Location
Description
Applications are being accepted for the position of Associate Planner with the City of South San Francisco in the Economic & Community Development Department.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025, OR UPON RECEIPT OF THE FIRST 100 ONLINE APPLICATIONS, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.
THE CITY OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE BENEFIT PACKAGE, AS WELL AS CALPERS RETIREMENT PLAN AND SOCIAL SECURITY PARTICIPATION.
The Department
The Department of Economic and Community Development includes four dynamic divisions that together are responsible for the preservation and improvement of the physical and economic conditions of the South San Francisco community.
The Planning Division is responsible for drafting long-range plans and policy documents, processing applications for new development, reviewing the design of new construction to promote high-quality urban design and to ensure compliance with the City's Zoning Ordinance and development standards, administering the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and planning permits, and fostering careful consideration of historic structures and resources.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Associate Planner is a collaborative, detail-oriented, and forward-thinking professional who possesses a strong foundation in urban and municipal planning along with a proactive approach to public service. This candidate thrives in a fast-paced, public-facing environment and demonstrates both technical proficiency and excellent interpersonal skills. The Associate Planner will review and interpret zoning regulations in order to complete a variety of current planning projects (commercial and residential land use entitlement projects, ministerial planning projects, and building permit plan checks), and will also assist with the development of new or amended legislation to address policy issues. The Associate Planner will also provide zoning, entitlement and planning process information to members of the public (at the Planning Counter, via email and phone).
Skilled at analyzing planning and zoning issues, interpreting CEQA guidelines, reviewing building plans and development proposals, and preparing comprehensive written and oral reports, the ideal candidate can manage multiple planning projects independently while working effectively with other City departments, developers, and community members.
This individual is committed to high-quality public service and demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and initiative in all aspects of their work. They will bring a solutions-oriented mindset to challenging land use and environmental issues, with a focus on creating and maintaining a vibrant, sustainable, and well-planned urban environment for the City of South San Francisco.
QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Experience: Two years of progressively more responsible experience in municipal, county, regional, and/or private planning. A master’s degree in planning may be substituted for one year of the experience requirement.
Training: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, political science, engineering, geography, sociology, public administration, economics, or a closely related field.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
To be considered, applicants must submit the following REQUIRED items:
- City application
- Responses to the supplemental questionnaire
NOTE: Applications must be filled out in their entirety. Failure to complete the application and/or supplemental questions or failure to include a required attachment will disqualify the applicant from the recruitment process. Failure to list work experience, education or training or indicating “see resume” in the work experience section of the application will be considered an incomplete application and subject to disqualification.
THE SELECTION PROCESS:
The process will first consist of a review of application materials, including responses to supplemental questions, which must be detailed and complete. Applicants whose submitted application materials demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities in the best alignment with the required and desired qualifications of this position will be selected to participate in the next phase of the qualification and selection process, an oral panel interview (weighted at 100%), tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Following this preliminary interview, the top scoring candidates will be invited to a final selection interview with the hiring department.
To review complete job descriptions which include all special requirements, go to www.ssf.net
Benefits
Retirement: CalPERS retirement formula is 2% at age 60 for Classic members or; 2% at age 62 for “new members” as defined by Government Code §7522.04(e). Social Security and Medicare participation and the option to participate in 457 deferred compensation plans. City contributes equivalent of 1.5% of base pay towards a medical after-retirement account, with a $100/month employee contribution.
Health Insurance: City offers a choice of medical HMO (two providers) or PPO plan, and offers vision and dental coverage. City pays 100% of vision and dental premiums for employee and eligible dependents. Employees shall contribute 10% of the HMO premium cost based on category of coverage (single, two, family). For PPO, employee pays cost difference between PPO and HMO plans. City provides 100% City-paid short- and long-term disability insurances. The City offers a discretionary benefit account for employees who demonstrate health coverage elsewhere.
Vacation: Fifteen to thirty working days annual vacation, based on the length of service.
Holidays: Thirteen total paid holidays per year plus one floating holiday.
Programs: 457 Deferred Compensation, Paid Family Leave, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Long-Term Care, Disability and Life Insurance Programs, City Recreation Classes, Reduced-fee Childcare Programs and Commuter Benefit Programs are available.
Administrative Leave: Entitled to receive 40 hours of administrative leave annually and are also eligible to receive up to an additional 40 hours of administrative leave per fiscal year.
This classification is in an employee bargaining unit.
Special Instructions
Prior to appointment, candidates will be required to submit to any or all of the following (as applicable):
- Reference Check
- Department of Justice (DOJ) Fingerprint Check
A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to the nature and recency of the conviction and relationship to job duties. All City standards must be met before the final appointment is made.
Candidates with a disability who may require special assistance in any phase of the recruitment process should advise the Human Resources Department upon submittal of application.
Candidates requesting veteran’s preference must provide a copy of U.S. Government DD Form 214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" as an attachment to their CalOpps application.
The policy of the City of South San Francisco is to grant equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or national origin. It is the intent and desire of the City of South San Francisco that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The City of South San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).