Location
Description
The City of Auburn is looking for an Associate Planner to join team. We're looking for an individual to help convey land development policies, process various land use applications, and present impactful reports. Join our team and play a key role in shaping our community's future!
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Performs technical and paraprofessional work supporting both the department and City planning operations including current and long-range planning, environmental compliance review, processing development proposals, interacting with applicants, developers, consultants, the public, and external agencies, organizations and community groups, and other technical-level functions.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
A paraprofessional classification requiring administrative, analytical, and specialized technical skills to perform semi-complex municipal planning duties. The role is distinguished from lower classifications by its scope of work and requirements for specialized training and technical proficiency in planning. This classification performs recurring tasks and solves problems independently under general supervision from the department director or assigned supervisor, and does not exercise supervision over staff.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this classification. Actual work may vary based on department needs or change due to evolving business practices.
- Perform a wide range of administrative, operational, and technical tasks supporting planning programs and functions.
- Process, review, and evaluate plans, required planning documents and construction plans for completeness, consistency, and regulatory compliance.
- Administer zoning, land use, subdivision, and environmental regulations; provide recommendations on project issues, and assist applicants to ensure all requirements are met within established time frames.
- Interact with the public, and internal and external stakeholders; serve as liaison to City staff, applicants, developers, consultants, and external organizations and agencies regarding City codes, policies, processes, and requirements.
- Conduct site visits; investigate zoning issues and complaints; advise property owners, developers, and the public on relevant City ordinances and regulations.
- Prepare reports and make public presentations to the Planning Commission, City Council, and other public groups.
- Conduct specialized planning studies, research, and analysis for current and long-range planning issues, including environmental evaluations and General Plan updates.
- Develop ordinances, resolutions, and regulations related to planning matters.
- Oversee and coordinate the current planning process including project scheduling for Historic Design Review Committee and Planning Commission, and project review with other staff.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date planning records and data.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with some travel to various on-site locations. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in the field on-site and in an office setting including stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach and twist; lift, carry, push and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard and calculator; occasionally work in outside weather conditions; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends; ability to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations; verbally communicate to exchange information; vision to see in the normal visual range with or without correction, and read computer screens and printed documents; and hearing and speech in the normal audio range to communicate in person, before groups and over the telephone with or without correction.
Ideal Candidate
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of: Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program; principles and practices of urban planning and land development methods; development review procedures and requirements; recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development; methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation; methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues; modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications; pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, and regulations including land use, zoning, environmental, and subdivision laws, rules, and regulations as well as legal and practical applications; Principals of civil engineering, construction, architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, and design.
Ability to: Perform a full range of professional level planning duties involved in participating in the development, implementation, and modification of the City’s planning function; interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives; process development applications and coordinate necessary communication between staff, developer, and other agencies; conduct research in zoning, land use development, and planning matters; analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality; prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence; effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, council members, committee and commission members, and the general public; read, analyze, and interpret information from professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations; read, understand, and evaluate plans, maps, and blueprints; provide technical assistance and supervision to assigned staff; operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
A combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the requisite knowledge and abilities is to possess:
- Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, architecture, urban geography, or a related field. A master’s degree in planning or a related field is desirable.
- Three years of increasingly responsible work experience in current and/or long-term planning including experience in local government planning.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license.
- Certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.
Benefits
Compensation: Annual salary of $84,646 - $108,041 (6 steps), and longevity pay starting at 10 years of service.
Retirement: CalPERS Classic (2% @ 55) and PEPRA (2% @ 62), and monthly city contribution to deferred comp plan.
Healthcare: CalPERS plans with $0 monthly premium options or a $300 cash benefit if waived, and city-paid dental and vision plans.
Paid Time Off: Vacation leave starts at 96 hours/year with cash out option, 96 hours/year sick leave, and 13 paid holidays + 12 floating holiday hours.
Life Insurance: City-paid $50k benefit plan.
Voluntary Options: Flexible spending accounts, additional life, critical illness, accident, and more.
This position is the City Hall Employees Association employee group and has a 12-month probation period; for further benefit information, contact Human Resources at (530) 823-4211 x114 or hr@auburn.ca.gov.