Description
PLEASE READ THIS BULLETIN IN ITS ENTIRETY
THE POSITION
This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time vacancy. The list established by this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and temporary vacancies for up to one year.
Planning & Development Services is seeking a dynamic candidate for their Principal Planner position. The Principal Planner will manage and oversee professional and technical staff engaged in planning and environmental review and assessment services that involves the administration and development of community and general plans, zoning regulations, and environmental documents; represents the City and the department in complex negotiations and in public and official meetings; and provides responsible staff assistance to upper management.
THE DEPARTMENTThe Department is organized across three divisions: Planning (Current Planning and Advanced Planning), Building, and Administration. The Department provides several vital services to the Vallejo community, including long-range planning for future City development; processing building and land use applications; facilitating the development review process; issuing permits and inspecting for code compliance; facilitating green building practices; as well as other policy work as required.
THE CITY OF VALLEJO
The City of Vallejo is located in Solano County and has a population of approximately 125,000 residents. Vallejo is a rapidly changing, highly diverse community located midway between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento. It is a friendly, active waterfront community that attracts innovative, hardworking people and takes great pride in its 148-year history and maritime heritage. Residents of Vallejo are situated to take advantage of the best of what the area has to offer. Golf, museums, performing arts, boutique shopping, brewpubs and a wide selection of restaurants are all available in Vallejo. Residents and visitors alike enjoy Vallejo’s delightful historical downtown area, weekly downtown farmer’s market, and beautifully restored Victorian homes and business facades. Vallejo is also home to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, one of America’s only combination wildlife, oceanarium and theme parks.
DEFINITIONUnder general direction and depending upon assignment, the Principal Planner manages and oversees professional and technical staff engaged in planning and environmental review and assessment services that involves the administration and development of community and general plans, zoning regulations, and environmental documents; represents the City and the department in complex negotiations and in public and official meetings; and provides responsible staff assistance to upper management.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Principal Planner is distinguished from the next lower level classification of Senior Planner in that the latter is a lead supervisor over a project team while the former has responsibility for directly supervising staff engaged in implementing a comprehensive planning program and participating in the development of the goals, objectives, and policies of a division in the department. The classification is distinguished from that of Planning Manager in that the latter has a broader responsibility in the administration of a formal division of the department and assists in the administrative duties of the department head.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from a higher-level manager.
Exercises direct supervision over professional and technical staff.Essential Functions
EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES - Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Coordinates the duties of assigned planning staff and performs activities pertaining to the processing of applications for consideration by the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Zoning Administrator, and other bodies, as assigned.
May act as Zoning Administrator and conduct hearings on applications as well as take action on applications under the jurisdiction of the Zoning Administrator which do not require hearings.
Coordinates regular and special meetings of the Planning Commission; provides staff support to a variety of other boards and commissions; attends and participates in professional groups and committees; represents the City in public and official meetings with other City departments and organizations/groups on planning matters as assigned.
Plans, organizes, supervises, and reviews the work of professional planning personnel and others in the preparation, revision, and administration of master plans, zoning ordinances, and development regulations; if assigned, oversee the staff and functions related to the permitting process/counter.
Coordinates and participates in meetings to provide and receive information regarding applications and proposed plans and ordinances.
Makes presentations before authoritative bodies such as the City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, and other formal entities.
Performs complex project management duties.
Compiles and evaluates data and makes recommendations for the more complex planning projects and participates in special studies as required.
Oversees and participates in the development of General Plan elements and amendments; prepares long term planning recommendations, precise plans, or complex subdivisions.
Confers with engineers, developers, architects, a variety of agencies, and the general public in acquiring information and coordinating planning and zoning matters; reviews development proposals and works with developers to reach agreement on acceptable site plans; reviews various development applications for compliance with appropriate regulations and policies; prepares reports of recommendations.
Accepts and analyzes development applications; prepares appropriate noticing; attends public hearings and follows up on matters requiring a zoning administration decision.
Interprets and applies environmental quality laws and regulations to ensure that development, City projects, and municipal code amendments are in compliance.
Makes administrative decisions in the absence of the Planning Manager.
Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities.
Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel.
Promotes the City's Mission to make Vallejo a city of the highest quality by providing responsive, cost-effective, and innovative government services.
Conducts and supervises planning studies in the community to gather data for evaluating current and advanced planning projects.
