Principal Planner

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Principal Planner provides expert advice and counsel to senior management on the development, revision, refinement, and amplification of long-range master plans. Under the general direction of the Director of Physical Planning, the role serves as UCSF's Environmental Coordinator, preparing environmental review documents for UCSF physical development projects in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Principal Planner also prepares, coordinates, and manages transportation, parking, and other technical planning studies; manages selection processes for environmental and technical planning consultants; and represents UCSF in community and governmental relationships, including with local, state, and federal planning agencies and departments. The position performs the highest-level planning services for administrative officers engaged in physical, environmental, and community planning. It serves as a technical expert on planning and community planning problems, performs complex work on long-range development plans, and represents the organization before governing bodies and planning commissions or boards. The role may oversee lower-level professional positions. UCSF Real Estate develops, plans, delivers, and manages UCSF facilities. Within it, Campus Planning guides campus physical development and supports strategic improvements to buildings and space. The Physical Planning unit maintains the Long Range Development Plan for UCSF campus sites, develops land-use plans, evaluates sites and new facilities, and conducts environmental analysis to comply with CEQA.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience or training.
At least 7 years of relevant progressive experience.
Expert knowledge or skills in city planning, architecture, or another planning-related field, including large-scale site planning.
Expert experience and expertise with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Technical expertise in environmental topics such as traffic, air quality, noise, greenhouse gas emissions, forest management, cultural and historic resources, and hazardous materials.
Expert written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen and negotiation skills.
Expert ability to build, maintain, and nurture professional relationships to achieve short- and long-range organizational development goals.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, City Planning, or another planning- or environmental-related field.
Expert analytical and project management skills, including experience managing budgets, schedules, and consultants.
Expert knowledge of the organization, including its architectural history, short- and long-range development plans, infrastructure, and current, ongoing, and future design and construction plans.
Expert knowledge of the legal framework for planning, including federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and practices.
Knowledge of land acquisition and due diligence procedures.
Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams to secure complex governmental entitlements.

Responsibilities

Advise senior management on developing, revising, refining, and amplifying long-range master plans.
Serve as UCSF's Environmental Coordinator and prepare environmental review documents for physical development projects in compliance with CEQA.
Prepare, coordinate, and manage transportation, parking, and other technical planning studies.
Implement consultant selection processes and retain and contract with environmental and technical planning consultants.
Represent UCSF in community and governmental relationships, including with local, state, and federal planning agencies and departments.
Plan, organize, supervise, and/or perform high-level planning services for administrative officers engaged in physical, environmental, and community planning.
Serve as a technical expert on planning and community planning issues at local or organization-wide levels.
Develop, revise, refine, and amplify long-range development plans, resolving complex issues that require specialized knowledge.
Represent the organization to local, regional, and area governing bodies and planning commissions or boards.
May oversee the work of lower-level professional positions.