Senior Planner

Salary : $50.44 - $64.37 Hourly

Location : Salinas Permit Center, CA

Job Type : Part-Time

Job Number : 25-00623

Department : Community Development

Opening Date : 02 / 14 / 2025

The City of Salinas invites seasoned planning professionals to apply for an exciting Senior Planner position that offers the opportunity to shape the future of Salinas and contribute meaningfully, while enjoying a fulfilling career in a vibrant, collaborative environment. This recruitment will be used to fill one part-time, benefited vacancy (20 hrs. / week). This recruitment is open until filled and may close at any time. Only those applicants who clearly show they most closely meet the needs of this position may be invited to participate in the interview process.

Ideal candidates will possess a robust background in both long-range and current planning, with a working knowledge of CEQA Guidelines, Subdivision Map Act, and other California housing production laws. As one of the lead planners, you will engage in a diverse range of projects that directly impact our community, from land use policies to economic development initiatives. Examples of current projects include, but are not limited to, development of a $3.2 million square foot Amazon warehouse, subdivision maps containing several thousand lots in the Future Growth Area, large scale agricultural cooling and processing facilities, hotel development, and other commercial and semi-public projects.

In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for an Educational Achievement premium of 2.5% for a Bachelor's degree plus 2.5% for a job-related graduate degree. Click for a complete description of benefits.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS : All applicants must provide proof of the required education at the time of application or submit to the Human Resources department. Applicants with foreign degrees / transcripts must provide U.S. degree equivalency by submitting a credential evaluation report. Applications are incomplete without the required documents and will be disqualified. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all documents are received.

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.

Distinguishing Characteristics : This is the advanced journey level class in the Planner series. The incumbent provides highly skilled, responsible, and experienced technical staff assistance to direct activities in one of the following areas : current and advanced planning, plan and project implementation, economic development or housing and community development. It is distinguished from the Associate Planner position in the degree of complexity of assignments.

Supervision Received and Exercised : Receives direction from a Planning Manager, Assistant Community Development Director, or designee. May exercise supervision over professional, technical, and clerical personnel.

Essential Job Functions

• 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

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of :

Ability to :

Education : Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a related field

Experience : Four (4) years of planning and community development experience, three (3) of which must be at the professional level. A Master's Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration or a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

Licenses and Certifications : A valid California Driver's License.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands and Working Conditions : Physical, mental and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position; manual dexterity sufficient to write, use telephone, computer, business machines and related equipment; vision sufficient to read printed materials, visual display terminals, detailed fine writing on plans and specifications for development projects, and distinguish colors for design evaluation purposes; hearing sufficient to conduct in person and telephone conversations; speaking ability in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in a normal conversational distance, on the telephone and in addressing groups; physical agility to push / pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop and reach overhead as needed; physical mobility sufficient to move about the work environment, physical strength to lift up to 20 lbs.; physical stamina sufficient to sit for prolonged periods of time; mental acuity to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions.

Business office working environment subject to sitting at a desk for long periods of time, bending, crouching, or kneeling at files, pushing / pulling of file drawers and supplies, reaching in all directions and prolonged periods of time working at a computer terminal. Occasionally include driving to job sites, training, and out-of-office meetings.

Employee must complete SB 1343 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.

For questions, please contact Patricia Pealoza, Human Resources Manager, at (831) 758-7416 or

Veteran's Preference : A veteran is defined in accordance with California Government Code 18540.4. In order to exercise this preference, the veteran must submit the and provide a copy of the DD-214 form at time of application as proof of military status. Failure to submit the required forms will be deemed a waiver of veteran's preference. Military veterans shall be given preference in initial appointment to City service. Further details can be obtained from the Human Resources Department, at 831-758-7254.

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker : In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all City of Salinas employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

Selection Process : Applicants' qualifications will be evaluated based on the information provided on the employment application. The exam process may consist of an application appraisal, oral interview, assessment center and / or written exam. The City reserves the right to use alternate testing procedures if deemed necessary. CITY COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE SELECTION PROCESS WILL BE VIA E-MAIL. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE E-MAIL ON YOUR APPLICATION.Finalist interview / assessment will be held with the City of Salinas.

Equal Opportunity Employer : The City of Salinas does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor. The City of Salinas makes reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with a disability. Individuals requiring any accommodation in order to participate in the testing process must inform the Human Resources Director in writing no later than the final filing date stated in this job announcement. Requests for accommodation should include an explanation of the type and extent of accommodations needed to participate in the selection process and / or to perform the duties of the job for which they have applied. EEO Utilization Report is available for candidate review upon request.

Salary Steps : The following applies for Full-Time Regular positions only. Appointments are normally made at the first step. Consideration is given for increase to the second step after successful completion of the probationary period. (Employees appointed at a higher step will be eligible for consideration for the next step after one year, providing they successfully complete a probationary period.)

For a complete listing of benefits, please click to visit the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this position.

Salary : $50 - $64