SENIOR PLANNER

Salary : $7,987.20 - $10,198.93 Monthly

Location : Torrance, CA

Job Type : Permanent Full-time

Job Number : 25013314SP

Department : COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Opening Date : 01 / 23 / 2025

DESCRIPTION

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.

The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.

The City of Torrance is recruiting for a Senior Planner to be part of the Community Development Team!

The Department

Advancing a Safe, Accessible and Sustainable Built Environment

The Community Development Department plays a vital role in the continued development, sustainable growth, and success of Torrance. CDD maintains the Building and Safety, Engineering, Environmental (Code Enforcement), the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Mapping, Housing, and Planning Divisions, which serve the community by overseeing redevelopment, comprehensive planning, zoning, housing programs, project planning, permitting, environmental stewardship, NPDES and building and code enforcement.

Responsibilities of the Community Development Department include :

• Building Permits & Online Permitting
• Code Enforcement
• Construction Plan Check and Inspections
• Development Review and Comprehensive Planning
• Engineering Permits and Records
• Housing Programs (including Section 8)
• NPDES Administration
• Successor Agency to the Former Redevelopment Agency of the City of Torrance
• Survey Information
• Transportation Planning

The Division

The Planning Division is committed to urban planning and design to provide an attractive, safe, and enriching environment that assures a high quality of life. The Planning Division is comprised of two sections :

Development Review is focused on reviewing development plans for conformance with land use policies and standards, and is responsible for processing development applications, conducting environmental review, and responding to inquiries on zoning and land use. Development Review also provides staff support to the Planning Commission and to the City Council.

Comprehensive Planning is focused on developing plans, policies and programs to guide development in Torrance, and is responsible for maintaining the General Plan, conducting special studies related to land use, and collaborating with regional and state agencies. Comprehensive Planning also provides staff support to the Historic Preservation Commission, and to the Planning Commission and the City Council.

The Position

The Senior Planner manages, directs, and participates in highly complex planning projects and activities; plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and reviews the work of professional, technical, and administrative staff in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department; and provides expert and complex support to the Community Development Director, Planning Manager, City Council, Commissions, and other stakeholders. This position represents the department and City to outside agencies, public and private groups, and the general public; negotiates, administers, and manages contracts for services; and contributes to the management of assigned budgets, ensuring proper oversight and administration.

The Senior Planner designs and conducts studies to develop policies, plans, and codes; performs field inspections of planning and development projects to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations; develops and standardizes procedures and methods to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of division services, projects, and activities; and performs other related work as required.

For a full a job description,

QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in regional planning, urban planning, community development, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, business or public administration, engineering, or a closely related field and two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience which includes technical work in at least two (2) of the following areas : General Plan preparation and maintenance, design review administration, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) administration, redevelopment administration or housing administration.

A Master's Degree in Planning may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

License and / or Certificate

Ideal Candidate :

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess :

HOW TO APPLY & EXAM PROCESS

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire at . Application submissions will be accepted on a continuous basis until the position is filled. First review of the applications will be those received by Wedne sday, February 5, 2025. If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received by the first review date, there is a possibility that the recruitment may close at that time.

Only those candidates who best meet the City and Department's needs will be invited to participate in the examination process which will consist of the following component :

Oral Interview : 100% (Tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2025.)

SPECIAL NOTES

Visit to find out more information about our community.

Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources prior to the examination date(s). If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact us at (310) 618-2915 before the test date. For further information, click here .

As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

City of Torrance Inclusion Statement

The City of Torrance is a welcoming and culturally-rich community. As a pillar of public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a talented workforce where people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, and lifestyles are valued. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and contribute towards making a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and works towards building collaborative teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and / or local law. Come join us to help cultivate a workplace that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of our employees!

BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR ENGINEERS & TORRANCE FISCAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (TFEA)

Note : Not all benefits listed may be applicable to all positions with in the unit. Please refer to the MOU for specifics.

Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance (sec.4.9)

The City's monthly contribution for health insurance effective 1 / 6 / 19 is as follows :

EE Only EE 1 EE 2 or more

Full time EE's $597.68 $1,140.36 $1,595.96

Part- time

hired prior to 1 / 1 / 08) $493.11 $924.91 $1,277.43

Part-time

hired after 1 / 1 / 08) $362.57 $628.31 $847.19

The City's monthly contribution for vision insurance is $3.33

The City's monthly contribution for dental insurance is $33.71 / EE only and $67.42 / EE 1 or more

The City provides a Cash In-Lieu payment of $400 per month for eligible full-time employees for as long as the employee opts-out of medical coverage

City provides a $50,000 life insurance policy

Premium Pay (sec. 3.1)

Varies by position and assignment. (See section 3.1 and 3.2)

Night Shift Differential (sec.3.2.1 and 3.5.1)

Full time employees paid 5% above base hourly pay when ½ or more of the shift is scheduled to work after 5 : 00 p.m. or before 7 : 30 a.m.

