What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Planner position at City of Ontario?
Principal Planner
The City of Ontario has an extraordinary opportunity for a well-qualified Principal Planner that embodies the critical parts of Urban Planning such as planning, developing, landscape, transportation housing, and engineering. This position plays a key role in shaping and directing new citywide initiatives and leading efforts that support a vibrant and sustainable built environment. The Principal Planner will manage a team of professional planners and oversee strategic planning efforts, planning policy development, infill and greenfield entitlement projects, and other planning-related activities.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will:
Demonstrate the ability to think strategically and through exceptional interpersonal skills, work productively with the public, consultants, and City staff within an interdisciplinary environment.
Possess exceptional analytical and technical writing skills, with the ability to produce plans and documents in house.
Be self-driven and act with innovation and initiative to accomplish priorities and meet deadlines.
Be committed to the community by providing excellent customer service through teamwork, communication, and responsiveness.
Additionally, the successful candidate will embody the Department's mission and vision as well as the qualities of a "Five Tool Player" - Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant - and the principles of the City's Customer Service Philosophy – Empathy, Respect, and Problem Solving.
The following procedures will apply:
- Separate Promotional and Open (external) Eligibility Lists will be established.
- The Promotional Eligibility List will be comprised of current City employees (full or part-time) who meet the minimum qualifications and successfully complete any required selection processes.
- The Open Eligibility List will consist of external applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and successfully complete any required selection processes.
- The hiring department will consider candidates on the Promotional Eligibility List prior to considering candidates on the Open Eligibility List.
- The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below.
- Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
The Planning Department
The Planning Department is within the Community Development Agency, plays a critical role in achieving the City Council's goals and objectives relative to land use, urban design, and the quality and sustainability of the built environment. The department focuses on development that enhances economic value, quality of life, and complete community. The Planning department is composed of four areas: Administration, Land Development (includes Entitlements, Landscape, and Airport Planning), Sustainability Management, and Advanced Planning (includes Historic Preservation, Healthy Ontario, and General Plan). Please review the Planning Department’s webpage for additional information.
The Planning Department is within the Community Development Agency, plays a critical role in achieving the City Council's goals and objectives relative to land use, urban design, and the quality and sustainability of the built environment. The department focuses on development that enhances economic value, quality of life, and complete community. The Planning department is composed of four areas: Administration, Land Development (includes Entitlements, Landscape, and Airport Planning), Sustainability Management, and Advanced Planning (includes Historic Preservation, Healthy Ontario, and General Plan). Please review the Planning Department’s webpage for additional information.
The City of Ontario
The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City, which provides solid leadership to its citizens and business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Financial Services, Human Resources/Risk Management, Public Works, and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.
The City’s vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario’s 2024 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:
The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City, which provides solid leadership to its citizens and business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Financial Services, Human Resources/Risk Management, Public Works, and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.
The City’s vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario’s 2024 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:
State of the City (Video link)
The Ontario Plan(The City’s Comprehensive Business Plan for Development)
Smart Ontario (Information about recent City projects)
Downtown Ontario (What to do in Downtown Ontario)
The essential functions typically performed by the Principal Planner include the following:
- Supervises various day-to-day activities and operations within the Planning department.
- Manages and directs professional planning work in a combination of the following areas: development review processing, environmental review, current and/or advanced planning, advanced level of strategic planning and other related planning activities.
- Supervises and directs the activities of assigned staff including employee selection, work assignment, performance evaluation, employee development, disciplinary action, and complaint resolution.
- Supervises the collection, analysis, and publication of statistical and other data relating to mobility/transportation, land use, housing, population, etc.
- Supervises the review of development applications and/or specific plans for compliance with mobility plans, design guidelines, zoning ordinance regulations, and City plans and policies.
- Supervises the preparation of environmental impact reports.
- Confers with other departments, agencies, and civic groups on matters of joint concern.
- Makes recommendations relative to, and supervises preparation of, amendments to planning and zoning policies and standards.
- Attends public hearings, committee meetings, and workshops and acts as a liaison between staff, developers, consultants, governmental agencies, other City departments, and the general public.
- Assists with the preparation of reports for presentation to City administration, City Council, Planning Commission, and other various boards.
- Performs special planning studies and highly complex and technical professional planning duties.
- Assists in the management of the Planning department and actively promotes and implements principles of continuous improvement in all operations.
- Assists in preparing and administering the Planning department’s budget.
- Occasionally operates a City vehicle.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
When assigned to Sustainability Management:
- Oversees, organizes, and coordinates the development and implementation of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and related communications and sustainability measures.
- Coordinates and participates in the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, and priorities relating to the CAP (City's Climate Action Plan), and related sustainability measures.
- Coordinates the activities of City staff to develop sustainability initiatives and assess their cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility, and implementation methods; develops programs, projects, tools, incentives and instructional opportunities that facilitate implementation of desired changes.
- Collects and conducts research on sustainability measures for the preparation of technical reports; prepares summary of findings and develops recommendations.
- Reviews, interprets and analyzes new and proposed legislation; determines the effect of legislation on operations and programs; implements appropriate action to ensure CAP compliance.
- Prepares grant applications for sustainability program funding; administers and coordinates grant programs related to sustainability programs.
- Measures greenhouse gas emission reduction activities within City boundaries (municipal, business, and community-at-large activities) and prepares a comprehensive annual report regarding reduction progress.
Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Geography, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or closely related field.
NOTE: Proof of education must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.
Experience
Five (5) years of recent progressively responsible professional experience in municipal regional planning and development administration, including two (2) years of managerial or supervisory experience.
Note: A Master’s degree related to planning may be substituted for one (1) year of experience but may not be substituted for the required managerial or supervisory experience.
License
A valid California Class C driver's license at time of appointment and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment and throughout employment.
Desirable
Knowledgeable in State General Planning Laws, California Environmental Quality Act and California Subdivision Map Act. Expert in the latest developments and trends in local government and municipal planning. How to Apply
Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com you will be prompted to create a new user account, otherwise log in with your user name and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:
- List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
- List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
- Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.
A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.
NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities, or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.
Application Process
Applicants are required to submit required certification(s) or other required documentation as outlined in the Qualifications Guideline section of this bulletin. Please use the attachment function found on the City’s online application to attach copies of the requested certification(s) or other documentation. Failure to attach required certifications may result in the rejection of your application. Please contact the Human Resources Department if you have any questions regarding the application process.
Your application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. List all periods of employment, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario). List any experience that may help you to qualify for the position. List separately each position held, including different positions with the same employer. Resumes may be included but will not substitute for the employment history section. Failure to complete these sections may result in the rejection of your application.
Supplemental Questions
To complete your application for this position you will be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.
Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.
Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write “no experience” for the appropriate question.
Email Notices
Email is the primary way that the Human Resources or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the city of Ontario will come from “@ontarioca.gov” or “governmentjobs.com.” If you change your email address after submitting your application, please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Salary : $156,104 - $189,675
