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City of Westminster · 4 days ago

Senior Planner - Community Development

Westminster, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$1,600/mo - $10,000/mo

5+ years exp

The City of Westminster is looking for a Senior Planner in the Community Development Department. This role involves planning, organizing, and overseeing the work of staff engaged in complex planning tasks, ensuring efficient use of resources while providing expert support to various city committees and departments.

AccountingFinanceProfessional Services

Comp. & Benefits

Responsibilities

Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of lower-level staff engaged in planning duties; trains staff in work procedures; provides policy guidance and interpretation to staff; evaluates employee performance and works with employees to correct deficiencies

Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the assigned function; recommends within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures

Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned services, projects, and activities; assesses and monitors workload; identifies opportunities for improvement and recommends to the Director

Participates in the development and administration of and oversees assigned budgets

Participates in selection, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees on performance issues; reviews staff reports and other work products prepared by professional planning staff; assigns work and provides guidance and direction to staff regarding work plans and methods

Provides highly complex staff assistance to the Director and Principal Planner; develops and reviews staff reports related to assigned activities, projects, and services; under direction, presents reports to and advises the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Committee (DRC), Zoning Administrator, and other commissions, committees, and boards related to a wide variety of planning and zoning matters; participates in regional planning committee meetings and responds to issues via written correspondence or demographic data review; performs a variety of public relations and outreach related to assigned activities; leads public discussion forums and workshops; writes articles for the City’s quarterly newsletter

Manages, directs, and participates in highly complex planning projects and activities in the areas of General Plan and project specific plan updates and amendments, the preparation of ordinances, and other projects as assigned; designs and conducts studies to develop policies, plans, and codes; conducts field inspections of assigned planning and development projects to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Subdivision Map Act, Public Resource Code, General Plan, Specific Plans, Design Specifications, and Local Guidelines and procedures

Provides input to the Principal Planner and current planning staff regarding the General Plan or other long-range planning policy documents that warrant consideration in the review of development applications

Serves as source of information for developers, engineers, property owners, and contractors regarding land use applications and general municipal planning programs, projects, and functions; represents the department and City to outside agencies, public and private groups, and the general public; facilitates community participation through a continual dialogue with residents on major projects

Negotiates, administers, and manages contracts for services; reviews documents, reports, and other work products prepared by consultants and provides feedback and corrections; reviews and oversees consultant invoices and progress payments

Oversees and administers various grants related to the area of assignment; prepares grant applications; prepares and submits invoices for grant reimbursement

Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate

Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in planning; researches emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to City needs

Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval

Receives, investigates, and responds to problems and complaints in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action

Assists the Principal Planner and Community Development Director with special projects, as needed

Performs other duties as assigned

Qualification

Urban planningZoning regulationsContract administrationProject managementBudget developmentGeographic Information SystemsEnvironmental planningEmployee supervisionPublic relationsCustomer serviceTechnical report preparationCommunication skills

Required

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, community development, business or public administration, or a related field

Five (5) years of professional experience in planning, zoning and related community development activities

One (1) year of supervisory or lead experience

Preferred

Institute of Certified Planners Certification is desirable but not required

Benefits

RETIREMENT BENEFITS: The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). The City's contract provides for the following retirement tiers: Tier 2 (Classic Members hired on or after July 28, 2011): 2.0% @ 60 formula; employees contribute 7.0% of salary towards retirement costs. Tier 3/PEPRA (New Members hired on or after January 1, 2013): 2.0% @ 62 formula; employees contribute 8.25% of salary towards retirement costs. The City of Westminster does not participate in Social Security.

INSURANCE BENEFITS: Effective January 1, 2024, the City's cafeteria benefits plan provides $1,600 per month toward the purchase of health, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as additional voluntary products. Employees who participate in the CalPERS health insurance program and are enrolled in a Family plan will receive an additional $400 per month towards the purchase of medical benefits (total of $2,000 per month ). Medical insurance is provided through the Cal-PERS health insurance program. Unused cafeteria plan dollars may be received by the employee as taxable income. A pre-tax flexible spending account is also available for health care and dependent care expenses. The City also provides a City-paid Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefit of 66.6% of salary to a maximum of $10,000 per month; the City also provides a paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

VACATION : Employees earn 120 hours of paid vacation during their first year of service. An additional eight hours is earned for each additional year of service up to five (5) years. Additional benefits apply after 20 years of service. Employees are permitted to cash out accrued unused vacation hours a maximum of 2 times per calendar year.

HOLIDAYS: Employees receive eleven (11) paid City 9-hour fixed holidays , and an additional 27 hours of floating holiday time annually to be used at the employee's discretion.

HOLIDAY FURLOUGH : City offices are closed between Christmas and New Year's Day . Employees may use accumulated leave banks or elect leave without pay during the furlough.

SICK LEAVE : Employees earn 96 hours of paid sick leave per year. Employees may elect to cash out sick leave earned during the previous year at the rate of 50% of total value.

WORK SCHEDULE: The City offers flexible work schedules. Employees will have the option to work a 9/80, 4/10, or 5/8/40 work schedule. The City does not offer a Hybrid work schedule at this time.

LONGEVITY PAY: As an incentive for continuous service, employees are entitled to longevity pay at completion of the following service intervals: 21 years of service = 2.0% longevity pay 22 years of service = 4.0% longevity pay 23 years of service = 6.0% longevity pay 24 years of service = 8.0% longevity pay 25 years of service = 10.0% longevity pay

CELL PHONE / DATA PLAN REIMBURSEMENT: Employees who use their personal cell phone for business-related purposes may qualify for up to $60 per month reimbursement.

BILINGUAL PAY: The City provides $150 per month for demonstrated proficiency in specified languages including Spanish and Vietnamese.