhoods, and a strong economic base in the City.  The Senior Planner position is integral to the Planning Division’s leadership team of highly motivated professionals who work closely with internal and external customers to provide comprehensive planning services to the community.  Collaboration, innovation, respect, accountability, creativity, transparency, thoughtfulness, and informed risk-taking are attributes and competencies that we are seeking in the candidate.

What You'll Do

The Senior Planner works on, organizes, reviews, and participates in current and advanced planning work and acts as Zoning Administrator when assigned.  The Senior Planer also supervises the work of professional and technical planning personnel, projects, and other activities when assigned.  This class is the first supervisory level in the professional planning series.  It is distinguished from the next lower class of Associate Planner through its supervisory duties, when assigned, and its responsibilities for the most complex planning projects.  It is distinguished from the next higher class of Principal Planner as the latter is responsible for managing the current and advanced planning functions of the Planning Division.  Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Implement goals, objectives, policies, and priorities.
• Direct, coordinate, review, and participate in the work of professional and other planning staff in data collection, analysis, and implementation of a wide variety of planning, zoning, and environmental review activities.
• Act as Zoning Administrator when assigned; supervise special planning, zoning, and environmental studies, and plans; prepare oral and written reports and findings.
• Perform the most complex and sensitive planning work.
• Act as liaison and make oral and written reports to the Planning Commission, Development Review Board, City Council, and various citizen committees as assigned.
• Coordinate planning activities with other City divisions and departments, and with outside local, regional, Federal and State agencies and provide assistance as needed.
• Chair Development Review Board meetings as required.
• Initiate recommendations for changes in codes, plans and policies.
• Utilize expert knowledge in specific technical areas to serve as staff resource.
• May assist in the preparation and administration of the annual budget.
• Meet with and advise developers regarding development applications and processes; explain purposes, regulations, and directives of accepted development practices; complete processing of the most difficult and complex planning applications; advise staff on processing of applications.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate staff, when assigned.

The Senior Planner receives direction from the Planning Manager or higher-level department personnel and exercises direct supervision over professional and other planning staff as assigned. 

For a complete list of duties, reference our job specifications at https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/Home/Index/86c

Who You Are

• An individual who possesses thorough knowledge of specific technical areas applicable to planning; principles and practices of urban planning; computer systems and applications; research methods; Federal, State, and local laws relating to planning and housing; and principles of administration and personnel management.
• An individual who possesses the ability to acquire a thorough knowledge of Division policies and procedures, and a working knowledge of applicable Department and City policies and regulations; plan the work of professional and technical staff in compilation of technical and statistical data, research, and the preparation of plans and technical papers; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, other City personnel, and outside agencies; communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; understand and interpret codes, plans, and policies; work independently and exercise good judgment; balance competing interests in preparing plans and reviewing applications; process the most complex and sensitive planning applications; prepare and analyze planning studies and clearly communicate findings of these studies; and supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.

What You Bring

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• You possess five years professional experience in the field of urban planning.
• You possess the equivalent to Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning or related field.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of, or ability to possess, a valid, driver’s license.

Bonus Points (highly desirable)

• Master’s degree in planning, or a related field.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification.
• Supervisory experience of staff, programs and/or administrative activities.
• Expertise in community planning, urban design, or architectural design.

ADA Special Requirement:  Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment:  Ability to work in a standard office environment with some exposure to the outdoors.

What We Offer

• Salary:  $11,043 - $13,174/month
• Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits
• CalPERS retirement (2% @ 55 for classic members; 2% @ 62 for new members). Classic employees contribute 8.34% to CalPERS and New members contribute 7.50% to CalPERS
• Participation in the Social Security Program
• City contribution of 1.5% of base salary to a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, and a 1.0% match to the Employee’s voluntary contribution.
• The City contributes 0.25% of base salary to a Retiree Health Savings Account
• Free Fitness classes through City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation
• Credit Union Membership
• Bilingual Differential $195 monthly (if applicable)
• For more information please refer to the Management Association Benefits Summary effective January 2022.
• This classification is represented by the San Mateo Management Association

Are You Ready? Apply.

Submit an online application, résumé, (required) and supplemental questionnaire at www.calopps.org or to the Human Resources Department, City of San Mateo, 330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, (650) 522-7260. 

Application Deadline

Recruitment will close on September 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. or upon receipt of the first 50 applications, résumés, (required) and supplemental questionnaires, whichever occurs first. 

Examination Process

All applications, résumés (required) and responses to supplemental questions received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications.  A fully completed application is required; a resume does not replace the information required on the employment application, including work history.  Applications with "see résumé" as a substitution for the work experience description, those with none or unclear current/past employment information, or those with insufficient information to evaluate possession of minimum qualifications will not be considered; missing information cannot be assumed.  A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral panel interview, written exercise, or in the form of a practical demonstration of skill and ability, or any combination of these; a Zoom oral panel interview is tentatively scheduled for October 3, 2024. 

An employment list will be established from those who pass the examination process.  Current and future vacancies may be filled from this list.  The list will remain in effect for at least six months with the possibility of an extension for an additional six months.  Once placed on an employment list, and at the time a vacancy occurs, eligible candidates may be contacted by the hiring department and scheduled for additional department interviews.

Fine Print

Prior to hire, candidates will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, including a driving record review, reference check, and Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment.

The policy of the City of San Mateo is to grant equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual preference, marital status, or national origin. It is the intent and desire of the City of San Mateo that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants requiring accommodations for any part of the testing or recruitment process must notify lcoles@cityofsanmateo.org or (650) 522-7264 seven (7) days in advance of the deadline for the part of the process requiring accommodations. Do not upload any documents related to your request for accommodation in CalOpps. The City of San Mateo complies with employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.