Community Reuse Area Planner

City of Concord•Concord, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Concord is seeking a Community Reuse Area Planner to lead the coordination and implementation of complex, long-range planning processes for the development of the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project. This role is within the Community Development Department, specifically the Planning Division, which handles policy implementation, development evaluation, and long-range planning, including the City's General Plan and the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project. The Planner will be responsible for project management and coordination related to the planning, entitlements, and development of the Community Reuse Project, including preparing a Specific Plan, environmental review documents, and potential amendments to the General Plan, Zoning Map, and Development Code. This position will act as a primary liaison between the City and the Master Developer for this significant, long-term project and may take on additional planning projects as needed.

Requirements

Completion of a Bachelor's Degree in City Planning or closely related field.
Eight (8) years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience involving program management and supervision of staff.
A California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record.
Significant experience in leading complex, long-range planning processes and state law requirements.
Ability to manage City staff and consultant teams in the preparation of specific plans, master plans, general plans, land use entitlements and permitting processes.
Strong leadership skills, ability to work independently and autonomously, and knowledge of when to seek assistance.
Exceptional ability to communicate openly and effectively with a wide variety of audiences and political acumen.
Ability to explain complex planning principles in easy-to-understand terms.
Flexibility and adaptability to change, modifying behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles, and effectively dealing with ambiguity.
Collaborative work style across City divisions and departments and with outside agencies to align objectives and ensure successful project outcomes.
Embraces and is guided by the City's Mission, Vision and Values.
Knowledge of functions, principles, methods, and techniques of public sector planning including land use planning, urban design, planning and zoning law, and environmental impact analysis.
Ability to determine objectives and strategies, coordinate with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals, monitor and evaluate the progress and outcomes of operational plans, and anticipate potential threats and/or opportunities.
Knowledge of the principles and tools relevant to land use planning, development, regulations, and permitting.
Ability to understand and interpret written material including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables and apply what is learned to specific situations.
Ability to recognize and use correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling, communicate information in a succinct and organized manner, and produce written information which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Ability to express information to individuals or groups effectively taking into account the audience and nature of the information, make clear and convincing oral presentations, listen to others, attend to nonverbal cues, and respond appropriately.
Knowledge of supervisory theories and methods sufficient to be able to perform a variety of lead work functions.
Ability to use experience and observation to map existing processes and identify improvements, or develop new processes and procedures to address existing gaps.
Ability to use knowledge acquired through formal training and extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job, work with, understand, and evaluate technical information related to the job, and advise others on technical issues to facilitate the implementation of the Community Reuse Plan.
Ability to identify a need for and know where or how to gather information and organize and maintain information or information management systems.
Ability to use machines, tools, instruments, and/or equipment effectively and use computer applications to analyze and communicate information in the appropriate format.
Ability to set goals, take initiative in implementing ideas, systems, or policies that affect a planning area, manage time efficiently, encourage feedback, and invest in self-development.
Ability to understand where the organization is headed and how to make a contribution, take a long-term view, and recognize opportunities to help the organization accomplish its objectives or move toward the vision.
Ability to identify and understand economic, political, and social trends that affect the organization.
Ability to show understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, and concern, develop and maintain relationships, deal with people who are difficult, hostile, and/or distressed, relate well to people from varied backgrounds and situations, and be sensitive to individual differences.
Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations, and initiate actions aligned with the strategic objectives of the section, unit, or project.
Ability to commit to action, even in uncertain situations, by making sound and timely decisions necessary to carry out projects, ideas, systems, or policies that affect the planning area.
Ability to identify rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information, analyze information, and make correct inferences or draw accurate conclusions.
Ability to encourage and facilitate cooperation and open communication, promote team work at all levels, cooperate with staff, higher-level managers, peers, administrative staff from other organizations, internal and external customers, and local stakeholder groups to accomplish goals.
Sensitivity to cultural diversity, race, gender, and other individual differences in the workforce.
Ability to work with customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations, know products and services, and be committed to providing quality products and services.
Ability to help others learn through formal or informal methods, identify training needs, provide constructive feedback, coach others on how to perform tasks, and act as a mentor.
Ability to use imagination to develop new insights into situations, apply innovative solutions to problems, and design new methods where established methods and procedures are inapplicable or are unavailable.
Ability to persuade others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior, work with others towards an agreement, and negotiate to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Ability to initiate and sustain action to accomplish goals by guiding and motivating others and gaining the confidence and active support of subordinates, peers, administrative staff from other organizations, internal and external customers, and local stakeholder groups.
Ability to achieve voluntary commitment to shared values and goals and adapt leadership style to different situations.
Ability to manage and resolve conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative personal impact.
Knowledge of the organization's mission and function and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operate effectively with them including the program, policies, procedures, rules and regulation of the organization.
Ability to contribute to maintaining the integrity of the organization, display high standards of ethical conduct, understand the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others, and be trustworthy.
Thoroughness when performing work and conscientiousness about attending to detail.
Openness to change and new information, adapting behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles, and effectively dealing with ambiguity.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Extensive advanced planning experience is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Manages the Specific Plan process for the City of Concord Community Reuse Project Area Plan.
Manages 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.
Works closely and collaboratively with the Director of Community Reuse Planning to facilitate the successful implementation of the Community Reuse Plan.
Serves as a liaison to the Master Developer for the Community Reuse Project and facilitate the entitlement process for development of the Community Reuse Project.
Supervises and directs the duties of assigned Planning Staff and performs activities pertaining to the processing of applications related to the Community Reuse Project 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.
Supervises professional Planners on assigned projects relating to the Community Reuse Project; coordinates and provides lead direction to consultants, coordinates and reviews the preparation of reports and correspondence.
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 agencies, as assigned.
Performs complex project management duties related to the Community Reuse Project, including negotiating with developers on planning issues.
Promotes the City's Mission to make Concord a city of the highest quality by providing responsive, cost-effective, and innovative government services; understands and subscribes to the Vision and Values Statement adopted by the City.

Benefits

Participation in CalPERS pension, tiered based on date of hire
A variety of health care plans or a cash-in-lieu benefit of $200 if waiving coverage
City-paid dental insurance
Employee-paid vision insurance
Vacation accruals starting at 15 days per year
12 days of sick leave per year
11 paid holidays per year
80 hours of administrative leave per year available upon completion of probation
Generous tuition reimbursement program
401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans, including an employer paid contribution of 3% plus $2000 annually
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthcare, dependent care and commuting costs
Life insurance in the amount of twice the annual salary (up to $400,000 max)
Disability insurance
A wellness program that offers fitness classes, annual health expos, health and nutrition education, as well as a variety of mental health resources
Option for alternative work schedules, based on prior approval