Reviews staff reports prepared by other planning staff, as well as other department representatives; prepares comments as appropriate.
Performs extensive research regarding implementation of policies established by the general plan, zoning ordinance, or other land use and development ordinances.
Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
Minimum Qualifications/Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge of:
Functions, principles, methods, and techniques of public sector planning including land use planning, urban design, planning and zoning laws, and environmental impact analysis.
Principles and practices of effective supervision such as selection, training and development, performance evaluation, and discipline.
Current literature and recent developments in the field of public planning.
Customer service principles and practices to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
General Plan elements and ability to prepare specific plans.
Regulations and procedures affecting local planning agencies.
Other disciplines related to city planning such as architecture, urban design, historical preservation, urban studies, environmental studies, transportation, public administration, and economic development.
Statistical and research sources, concepts, and methods.
Project management principles and practices.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.
Ability to:
Plan, assign, evaluate, and supervise the work of professional and other planning personnel.
Participate in technical research on planning, environmental, economic, transportation, and related problems.
Provide technical advice to subordinate personnel engaged in performing difficult assignments.
Perform research, analyze data, prepare technical and administrative reports and correspondence, and present recommendations on complex planning projects.
Establish effective working relationships with employees, public officials, and the general public.
Develop alternatives and resolve conflicts among competing interests; persuade others to accept recommendations by working with others towards agreement; negotiate to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Represent the City in meetings with other City departments, organizations, and professional groups on matters pertaining to development applications.
Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; make presentations before groups.
Organize and manage complex planning teams.
Analyze and develop planning policies and implementation strategies related to land use and community development.
Interpret, apply, and ensure project compliance with federal, state, and local rules, laws, and regulations.
Use common technology and software related to the work.
Experience and Training Guidelines
A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:
Six years of responsible professional planning experience involving general plans, zoning, and/or development services including two years in a supervisory or team leadership capacity.
Training:
Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, public or business administration, or other closely related field. A related Master’s degree is highly preferred.
License or Certificate:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California Class C driver license at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
SUPPLEMENTALINFORMATION
Working Conditions
Office and inspection site environment; exposure to dust and noise; some climbing, stooping, light lifting and inspecting in confined areas.
The Recruitment & Selection Process
1. Applications are due by 5:00 P.M. on Monday, July 15, 2024. Applicants must submit a completed City of Vallejo online application, including all responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire (Resume/Cover Letter Optional), by the posted deadline in order to be considered.
NOTE: If you have problems creating a user account, obtaining your already created account information, or submitting your online application, please contact governmentjobs.com applicant support directly at 855-524-5627. City of Vallejo staff are unable to assist with these issues.
2. Applications will be screened for overall qualifications the week of July 15, 2024.
3. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their supplemental responses scored by subject matter experts the week of July 22, 2024. The most qualified applicants from the scoring of the supplemental questions will be invited for an Oral Panel Interview.
4. Oral Panel Interviews are tentatively scheduled to take place the week of July 29, 2024. Oral Panel Interviews are weighted at 100% of the candidates’ score. Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 70%. Those achieving 70% or higher will be placed on the Register of Eligibles (eligible list) and may be considered to fill positions for up to one year.
The City reserves the right to limit the number of candidates to those determined to be best qualified based upon all requested application materials, including training and experience, current resume, and responses to supplemental questions.
5. Candidates placed on the Register of Eligibles (eligible list) will be referred to the department for final interviews based on their performance in the exam. The number of candidates referred for a hiring interview is at the discretion of the hiring department.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
The City of Vallejo is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application, assessment or selection process may contact the Human Resources Department to request an accommodation. Please contact Martha Galo at (707) 648-4365 or send an email to: martha.galo@cityofvallejo.net no later than July 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
PRIOR TO HIRE
The selected candidate will be required to: 1) Submit to reference checks 2) Submit to and successfully pass a pre-employment background check, including fingerprint check. 3) Successfully complete a job-related pre-placement medical exam. 4) Provide proof of legal right to work in the United States.
Disaster Service Workers - All City of Vallejo ("City") employees are designated Disaster Service Workers ("DSW") by state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all DSW-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Veteran's Preference - Veteran's preference points will be applied in accordance with Civil Service Rule 24. A copy of the DD 214 form must be filed at time of application.
Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - The City of Vallejo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Vallejo to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Note: The provisions in this bulletin do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, and any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.
