Planner/Senior Planner

City of Palo Alto•Palo Alto, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Palo Alto is a community known for innovation and public service excellence. The City of Palo Alto is seeking an experienced city planner who enjoys working in a dynamic, vibrant community. In this exciting opportunity, the Long Range Planning Group has a vacancy which can be filled at either the Planner or Senior Planner level, depending on qualifications. If you're looking for an opportunity to make a difference by shaping the future of land use in the Palo Alto community, we encourage you to apply and join our Long Range Planning Group. The Long Range Planning program engages with the community to guide and develop the City’s land use, community development, and housing policies and programs. This team is responsible for advancing City Council land use policy priorities and initiatives; Housing Element implementation; area plan development; Comprehensive Plan amendments; and managing the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Below Market Rate (BMR) housing program, and Rental Registry Program. This fast-paced team offers an opportunity to work on a variety of strategic policy and projects that enhance and preserve the Palo Alto community for the future. The Palo Alto Planning and Development Services Department provides the City Council and community with creative guidance and effective implementation of land use development, planning, housing, and environmental policies and programs in order to maintain and enhance the City’s safety, vitality, and attractiveness.

Requirements

Ability to write clearly and communicate effectively
Ability to prepare and write high quality staff reports, professional documents, and communications
Ability to handle a variety of assignments and adapt quickly to changing priorities and assignments
Experience in housing policy development, housing element program implementation, zoning code interpretations and amendments
A strong customer service focus and superior interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, management, elected officials, community members, and representatives of public and regulatory agencies
Experience working with consultants
Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or related field from an accredited college or university
Three years of suitable professional experience in urban planning (for Planner level)
Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Historic Preservation or a directly related field from an accredited college or university (for Senior Planner level)
Five years of suitable professional experience in urban planning (for Senior Planner level)
Possession of a valid California Driver's License

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree is highly desirable (for Senior Planner)
Substitute for up to two years of experience with a master's degree in planning or a related field (for Senior Planner)
Strong project management skills and experience with development of specific/area plans (for Senior Planner)

Responsibilities

Advancing City Council land use policy priorities and initiatives
Housing Element implementation
Area plan development
Comprehensive Plan amendments
Managing the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program
Managing the City’s Below Market Rate (BMR) housing program
Managing the City’s Rental Registry Program
Periodically participate in public meetings during non-business hours and evening meetings of boards, commissions, or city council
Participate in community public meetings