Planner - Associate

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment will be used to fill vacancies assigned to Tahoe.

With 1,400 square miles of the most beautiful and diverse geography in Northern California, Placer County stretches for a hundred miles from urban South Placer, through Western Placer, to the High Sierras of North Lake Tahoe and the Nevada state line. Placer County is a great place to live, work, play and learn.  This opportunity in the Lake Tahoe area offers numerous recreational activities year round such as skiing at one of its many premier ski resorts, boating the waters of Lake Tahoe, rafting the Truckee River, cycling, or hiking miles of trails.

The Community Development Resource Agency (CDRA) provides long-range planning and development reviews services to Placer County to meet the needs of our residents, businesses, developers, and visitors while preserving our environment and natural resources. The Placer County Board of Supervisors and the Placer County Planning Commission through CDRA and its Planning Division ensures that the land use development in the unincorporated areas contribute to the County's natural, social, and economic health now and into the future. The Tahoe CDRA Planning Division provides planning services in northern Placer County, including the Tahoe Basin. Placer County is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

The new Associate Planner assigned to the North Lake Tahoe area is a journey level professional position responsible for planning services which include customer service, completing plan checks, processing Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) permits, processing applications, applying the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and assisting with the preparation and review of plans and other documents related to land use, environmental protection, economic development, and environmental compliance. With an office in Tahoe City, California, this position is responsible for administering applicable planning ordinances, TRPA regulations, and State and Federal statues to ensure that the development needs are balanced with preserving the beauty of the North Lake Tahoe area for residents, businesses, and visitors. With a newly adopted Tahoe Basin Area Plan, this is an exciting time to work for Placer County.

When submitting an application, candidates are encouraged to upload an updated resume and cover letter detailing experience and education as well as professional goals as a Planner in the Tahoe area. 

THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

To perform professional planning duties in the preparation and review of plans and other documents relating to land use, environmental protection, economic development, environmental compliance and related topics; to administer applicable local ordinances and State and Federal statutes; and to assist the public in understanding and complying with adopted plans and regulations.

This is the full journey level class within the Planner series.  This class is distinguished from the Assistant Planner by the assignment of the full range of duties.  Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.
 
This class is distinguished from the Senior Planner in that the latter exercises technical and functional supervision over less experienced professional planning, technical and clerical staff and performs the full range of duties as assigned including oversight of a variety of complex planning projects.

As assigned, receives direction from the Director of Planning, Assistant Director of Planning, Principal Planner or Supervising Planner.  May receive functional supervision from other professional or management personnel.

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

• When assigned, evaluate public and private development project applications for variances, conditional use permits, subdivision approval, design review, lot line adjustments, etc. for conformance to zoning, environmental and other legal requirements; process applications from submittal through construction, making recommendations regarding conditions, approval or denial; conduct field review as necessary to assure compliance with approval conditions; and review and approve building and sign permits and business licenses. 
• Participate in the production of major planning documents such as the County General Plan, community plans, environmental documents and specialized plans such as area specific plans, air and water quality plans, , environmental compliance and related topics.  
• Conduct environmental assessment of public and private projects prior to project review; make recommendations regarding mitigation measures or negative declarations; and review environmental impact reports. 
• Assist the public with information at the public counter and by telephone regarding applicable statutes, regulations and procedures.
• Coordinate with other County Departments and public agencies; meet with applicants as necessary and correspond with applicants and/or their representatives regarding project status; and write staff reports and make presentations of findings and recommendations at public hearings and to public bodies.  
• 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.

It is the applicant's responsibility 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: Two years of planning experience performing duties similar to those of an Assistant Planner in Placer County. 

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

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

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:

• All applicable local ordinances and State and Federal statutes.
• Operation, policies and procedures of the County Planning Department.
• Principles and practices of land use planning and development.
• Principles and practices of environmental planning and administration of environmental policies.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Arithmetic, basic statistics and mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• Independently compile, analyze and evaluate technical, statistical and economic information; read and interpret maps and legal property descriptions; read and interpret applicable laws and regulations.
• On a continuous basis sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently stand at counter for long periods of time; twist and reach office equipment; write and use keyboard to communicate through written means; and occasionally lift moderate weight.
• 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 planning activities and problem solve when appropriate; understand, interpret and explain applicable ordinances and statutes and Department policies and procedures; visually differentiate between colors on land use maps.
• Compile, analyze and evaluate technical, statistical and economic information; read and interpret maps and legal property descriptions.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Obtain information through interviews and dialogue; work fairly and courteously with the public; work effectively with interruption.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, dictation machine, facsimile machine, photocopy machine and microfilm reader printer.
• 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.

All applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be required to respond to an online Conviction History Questionnaire, which will be sent as a link on their notification that minimum qualifications have been met.  Failure to respond to this questionnaire within (3) three calendar days of the minimum qualification notification will result in disqualification from the examination.

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 and/or be bonded.

All new permanent employees, with the exception of sworn law enforcement and those in management and confidential groups, shall be required to join the employee organization or pay an 'Agency Fee' as a condition of employment.

The eligible list(s) 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) 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 visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

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 and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. 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.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for General bargaining unit