Principal Planner

City of San Marcos•San Marcos, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of San Marcos is currently recruiting for a qualified Principal Planner to join the Planning Division of the Development Services Department. Historically one of the fastest growing cities in San Diego County, this is an exciting time to be a part of the City of San Marcos. San Marcos is purposefully shaping its emerging community, and as a Principal Planner, you will help guide that legacy. Under administrative direction, manages, oversees, coordinates, and participates in the most complex and difficult work of staff responsible for providing current and long range planning related services and activities in assigned program areas; manages multiple sensitive and complex projects in the areas of assignment requiring highly independent coordination with other City staff as well as outside agencies and groups; provides direct supervision to professional planning staff; and provides responsible administrative and highly complex technical staff assistance to the Planning Division Director. Serving the public is paramount to all that we do at City of San Marcos. We are driven to serve the more than 95,000 residents who count on us every day. Our Principal Planner must be responsive, tactful, collaborative, and accountable to our community and customers. This includes working with our residents and other stakeholder groups to deliver projects that make a positive impact.

Requirements

Knowledge of: Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program; advanced principles and practices of zoning, community planning, and site planning; development practices and development review procedures and requirements; project management principles and practices; City General Plan policies and implementation and City ordinances; principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; organization and functions of various agencies involved in the planning processes; permitting requirements for state and federal agencies; 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 including for complex development proposals; 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, codes, and regulations including laws underlying general plans, land use planning, zoning, and land divisions including applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Ability to: Independently perform complex and sensitive planning duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations requiring a high level of technical expertise; recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing assigned services, activities, and operations; prepare and interpret codes and policies and apply to specific situations; coordinate and direct assigned sections and/or functional areas within the City’s Planning Division; supervise, organize, and review the work of staff involved in assigned program areas; select, train, and evaluate staff; serve as project manager on multiple complex and sensitive projects involving coordination with other departments and outside groups and organizations; plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines; staff and manage assigned commissions and committees; understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities; interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives; analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with zoning ordinance standards, planning and environmental regulations, general planning principles, General Plan policies, and architectural quality; ensure project compliance with state, federal, and local rules, laws, and regulations; independently coordinate necessary communication between staff, developers, and other agencies; understand, evaluate, and interpret complex technical engineering, architectural, structural, landscape, and topographical plans, maps, legal documents, and related documents; utilize engineering and architectural scale to read plans; prepare and analyze highly technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence; effectively present technical information and respond to questions from groups of managers, council members, committee and commission members, and the general public; effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit; work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies; read, analyze, and interpret information from professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations; operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications; demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Education/Training: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, regional planning, environmental studies, architecture, or a related field.
Experience: Six years of increasingly responsible, professional urban planning experience in local government, including project management, administrative, and/or supervisory responsibility.

Nice To Haves

A Master’s degree is desirable
Professional certification, or membership in the American Planning Association (APA) and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), although not a requirement, will receive favorable consideration.

Responsibilities

Provides assistance to the Planning Division Director in planning and organizing the activities of the Planning Division; prioritizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for providing planning related services and activities in assigned program areas.
Prepares and presents complex and technical staff reports, formal presentations, and recommendations at community meetings, advisory boards, and public hearings including to the City Council, Planning Commission, local committees, and neighborhood groups.
Reviews and analyzes civil engineering, architectural, landscaping, and other development plans for conformance with the City’s Zoning and General Plan, conditions of approval, and mitigation requirements.
Reviews environmental technical and federal studies and evaluates findings with consultants, internal departments, and public agencies.
Establishes schedules and methods for providing assigned services; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; participates in developing the department budget by providing input.
Participates in the selection of assigned professional and paraprofessional staff; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures.
Reviews and evaluates existing programs for overall effectiveness and efficiency in meeting division and department goals, initiating action for operational improvements as necessary.
Communicates and conveys complex information to City management, staff and members of the public.
Serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees including City commissions, councils, and planning groups; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
Develops and prepares amendments to the Zoning Code, General Plan, Specific Plans, and Area Plans.
Prepares and/or reviews and edits legal documents including resolutions, CCRs, deed restrictions, conservation, open space, access easements, development agreements, and improvement agreements; prepares drafts of official correspondence for department head or elected official signature.
Coordinates federal and environmental review and permitting for City Capital Improvement Projects; advises other departments of environmental and permitting requirements and recommends a course of action; prepares environmental documents; coordinates public notice requirements; coordinates with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare appropriate environmental clearances and to secure regulatory permits; coordinates public informational workshops; participates in contractor preconstruction meetings to brief contractors on environmental requirements.
As assigned, serves as project manager for multiple current and long range planning projects (including all types of discretionary projects including General Plan Amendments, Specific Plans, etc.) in administration of the City’s General Plan, Zoning, and other Municipal Codes, policies, and procedures.
Analyzes problems, identifies solutions, and anticipates issues related to proposed actions.
Assists in the development, implementation, and ongoing update of planning policies, procedures, and regulatory frameworks, including amendments to the General Plan, Zoning Code, Specific Plans, and related policy documents.
Conducts and coordinates long-range planning activities necessary to maintain consistency with adopted state laws, regulatory requirements, and evolving legal mandates, while also identifying opportunities to streamline planning and development review processes.
Maintains City website content for the Planning Division; maintains Planning Division page on City’s Intranet.
Attends and participates in professional associations and group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of urban planning.
Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; works with employees on performance issues in coordination with Human Resources; implements discipline in consultation with Human Resources; responds to staff questions and concerns.
Performs other related duties as required.

Benefits

Competitive salary with a scheduled 5% salary range adjustment effective July 1, 2026.
9/80 work week (every other Friday off).
Flexible work arrangement may be accommodated.
Generous health benefits for you and your family (all medical premiums employer paid at 90%, including family plans). Benefits effective the first of the month after hire date.
14 paid holidays.
96 hours of sick leave.
Beginning at 80 hours of vacation leave annually.
4 weeks of city paid maternity / paternity leave for new parents.
1 week of city paid grandparent leave.
Participation in the CalPERS retirement system (Classic members 2% @ 55, New members 2% @ 62), and Social Security.
Tuition Reimbursement Program - up to $1,500 per fiscal year which can also be used towards student loan repayment.