Educational Incentive Premiums (sec. 3.6.1)

ENGINEERS : (Premiums paid above base pay, per hour. Total educational premiums not to exceed 12% combined)

2% for each additional certificate, maximum of 12%

Loss of 2% for each year's delay for failure to maintain certification

LEED AP certificates (LEED AP, LEED AP BD C, LED AP Homes, LEED AP ND) : 2.5%

Build It Green Certification (Green Point Advisor, Green Point Rater) : 2.5%

Holidays (Sec 4.1)

13 paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday directly following Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve)

Vacation / Annual Leave (Sec. 4.2)

Engineers (Accrual rate per month) :

Year 1 : 6.58 hours; Year 2 : 7.21 hours; Year 3 : 7.87 hours; Year 4 : 8.54 hours; Years 5-6 : 10.54 hours; Years 7 -9 : 11.21 hours; Years 10 -20 : 14.56 hours; Years 21 - 24 : 15.88 hours; Year 25 : 18.54 hours

TFEA (Accrual rate per month) :

Year 1 : 6.57 hours; Year 2 : 7.51 hours; Year 3 : 8.17 hours; Year 4 : 8.84 hours; Years 5-9 : 10.84 hours; Years 10 -20 : 14.19 hours; Years 21 - 24 : 15.51 hours; Year 25 : 16.17 hours

Sick Leave / Personal Leave (sec.4.3)

Accrual rate is 6 (six) hours per month to a maximum of 600 hours accrued sick leave.

Bereavement Leave (sec 4.6)

Three (3) working shifts with pay (Additional leave, up to 2 additional working shifts for travel 300 miles or more for eligible family members)

Disability Insurance (sec 4.9)

Employee receives 2 / 3 base pay after elimination period (14 consecutive days for STD and 180 consecutive days for LTD)

Retiree Insurance (Sec. 4.9)

TFEA only : City will pay $51 / month for retirees who continue health insurance coverage in one of the PERS health insurance plans

Retirement (sec. 4.10)

PERS 2%@55 ,

Employees hired before 1 / 11 / 2011, City pays 7% EPMC

Employees hired on or after 1 / 11 / 2011 pay 7% EPMC

PERS 2@62

New members hired on or after January 1, 2013, pay (50%) of normal cost with three year average final compensation.

Uniform Allowance (sec. 4.11.1)

FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER & SENIOR FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER ONLY :

107.50 every 6 months (Paid June and December).

Tool and Educational Materials Allowance (sec.4.12.1)

ENGINEERS ONLY :

175 per year (Paid in February).

Licenses and Certificates (sec. 4.14.1)

ENGINEERS ONLY :

220 / year for license / certificates with recurrent fees : Registered Professional Engineer, Licensed Land Surveyor, and American Institute of Certified Planners.

Shoe Allowance (4.15.1)

ENGINEERS ONLY :

135 per year (Paid in September) for employees required to wear safety shoes or boots

Deferred Compensation Plan (Sec. 4.13.B)

A voluntarily 457 plan is available to all employees.

Employees are automatically enrolled in the 401(a) plan upon completion of one year service.

Retirement Health Savings Plan (sec 4.13.C)

Any hours under or equal to 600 (sick) and 600 (vacation) will be deposited into the ICMA-RC RHSP Plan, for retiring and separating employees. The remaining balance up to limits allowed by law will be disbursed into the City's 457 plan or be paid in cash.

The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response. Do NOT state see resume or see application to respond to any of the following questions. Failure to respond to all questions will be considered an incomplete application and may not be considered for further processing. Do you understand the foregoing?

I UNDERSTAND that I am required to describe IN DETAIL my qualifying experience in the Work Experience Section of my application. In addition to including my qualifying experience, I UNDERSTAND that I should list ALL JOBS, regardless of duration, including part-time jobs, military service and any volunteer experience during my entire work history.I UNDERSTAND that when providing my work history, ALL DATES should be UPDATED, starting with my most recent job.I UNDERSTAND that answers that I provide to the supplemental questions should be reflected in the Work Experience Section of my application.I UNDERSTAND that if I am currently employed by the City of Torrance, I MUST provide my appropriate job classification / title and provide a description of my duties in the Work Experience Section of my application.I have read these statements in their entirety and understand them completely and to their fullest.

What is your highest level of education completed?

Indicate your field of study.

How many years of progressively responsible professional experience do you have in the following areas : General Plan Preparation and Maintenance, Design Review Administration, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Administration, or Redevelopment / Housing Administration?

Indicate which of the following areas you have experience in.

Required Question

Salary : $51