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Principal Planner
City of Westminster / Westminster
Posted on: October 2, 2024
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Job Description
The Principal Planner is a pivotal leadership position within the Community Development Department, directly reporting to the Department Director and serving as the staff liaison to the Planning Commission. This role is instrumental in shaping the City’s future development by expertly interpreting and applying Zoning Ordinances, guiding General Plan Updates, and ensuring compliance with State regulations and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As the Principal Planner, you will lead the resolution of complex planning challenges that surpass the expertise of other planners and senior planners, playing a key role in driving innovative solutions for the community.
In this capacity, you will also mentor and develop a team of experienced department planners and administrative staff, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration that benefits the entire community. Additionally, you will oversee the dissemination of crucial planning and zoning information, ensuring that the public, developers, engineers, property owners, and contractors are well-informed and aligned with the city’s land use regulations.
This role requires a robust understanding of urban planning, exceptional problem-solving skills, and the ability to navigate and resolve intricate planning issues. As such, the Principal Planner is integral to the success and sustainability of the city’s planning initiatives. This recruitment is open continuous, with a first review of applications scheduled for October 15, 2024.
DEFINITION
Under general direction, plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and reviews the work of professional, technical, and administrative staff performing difficult and complex professional and technical support related to all programs and activities of the Planning Division; manages the effective use of the City’s planning resources to improve organizational productivity and customer service; provides highly complex and responsible support to the Community Development Director in areas of expertise; and performs related work as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Community Development Director. Exercises general direction and supervision over supervisory, professional, technical, and administrative support staff through subordinate levels of supervision.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is a management classification that manages all current and advanced planning programs, projects, and activities of the Planning Division. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility. The Principal Planner organizes and oversees day-to-day current planning activities and is responsible for providing professional-level support to the Community Development Director in a variety of areas.
Successful performance of the work requires an extensive professional background as well as skill in coordinating departmental work with that of other City departments and public agencies. This class is distinguished from the Community Development Director in that the latter has overall responsibility for all functions of the department and for developing, implementing, and interpreting public policy. This class is also distinguished from the Senior Planners in that the latter focuses on either current or advanced planning while the Principal Planner oversees all aspects of planning including operational efficiencies and management of supervisory staff, with indirect supervision of technical and administrative functions.
Required Experience / Skills / Education
Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, geography, architecture, environmental design, or public or business administration, or a related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible management and/or administrative experience in professional urban planning, including three (3) years of supervisory experience.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment.
- Institute of Certified Planners Certification is desirable but not required.
Application Instructions
To review the detailed job description and submit an application, please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/westminster/jobs/4644953/principal-planner
