Senior Planner

This lead planner will manage and coordinate the processing of large development applications across city divisions and departments to expedite entitlement and permitting approvals for housing and commercial development in the Future Growth Area. Summary of Duties: The Senior Planner performs responsible professional and technical work to organize, develop, and implement planning, housing, and community and economic development activities within a Community Development Department division. • Assists with coordinating the City's housing, community development, economic development and planning activities • Performs complex and sensitive planning and community development work and negotiates and mediates sensitive issues within assigned programs • Assists in the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities • Responsible for the preparation and implementation of long-range city plans including the general plan, area specific plans, community plans and associated policies, projects, and actions • Processes complex planning projects that include Annexation and Sphere of Influence Amendments and Development Agreements • Coordinates with local, regional, state, and federal agencies on land use, housing, environmental, and long-range planning initiatives • Reviews, evaluates, constructively comments on, and processes administrative and discretionary development proposals and applications, architectural design, and other plans to ensure development projects and proposals conform to the General Plan and Zoning Code • Meets with and advises developers regarding development applications and processes; explains purposes, regulations, and directives of development practices • Prepares ordinances, City Council reports, and other written reports to outside agencies • Analyzes and interprets legislative proposals and activities • Coordinates, reviews, and participates in the work of professional and technical employees in data collection, analyses, plan formulation, and implementation of a variety of planning and redevelopment activities • Evaluates environmental and technical studies for all levels of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) compliance • Directs and coordinates special studies; prepares reports and findings related to population growth, annexation, and fiscal matters • Conducts and oversees research analysis, and the use of a variety of data including studies of land use, population, social and economic conditions, housing, and community facilities • Negotiates, develops, and administers contractual agreements • Represents the Department at public meetings/hearings and presents major matters to the City Council, Planning Commission, and citizen committees, as required • Provides support and guidance to the Housing and Land Use Committee, Planning Commission, Historic Resource Board, and similar committees/commissions • Assists in budget preparation and administration • May supervise, train, and evaluate technical and clerical staff, as assigned • Promotes and maintains safety in the workplace • Performs related duties as assigned Knowledge of: • Principles and practices of municipal urban planning, housing, and community and economic development • Recent developments, current literature, and informational sources in the field of planning, community development, and economic development • Research methods and procedures • Principles and practices of public administration, project, and budget • Applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations relating to urban and regional planning and community development programs • Grant and contract administration • Negotiation techniques • Applicable laws related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and environmental regulations • Real estate financing, construction and development practices and procedures • Research methods and procedures • Mathematics and statistics • Written, oral, and graphic presentation techniques • Planning and land development research and application methods • Operation of personal computers with proficiency using word processing and spreadsheet programs • Principles and practices of supervision, training, and problem-solving techniques Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a related field