Location
Description
The City of Half Moon Bay Community Development Department invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Senior Planner. The Department is seeking an attentive and well-qualified Senior Planner Supervisor to join the Planning Division. The Senior Planner reviews and manages complex development projects through the entitlement process, oversees professional planning assignments, manages long-range planning studies, and incorporates meaningful community engagement into planning initiatives. At any given time, the Senior Planner may be interpreting zoning regulations, managing consultant work, preparing detailed project analyses, or advising the public on planning matters.
The Senior Planner reports to the Community Development Director and supervises more junior planners. Senior Planners may also serve as project manager for major private development proposals and City planning projects, serve as Deputy Zoning Administrator, and act as staff liaison to the Planning Commission.
- Manage a variety of complex planning projects, including residential, commercial, and mixed-use development.
- Apply policies and procedures of the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP), General Plan, and zoning regulations.
- Direct consultant services for CEQA and technical reviews.
- Conduct and present analyses of planning proposals; prepare staff reports and recommendations.
- Facilitate public engagement and represent the City at meetings, workshops, and hearings.
- Provide guidance to architects, contractors, developers, and the general public regarding development standards.
- Supervise and mentor planning staff in best practices and project review.
- Coordinate interdepartmental project review and collaborate with external agencies.
- Attend evening and weekend meetings as required.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, team-oriented planning professional who thrives in a small-town coastal community setting. They will have:
- Strong knowledge of CEQA, the California Coastal Act, Subdivision Map Act, and other state/federal planning regulations.
- Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Skills in project management, public engagement, and staff supervision.
- Ability to balance current and long-range planning work while providing excellent customer service.
- Clear and effective communication skills, both written and oral.
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban/regional planning, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or a closely related field.
Experience: Five (5) years of professional planning experience. A master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience.
Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a valid California Class “C” Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record.
Benefits
Retirement: PERS Classic employee receives 2% at 55; single highest year and PEPRA employee receives 2% at 62, with highest 3 years. Classic employees pay 7% employee contribution and PEPRA employees pay half the normal costs (currently 6.5%). The City of Half Moon Bay does not participate in Social Security, except the required Medicare.
Health Insurance: Employee can choose from medical plans provided through CalPERS. Dental Insurance is available through Delta Dental and Vision coverage is available through VSP. The City provides an allowance of $1,900 per month, which can be used for medical premiums. Any unused portion may be taken as additional compensation.
Dental and Vision premiums are paid by the employer up to family coverage.
Other Insurance: The City provides long-term disability coverage equal to 2/3 of monthly salary to a maximum of $6,000/mo.
Life Insurance: City provides coverage equal to 1 X annual base salary.
Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year.
Vacation: Accrual of 12 days annually for the first four years; increasingly periodically thereafter to 23 days annually after 21 years.
Administrative Leave: 12 days per year. Sick Leave: Accrual at the rate of 12 days per year.
Education Incentive: $1,500 annually for eligible expenses upon approval.
Deferred Compensation: Voluntary participation in ICMA or CalPERS 457 plans are available.
Special Instructions
APPLICATION PROCESS
Filing Deadline: Friday, November 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
To be considered, submit a complete online application and current resume CalOpps. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all documents are received.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City of Half Moon Bay is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, or sexual orientation. Candidates needing accommodation in the recruitment process should advise Human Resources when submitting their application.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all City of Half Moon Bay employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.
Employee must complete SB 1343 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.
For questions, please contact Ernest Azevedo, Management Analyst, at eazevedo@halfmoonbay.gov