Principal Planner

ABOUT US

At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people “I work for the County of Marin.” Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture on the Department of Human Resources website . Read on to find out more about this opportunity.

Marin County Community Development Agency: The Community Development Agency (CDA) has a long history of innovation and leadership. CDA is a multifunctional agency shaping many aspects of environment and communities, organized into five mission-oriented divisions: Planning, Building and Safety, Environmental Health Services, Housing and Federal Grants, and Sustainability. CDA’s mission is to promote, protect, and advance healthy, safe, and equitable communities.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Principal Planner supervises and coordinates the Long Range Planning section of the Community Development Agency’s Planning Division; performs as the highest level specialist and provides in-depth and broad technical support and leadership to staff; conducts planning research, analysis, and conflict resolution on projects having a high degree of complexity and public interest; assists in the preparation of work programs and strategic planning activities or projects; and performs related work as assigned.

Examples of initiatives include updating the Countywide Plan and Local Coastal Program, preparing a new Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, initiating environmental research projects, and amending the County’s Development Code.

Incumbents exercise a high level of independence, initiative and authority in decision making with oversight from management. This class is responsible for monitoring workflow, timelines and delivery of services; assisting in the organization, design, development and implementation of the Marin Countywide Plan, community plans, the Development Code, and other plans and studies; and regularly represents the department at meetings and hearings before the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, various public agencies, community organizations, and interest groups.
Hybrid schedule:
The Community Development Agency has embraced a hybrid work schedule that considers that some duties of this position may be performed remotely. However, the successful candidate must be able to report to County facilities for meetings, work assignments, and/or disaster service work upon short notice, as needed and deemed appropriate. During the initial probationary period, the successful candidate may be required to work primarily onsite before establishing a hybrid work schedule.

ABOUT YOU

Our Highly Qualified Candidate:

Our highly qualified candidate has experience with drafting planning policies and zoning regulations, conducting public outreach related to long range planning initiatives and analysis, customer service activities, including working on a public service counter for a public agency, current planning and development, environmental review, including CEQA compliance, reviewing current planning applications for a public agency, interpreting and applying California state housing laws and local housing regulations, analyzing natural resource and resilience issues, including resource conservation and climate change adaptation, presenting before public meetings and hearings, including stakeholder groups, Planning Commissions and City Councils or Boards of Supervisors.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and trends in one or more fields of planning, such as current or advanced planning, affordable housing, parks planning, environmental programs, transportation, regional and/or sustainable development.
• Intensive practices and trends in planning policy development and analysis.
• Environmental and land use analysis, principles of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and land use and site planning.
• Legislative developments affecting local government including federal, state and local laws and ordinances; and applicable laws, codes, regulations, ordinances and permit requirements of regulatory agencies.
• Complex research, analytical and statistical methods, and comprehensive cost analysis techniques, including methods as applied to the collection, tabulation and analysis of data essential to planning studies.
• Techniques of map and plan reading and reproduction.
• The physical, social and economic factors involved in urban and regional planning.
• Principles of ecology and environmental sciences and sustainability; regional planning concepts and the processes of local governmental planning.

Ability to:

• Supervise, train, coach, motivate and evaluate staff.
• Plan, organize, determine work priorities and coordinate necessary resources to accomplish planning tasks.
• Prepare or supervise the preparation of difficult, complex and specialized studies and projects, including the preparation of drawings and other graphic representations.
• Act as a liaison with a variety of concerned groups; clarify and resolve problems or conflicts of a sensitive nature.
• Understand the operation and organization of local government and jurisdictions and the function and processes of related Boards and commissions.
• Think critically and conduct strategic planning.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in written form and be able to develop a quick understanding of technical issues, develop options as appropriate, and explain issues to the public.
• Effectively manage complex and/or controversial projects and apply technical, social, and political skills to solve problems in a timely manner.
• Work collaboratively with other departments and divisions to assure the provision of comprehensive and coordinated related services; and work effectively as a member of a County management team.
• Monitor and promote excellent customer service techniques.
• Utilize a variety of computer software programs to prepare reports, maps, diagrams, graphs and other material related to planning studies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills listed. Typically, graduation from college with a major in planning, geography, environmental studies, architecture, landscape architecture, biological sciences or a field closely related to the work, and four years of increasingly responsible planning experience. For supervisory assignments, one year must have included lead or supervisory experience.

NOTE: Additional graduate level courses in planning or a closely related field may be substituted for up to one year of the experience requirement at the rate of twelve semester units (or 18 quarter units) for six months of experience.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095. If you have questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Stephen Schoengarth, Human Resources Analyst, at 415-473-6946.

PLEASE NOTE: The benefits described herein do not apply to temporary (contingent) or to part-time employees that work less than 50%.

COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL
Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the Marin County's Benefits Homepage .

Paid Time Off : Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.

Health Plan : Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.

Retirement : Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at www.mcera.org.

IRS 457 Plan : Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.

For specific questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at (415) 473-6104. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the Benefits Division at (415) 473-2197.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 4/9/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• County of Marin

• (415) 473-6104

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