Senior Planner - Long-Range Planning

The Department of Planning and Building is seeking a highly motivated and results-oriented Senior Planner to join the Long-range Planning team. This is a continuous recruitment and will remain open until filled. 

The Senior Planner will:

• Serve as the lead on priority projects and programs with support from junior-level team members;
• Collaborate with other County teams, outside agencies, and key stakeholders to achieve project and program objectives;  
• Coach and mentor junior-level team members;
• Advise on policy and regulatory decisions.

The Long-range Planning team is the lead on community planning, housing initiatives, resource planning, and conservation strategies. Lead by the Long-range Planning Manager and Supervising Planner, the team prioritizes efforts that result in meaningful outcomes. The team culture has a strong emphasis on investing in team members and having frank discussions.

Click Here To learn more about the San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building Department.

This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.

The ideal candidate is passionate about government service, takes ownership in assigned roles and responsibilities, and thrives in formulating and communicating complex policy recommendations. 

Knowledge of:

• General land use, environmental, airport and park planning principles
• Engineering principles and practices pertinent to land use planning and environmental impact determination
• Federal state and local laws and regulations related to the environmental and land use planning with special emphasis on Subdivision Map Act, Zoning and Planning Law (Government Code) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Physical and life sciences
• Basic drafting and drawing techniques
• Principles of technical report writing
• Statistical computation and mathematics
• Computer applications and techniques such as Geographic Information Systems
• Planning and Building Department or General Services Agency office organization, procedures and standards as well as strategic direction and goals
• Office procedures and policies
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
• Principles, practices and regulations that are pertinent to land use planning, environmental review, airport planning, and park planning or
• Principles of land use modeling, air quality modeling, transportation modeling and acoustical modeling
• Contract management to monitor completion of work specified and expenditures
• Precedent setting court cases relating to land use and environmental law
• Effective conflict resolution techniques
• Basic supervisory techniques
• Project budgeting principles

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Graduation from an accredited institution with either a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in urban and regional planning, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, natural resources management, environmental, physical or life science, or a closely related field. (Para-professional or higher level job related experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.) AND: Four years of professional level experience in urban and regional planning and environmental review/analysis or environmental impact assessment work which requires a state approved specialized professional license or certification.

Licenses and Certificates

Certain positions within this classification may require driving. When driving is an essential function of the position, a valid CALIFORNIA driver license will be required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date.  Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca.  Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process.  We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process. 

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Salary : $90,480 - $115,482