Planner - Senior

Application deadline extended to 5:00 pm on March 13, 2024. 

To be considered for the first round of interviews, please submit your application by 5:00 pm on February 15, 2024. 

Join our Team and Make a Difference! Are you passionate about environmental stewardship, wildfire risk reduction, and sustainable forest management?  The Regional Forest Health Division (RFH) of Placer County’s Agriculture, Parks, and Natural Resources Department needs you!  The RFH program is designed to integrate forest management and wildfire risk reduction strategies across County departments and with partners at the local, regional, statewide, and national levels.  We are seeking a highly qualified Senior Planner – ideally someone with a strong forestry background and proven experience in environmental compliance, project management, collaborative partnerships, and fund development – to contribute their expertise and dedication to this pioneering initiative.  The Senior Planner position is part of a growing team committed to making Placer communities, particularly those in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), safer from large, damaging wildfires.  Your expertise will be crucial in mitigating fire danger and improving overall forest health through identification, planning, funding, and implementation of collaborative on-the-ground projects to make communities and forested watersheds more resilient to the impacts of wildfire. If you are a dynamic professional looking to make a lasting difference in community sustainability and a healthy environment, we invite you to take the next step toward a career with purpose and apply today!

Click on the links below for more information on our Regional Forest Health Program and French Meadows Ecological Restoration Project. 

Regional Forest Health Program

French Meadows Ecological Restoration Project

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 Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

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

Perform a variety of highly responsible complex professional planning duties in the field of current and advance planning; assume a lead role over less experienced professional and technical staff; provide information and assistance to developers and the public on complex planning matters.

This is the advanced journey level class in the professional Planner series.  Positions at this level are able to work independently and receive minimal supervision and assistance from management staff.

Positions at this level are distinguished from other positions within the professional planning series by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned including overseeing the activities associated with a variety of complex planning projects and related assignments.

Receives direction from supervisory or management staff as assigned.
 
May exercise direct supervision over less experienced professional, technical and clerical personnel.

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

• Trains and leads subordinate staff in planning duties. 
• Researches, analyzes and interprets social, economic and population and land use data and trends. 
• Researches planning information and concepts, land use and legal issues relating to current and long range planning matters and policy issues. 
• Analyzes and recommend long range comprehensive planning policy documents; collects, records and summarizes statistical and demographic information; establishes and maintains a comprehensive database. 
• Reviews and checks commercial, industrial and residential development plans and applications for projects approval and compliance with applicable County or Air Pollution Control District policies and procedures; performs site reviews; confers with and advises architects, builders, attorneys, contractors and engineers regarding planning issues; negotiates and develops binding contracts and development agreements relative to County development policies and standards.
• Reviews, investigates and enforces zoning and sign regulations or, when assigned to Air Pollution Control, reviews and prepares air quality rules and regulations. 
• Prepares and reviews environmental analysis of projects and ensures compliance with Federal, State and local laws, ordinances and regulations.
• Prepares initial studies and assists in preparation and review of environmental impact reports, Zoning and Design review requirements; compiles information and makes recommendations on special studies.
• Prepares staff reports for the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and Design Review Committee, various local and State regulatory agencies and advisory boards and the Board of Supervisors as directed.
• Prepares correspondence to project applicants, violators and other agencies regarding compliance issues. 
• Prepares and provides planning presentations to community groups; responds to community groups regarding impact and/or effects of projects. 
• Prepares advanced planning studies for the County General Plan including element preparation, community plan preparation, policy formulation, program implementation and public presentation of findings and recommendations. 
• Assists in production of major planning documents such as the County General Plan, environmental documents and specialized plans such as area specific plans, air and water quality plans, environmental compliance plans and related topics. 
• Conducts current planning reviews of large and/or complex land development projects including subdivisions, conditional use permits, design reviews, development agreements, rezoning and General Plan amendments.  
• Reviews the plans of other public jurisdictions for compatibility with County or Air Pollution Control District plans. 
• Performs environmental analysis for current and advanced planning projects, especially those of a difficult or complex nature; review environmental impact reports. 
• Assists the public by providing information and explaining particularly complex land use, environmental compliance, development and related regulations and procedures; meet with applicants as necessary and correspond with applicants and/or their representatives regarding project status; write staff reports; and make presentations of findings and recommendations at public hearings and to public agencies; conducts and participates in public hearings. 
• When assigned, administer public education and public service programs through assigned employees or by contact. 
• Coordinates with other County Departments and public agencies as needed; coordinates, directs and participates in interdepartmental land use development committees.  
• Prepares and administers contracts with independent contractors or consultants who provide planning, or environmental services to the County or Air Pollution Control District. 
• Recommend the appointment of personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; provide standards and operating guidelines, provide timely input to performance evaluations; recommend disciplinary measures, when necessary; implement discipline procedures as directed; maintain discipline and high standards necessary for the efficient and professional operation of the assigned functional area of responsibility. 
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service. 
• Performs related duties as assigned. 

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

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: Three years of increasingly responsible planning experience performing duties similar to those of an Associate Planner. 

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

Note: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of land use planning and development.
• Principles and practices of environmental planning and administration of environmental policies.
• All applicable local ordinances and State and Federal statutes.
• Operation, policies and procedures of the assigned functional area of responsibility. 
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluations.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Arithmetic, basic statistics and mathematical calculations. 
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Planning related software applications. 

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis sit at desk or in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently stand at counter for long periods of time; twist and reach office equipment; see and hear with sufficient acuity to successfully perform all aspects of the job; perform simple grasping and fine hand manipulation; use telephone and write and/or use keyboard to communicate through written means; and occasionally lift moderate weight.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job and assigned functional area of responsibility activities; analyze, interpret and evaluate technical  reports and special projects; know laws, regulations, codes and operational procedures;  problem solve operational issues related to assigned functional area of responsibility;  understand, interpret and explain applicable ordinances and statutes and policies and procedures; 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; read and interpret applicable laws and regulations.
• Interpret, explain and apply a wide variety of Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Interpret and explain complex planning and zoning programs to the general public.
• Coordinate multiple projects and meet required deadlines; problem solve complex planning issues; negotiate and develop contracts and agreements.
• Analyze and compile complex technical and statistical information and prepare appropriate reports.
• Plan, supervise, train and evaluate the work activities of supervisory and/or professional, technical and clerical staff; act as a positive and effective team member.
• Obtain information through interview and dialogue and deal fairly and courteously with the public; work effectively with interruption.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• 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.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

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 (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, 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.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, at payala@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4637.