Principal Planner (20747044)

The Position

The Town of Los Altos Hills is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Principal Planner to serve as a key leader within the Community Development Department. Reporting to the Community Development Director, the Principal Planner will assist in the management and administration of planning operations, provide leadership and technical guidance to planning staff, coordinate consultant resources, and oversee the Town's most complex current and long-range planning initiatives.

This position is intended to strengthen the Town's planning capacity by providing senior-level expertise and project management support across a broad range of planning activities. The Principal Planner will play a critical role in advancing major policy initiatives, implementing state-mandated planning programs, managing complex development projects, and ensuring the Department remains responsive to the needs of residents, elected officials, and stakeholders.

The Principal Planner serves as a strategic partner to the Community Development Director and works closely with planning staff, consultants, the Planning Commission, City Council, advisory committees, outside agencies, and community stakeholders to advance the Town's priorities and maintain compliance with evolving State planning requirements.

Los Altos Hills is a unique community with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, wildfire resilience, open space preservation, and thoughtful land use planning. The Principal Planner will help guide the Town through a variety of complex planning efforts, including Housing Element implementation, General Plan maintenance, Safety Element updates, climate adaptation and resilience planning, zoning updates, and review of significant development proposals.

Examples of Duties

Leadership and Administration

• Assists the Community Development Director in the administration and management of the Planning Division.
• Provides leadership, mentorship, technical guidance, and training to planning staff.
• Assists with work planning, project prioritization, performance management, and professional development of planning personnel.
• Coordinates and oversees the work of planning consultants and technical specialists.
• Assists with departmental budgeting, consultant procurement, contract administration, and strategic planning efforts.
• Serves as acting manager for planning operations in the absence of the Community Development Director, as assigned.

Long-Range Planning

• Leads and manages major long-range planning initiatives and policy projects.
• Oversees implementation of Housing Element programs and other state-mandated planning requirements.
• Assists with updates to the General Plan and its elements, including Housing, Safety, Land Use, Open Space and Conservation, and related implementation programs.
• Coordinates planning efforts related to wildfire resilience, climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, hazard mitigation, and emergency preparedness.
• Manages updates to zoning regulations, objective design standards, development regulations, and related planning policies.
• Conducts research and analysis regarding planning legislation, emerging policy trends, and regulatory changes affecting local government.

Current Planning

• Serves as project manager for complex development applications, including residential, institutional, public, and special projects.
• Reviews development proposals for consistency with the General Plan, Municipal Code, zoning regulations, state law, and applicable planning policies.
• Evaluates environmental, design, land use, infrastructure, and community impacts associated with development proposals.
• Coordinates multidisciplinary project reviews involving Planning, Building, Engineering, Fire, Public Works, and outside agencies.
• Provides technical guidance and recommendations regarding planning, zoning, and development issues.

Environmental Review and Project Management

• Oversees and coordinates environmental review activities pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Manages consultant preparation of Initial Studies, Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports, and related environmental documents.
• Develops project scopes, budgets, schedules, and consultant contracts.
• Monitors project progress and ensures timely completion of assigned planning initiatives.

Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Coordination

• Prepares and presents staff reports, ordinances, resolutions, policy analyses, and recommendations to the Planning Commission, City Council, and advisory committees.
• Represents the Town in meetings with residents, property owners, developers, consultants, regulatory agencies, and community organizations.
• Responds to public inquiries regarding planning policies, development proposals, and land use regulations.
• Facilitates community outreach and public engagement efforts related to planning projects and policy initiatives.
• Coordinates with regional agencies and partner organizations on planning and environmental initiatives.

Other Duties

• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Of

• Advanced principles and practices of urban and regional planning.
• California planning, zoning, subdivision, housing, and environmental laws and regulations.
• Housing Element implementation and General Plan administration.
• Safety Element planning, hazard mitigation, wildfire resilience, and climate adaptation strategies.
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and environmental review procedures.
• Municipal government organization and administration.
• Project management principles and practices.
• Consultant contract administration and budget management.
• Public engagement and community outreach techniques.
• Principles and practices of supervision, coaching, and staff development.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS), permit tracking systems, and related planning technologies.

Ability To

• Assist in the management and administration of a municipal planning program.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and technical guidance to professional planning staff.
• Coordinate and oversee consultant teams and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and effectively.
• Analyze planning, environmental, and policy issues and develop practical solutions.
• Interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, ordinances, and planning policies.
• Prepare clear, concise, and effective reports, presentations, and policy recommendations.
• Build productive working relationships with elected officials, commissioners, staff, residents, developers, consultants, and public agencies.
• Exercise sound judgment in politically sensitive and technically complex situations.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Represent the Department and the Town in a professional and effective manner.

Qualifications

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, city planning, environmental planning, public administration, architecture, geography, or a closely related field.

Eight (8) years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience, including substantial experience managing complex planning projects, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and leading policy development and implementation efforts.

Experience in both current planning and long-range planning is highly desirable.

A master's degree in urban planning, public administration, environmental planning, or a related field is desirable.

Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred. Candidates without AICP certification must demonstrate equivalent senior-level professional planning experience and expertise.

Demonstrated experience with Housing Element implementation, General Plan updates, Safety Element planning, wildfire resilience, climate adaptation, zoning administration, CEQA compliance, consultant management, and public engagement processes is highly desirable.

Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing technical leadership to professional planning staff is desirable.

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record.