Principal Planner - Carpinteria - City of Carpinteria, CA

Description

Job Title: Principal Planner

About the Position and Our Agency

The City of Carpinteria is seeking a skilled planning professional to join our team as a Principal Planner. As a mid-management professional planning position, this role will provide an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic, close-knit coastal community.

Responsibilities

• Serves as first-line section supervisor to planning section staff, reporting directly to the Community Development Director.
• Leads staff planners in current planning or advance planning sections administering development review in compliance with zoning and subdivision ordinances, historic preservation, and policy implementation of the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, and Specific Plans.
• Ensures accurate project analysis and quality control for the preparation of notices, reports, ordinances, and resolutions, plans, and maps, and agendas related to hearings.
• Undertakes responsible assignments in current or advanced planning to complete development review for project or program compliance with land use policies and ordinances or to complete comprehensive planning functions for policy and ordinance research, analysis, design, and implementation.
• Prepares complex planning reports and directly oversees the preparation of staff reports and documents prepared by subordinate staff; provides recommendations to the Community Development Director.
• Represents the City as technical advisor to assigned committees, serving as staff advisor, secretary, or Chairperson and advising supervisor of committee work.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates staff; assigns and monitors work to meet project deliverables, public hearing deadlines, and departmental performance measures; acts as a technical resource and provides planning support to Community Development Department management, City employees, and the general public.
• Plans, researches, analyzes, and prepares a variety of complex reports related to staffing and budgetary needs. Works with the Community Development Director to develop and monitor division work programs and budget.
• In the advance planning section, develops program policies, procedures, and guidelines; reviews reports, data, correspondence, and staff activity for compliance with policies and guidelines; recommends policy and procedural changes; applies for and administers grants; and implements programs.
• In the current planning section, supervises the public counter operations, ensures development project cases are completed in an accurate and timely manner, and maintains the Planning division's permit tracking system.
• Attends Committees, Planning Commission, and City Council hearings as well as community stakeholder meetings as required and are routinely conducted in an evening setting.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, architecture, environmental studies, public administration, engineering, or a closely related field and five years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience in the assigned area, including two years of first-line supervisory experience or three years of lead responsibility or oversight of projects or programs, are required.

A valid California driver's license and AICP certification are highly desirable.

Selection Process and Additional Information

The City of Carpinteria offers a competitive salary range of $100,116.30 - $137,659.91 annually, plus a generous benefits package. The application deadline is February 12, 2025.