Principal Planner

City of Sacramento • Sacramento, CA

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice. The Public Works Department, Division of Mobility and Sustainability is seeking a Principal Planner to lead the Transportation Planning section to support the efforts to improve and expand mobility in Sacramento. The section’s work is long-range transportation planning and includes policy, project and program management. Specific tasks for this position include leading the team comprised of transportation planners, mentoring the team and supporting their work, as well as leading large high-profile efforts such as updating the Transportation Demand Management regulations as well as amendments to the City’s Street Design Standards to support safety and mobility. The ideal candidate will be an innovative leader, preferably with background in transportation planning, programs and policies around safety, mobility and access. This candidate will have excellent communication skills, ability to work collaboratively, ability to manage a large workload, and a commitment to community engagement and equity. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical and project management skills. They will be results oriented and have the ability to manage and navigate change and political environments. Lastly, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience and success mentoring staff and teams to success. Under general direction, the Principal Planner plans, organizes, supervises, and reviews the work of professional planning personnel and provides technical advice; performs responsible administrative and professional planning work in carrying out the current, long range and environmental functional areas of the Planning Division; represents the City and the Department in public and official meetings; and makes recommendations.

Requirements

• Six years of progressively responsible professional experience in urban planning, including two years in a supervisory capacity.
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in planning, architecture, engineering or other design-related field, urban studies, environmental planning, public administration, political science, economics, or closely related field.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of effective supervision.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of governmental planning.
• Knowledge of current literature and recent developments in the field of public planning.
• Knowledge of planning law, theory, and practice.
• Knowledge of General Plan and specific plan preparation.
• Knowledge of regulations and procedures affecting local planning agencies.
• Knowledge of other disciplines related to city planning such as architecture, urban design, historical preservation, urban studies, environmental studies, transportation, public administration, economic development.
• Knowledge of statistical concepts and methods.
• Knowledge of project management.
• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Skill in use of modern office equipment including computers, computer applications, and software.
• Ability to plan, assign, and supervise the work of professional and paraprofessional planning personnel.
• Ability to participate in technical research on planning, environmental, economic, transportation, and related problems.
• Ability to provide technical advice to subordinate personnel engaged in performing difficult assignments.
• Ability to perform research, analyze data, prepare reports, and present recommendations on complex planning projects.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, public officials, and the general public.
• Ability to develop alternatives and resolve conflicts among competing interests.
• Ability to represent the City in meetings with other City departments, organizations, and professional groups on matters pertaining to development applications.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; make presentations before large and small groups.
• Ability to organize and manage complex planning teams.
• Ability to develop planning policies and implementation strategies.

Nice To Haves

• A Master's Degree in planning, architecture, engineering or other design-related field, urban studies, environmental planning, public administration, political science, economics, or closely related field is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, supervises, and reviews the work of professional planning personnel and others in the preparation, revision, and administration of master plans, zoning ordinances, and development regulations for a large region within the City.
• Coordinates preparation and maintenance of the general plan and long range planning work program; provides technical advice to subordinate personnel engaged in performing difficult assignments.
• Compiles and evaluates data and makes recommendations for the more complex planning projects and participates in special studies as required.
• Makes administrative decisions in the absence of the Director of Planning and Planning Manager.
• Coordinates regular and special meetings of the Planning Commission; represents the City in public and official meetings with other City departments, organizations, and professional groups on planning matters.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel.
• Performs other or related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior