Planner - Supervising

This is a promotional recruitment - only current County employees are eligible to apply.

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Professional benefits

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County’s Human Resources website.

To plan, organize, direct and supervise planning activities and operations of a section within the Planning Department; to perform the difficult and more complex professional planning duties involving the planning, organization, and administration of the County’s land use plan, environmental review laws, applicable County zoning and subdivision regulations, applicable local ordinances, State and Federal statutes; and to coordinate the work with County departments, local, State and federal commissions, agencies and boards.

The Supervisor level recognizes positions that perform full, first-line supervisory responsibilities including planning, assigning and evaluating the work of subordinates and is responsible for a program area within a work unit of a department.

Receives general direction from department management staff.
 
Exercises direct supervision over assigned professional, clerical and technical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supervise staff involved with land development activities within a defined geographic region of the County. 
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of unit goals and objectives; establish timeframes and monitor progress of various projects assigned to professional and technical planning staff; implement policies and procedures.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of planning staff involved in the production of various planning documents relating to land use regulations involving development, amendment, and implementation of the County General Plan, approved County Specific Plans, Conservation and environmental protection regulations, and applicable zoning and subdivision regulations.
• Prepare advanced planning studies, preparing appropriate reports and recommendations concerning project and/or program needs. 
• Prepare and administer contracts with independent contractors or consultants who provide planning or environmental services to the County. 
• Confer with the Director and Assistant Director on assigned projects, programs, work schedules and planning policies/procedures. 
• Confer with and advise property owners, developers, subdividers and/or their representatives regarding planning ordinances, General and Specific plans relating to property development. 
• Review, analyze, develop, prioritize and schedule projects; confer with assigned staff regarding problems and progress of assigned projects.  
• Coordinate planning projects and related activities with other department divisions/sections, other County departments, local and State agencies and boards. 
• Make oral and written presentations as necessary to Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and other community groups/committees. 
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities. 
• Participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline; implement discipline procedures as directed. 
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints. 
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service. 
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible journey level experience in planning work performing duties similar to an associate or senior level planner in Placer County including two years in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban, regional or environmental planning or a related field.

License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of land use planning and development.
• Principles and practices of environmental planning and administration of environmental policies.
• Principles and practices of supervision, program development, project planning, management methods and procedures.
• Operation, policies and procedures of a county planning department.
• All applicable local ordinances and State and Federal statutes.
• Planning related software applications. 

Ability to:

• Organize, implement and direct subordinate staff performing planning activities and projects.
• Manage multiple projects and meet deadlines; analyze and solve complex planning matters and determine appropriate course of action.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job.  Intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and solve planning problems; sit at desk for long periods of time; and stand at the counter to answer questions of the public.
• Intermittently, walk, stand, kneel, climb and bend in the field; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; intermittently write or use a keyboard to communicate and occasionally lift moderate weight; visually differentiate between colors on land use maps.
• Compile, analyze and evaluate technical, statistical and economic information of a difficult and complex nature; read and interpret maps and legal property descriptions.
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply pertinent laws, County ordinances, and department policies and procedures.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Operate a personal computer in an on-line processing environment; utilize software application programs commonly used in a planning department.
• Prepare clear, comprehensive and concise reports and correspondence.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Attend public meetings before various community groups and citizens regarding planning issues of a sensitive nature.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.