Assistant Planner

Salary : $88,497.76 - $107,140.80 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 25-L85-A
Department: County-Wide Recruitment
Opening Date: 04/08/2025
Closing Date: 5/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 01

Description
Initially under close supervision, to provide service to the public and permit applicants, to assist in the review and processing of development applications for cities, agencies, and other county departments, to assist in planning studies, feasibility studies, master plans and concept plans, to assist in the research and analysis of planning data, and to assist in the administration of zoning, planning, or park and recreation development programs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * IMPORTANT * * * * * * * * * * *

EXAMINATION DATES: Candidates who meet the employment standards will be invited to take an online written examination, tentatively scheduled for the week of June 02, 2025. Qualifying candidates will be notified with examination instructions via the email address attached to their application.
Typical Tasks

• Assists in the preparation and processing of less complex and routine development applications;
• Assists in coordinating agency and community review of development applications;
• Analyzes the less complex and routine land development applications, site plans, and building permit applications for completeness and conformance with policies, ordinances, master plans, concept plans, County General Plan, conditions of approval, and State and Federal regulations, prepares conditions of approval where necessary, and takes discretionary action on certain land development projects that are reviewed at the staff level, making required findings;
• Assists in the preparation and presentation of detailed reports on development applications, master plans, concept plans, feasibility studies and other planning-related documents to decision-making bodies such as Board of Supervisors, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Airport Land Use Commission, Historical Heritage Commission, Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee, and San Martin Planning Advisory Committee;
• Enters development permit information and permit process workflow data in a central database;
• Tracks application and project expenses and verifies the accuracy of invoices;
• Abstracts information from aerial photographs, subdivision maps, census reports, building permits, etc., for analysis in planning studies;
• Analyzes geographic information systems data and creates maps;
• Assists in the preparation of plans, maps, graphs and other visual aids;
• Assists in the development of planning studies, feasibility studies, master plans and concept plans and reports on topics, such as land use, housing, historic resources, environmental impacts and economic development, in support of new or updated plan policies, regulations or programs;
• Answers inquiries and provides general information to the public regarding land use projects, permitting procedures, development policies, plans, zoning ordinances and other regulations;
• Provides information to the public regarding the permitting and development review requirements of other County departments such as Fire Marshal's Office, Environmental Health, Land Development Engineering, Geology, Roads and Airports, and Building, and County programs such as Williamson Act, Historic Preservation, and the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan;
• Assists with field inspections to gather data relevant to planning projects and the development review process and/or to verify that development projects comply with approved plans;
• Prepares environmental documents in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) such as Categorical Exemptions, Negative Declarations or Addendum to Environmental Impact Reports;
• Conducts in-depth property specific research including the review of deeds and other legal documents;
• Assists with outreach to community groups, government agencies, developers and the public to encourage participation, resolve problems or obtain input;
• Assists in the resolution of issues and complaints from the public or neighbors and permit applicants;
• May write and deliver presentations to staff or committees and participate in meetings, conferences and workshops;
• Attends evening meetings;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Performs related duties as required.

Employment Standards
Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college with a major in planning, architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, natural resources, social science or related field.

Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County Driver's Permit.

Knowledge of:

• Research and data collection methods;
• Principles and practices of planning and zoning administration;
• Environmental protection regulations such as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act;
• State and local laws pertaining to land use such as Williamson Act, Historic Preservation Program, and Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan;
• Relationship of land use planning to the requirements of other County departments such as Fire Marshal's Office, Environmental Health, Land Development Engineering, Geology, Roads and Airports, and Building;
• Principles of effective customer service;
• Effective report writing and presentation techniques;
• Statistics and math applicable to planning and property development;
• Common computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database management, internet, and geographic information systems.

Ability to:

• Learn the principles, concepts and techniques related to planning and zoning administration;
• Learn to review project descriptions, plans or field conditions and apply policy and code provisions to determine conformance;
• Interpret the zoning ordinance and other policy documents;
• Collect and analyze data;
• Prepare clear and concise reports;
• Communicate rules and procedures tactfully and effectively;
• Work on several projects or issues simultaneously;
• Work independently or in a team environment;
• Build relationships and work respectfully, tactfully and creatively with the public, agencies and staff;
• Speak and write effectively.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format for EACH employer referenced, in each answer:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performedDo you understand the requirement to provide complete answers in order to determine relevant experience for each area in question?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in any of the following fields?

• Planning
• Architecture
• Engineering
• Landscape Architecture
• Natural Resources
• Social Science
• Other related field
• None of the above

03

If you made a selection in the previous question, please include the name of the institution attended, degree level, and your field of study. If not applicable, type in "N/A".
04

How many years of professional planning experience do you possess?

• No experience
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten or more years

05

Please describe your professional planning experience. In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, hours worked per week, and the duties you performed. If you do not have such experience, type N/A.
06

Select from the following area(s) which you possess professional-level experience (check all that apply):

• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Reviewing land use/development applications
• Reviewing building permit applications
• Preparing planning studies, concept plans, or feasibility studies
• None of the above

07

For any items selected in the previous question, describe your experience. In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, hours worked per week, and the duties you performed. If you do not have such experience, type N/A.
08

Describe your experience related to land use planning and review of private development projects. In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, hours worked per week, and the job duties you performed. If you do not have such experience, type in "N/A".
09

Describe your experience in research and analysis of data relating to planning, zoning, ordinance updates, and other special studies or statistical reporting. In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, hours worked per week, and job duties performed. If you do not have such experience, type in "N/A".
10

Describe your experience preparing written reports and making presentations for planning-related projects or issues. In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, hours worked per week, and job duties performed. If you do not have such experience, type in "N/A".
11

Describe your experience working and communicating with the public in a planning environment (counter, phone, email, in person, at meetings). In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, hours worked per week, and job duties performed. If you do not have such experience, type in "N/A".
12

Select the computer applications you have used during the course of your work. (Select all that apply.)

• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• Database Management
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Microsoft Power Point
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop
• AutoCAD
• Other
• None of the above

13

Describe your use of technology as it relates to your planning work. Include the names of software used and your general ability level with each. In your response, please indicate the name of your employer(s), job title(s), and how the software was used in your role. If you do not have such experience, type in "N/A".
14

Please complete this survey carefully. Your responses may determine whether or not you will be referred for a specific position (i.e., department and focus area; geographical location). Please indicate which department(s) you are interested working in.

• Planning & Development
• Facilities
• Parks & Recreation
• Roads and Airports

15

How did you find out about this job?

• Contacted by County Recruiter
• Virtual Job Fair
• In Person Job Fair
• In-Person Networking Professional Event
• Virtual Networking Event
• Community Event
• Glassdoor
• Governmentjobs.com
• Professional Association
• Search Engine (Google, Bing, online search, etc.)
• Hospital Website: SCVMC, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital Website
• Contacted by a Recruitment Firm
• Handshake
• Student Career Center
• County Text Message
• County Career Newsletter
• Other (Specify in the next question)
• County Employee Referral
• County of Santa Clara Career Website
• County of Santa Clara Job Interests Email Notification
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Indeed

16

If you selected an event/fair or other in the question above, please specify. If not, type N/A.
Required Question