Senior Planner

Salary: $95,243.00 - $130,707.00 Annually
Location : Palm Desert, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-0008
Department: Development Services
Division: Development Services/Planning
Opening Date: 04/24/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

Definition
**This position is open until filled. Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the position based on the number of applications received.**

The City of Palm Desert provides exemplary and sustainable services, amenities and programs for the benefit of the local and surrounding communities. When you interact with a City employee, you will find our collaborative, driven and efficient staff working together to provide strategic solutions for the community and each other. We are a city focused on external and internal customer service and try to find a way to say "yes," while not compromising the City's or our own integrity.
Our efforts are guided by our core values:

• Integrity
• Stewardship
• Service
• Community
• Innovation
• Teamwork

Our employees are passionate about innovation, collaboration and growth, which is supported by the City's Council and Executive Team. We are an environment that thrives on making changes, pivoting quickly, and is full of movers and shakers. We are constantly striving to improve processes and better our approach so that we can better support the needs of the City. If you have growth mindset and find change exciting, the City of Palm Desert may be your ideal working environment!
THE OPPORTUNITY
The City of Palm Desert is looking for a Senior Planner to join our team. This role requires experience in urban planning, policy development, and project management. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to lead complex planning initiatives, evaluate and implement policies, and enhance development review processes with efficiency and compliance.
Key qualifications include:

• Strong knowledge of CEQA and its application in municipal planning
• Expertise in preparing and presenting detailed reports to the City Council, Planning Commission, and other stakeholders
• Exceptional research, analytical, and communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership in supervising and mentoring planning staff
• A collaborative approach to working with developers, consultants, the public, and partner agencies
• A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Join us in shaping the future of the City of Palm Desert. Help lead innovative planning efforts in a thriving, forward-thinking community.

Under administrative direction, plans, schedules, assigns, and reviews the work of staff performing professional and technical planning and land development work in support of programs, projects, and activities of the Planning Division in the Development Services Department; conducts and assists in long-range planning, current planning, and environmental compliance analysis; participates in the implementation of the City's General Plan; manages the effective use of the City's planning resources to improve organizational productivity and customer service; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives supervision from the Director of Development Services or designee. Exercises direct and indirect supervision over professional, technical, and/or administrative staff.
Class Characteristics

This is the supervisory-level class in the Planner classification series. Incumbents are responsible for supervising programs, projects, and staff within the Planning Division. Incumbents are also expected to independently perform the full range of high-level professional planning duties. Under direction of the Principal Planner, the incumbent oversees and supervises day-to-day activities and operations of the Division. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making. Successful performance of the work requires an background in professional planning, as well as skill in coordinating work with other City departments and external agencies.
Examples of Typical Job Functions

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of staff assigned in the Planning Division, including current and long-range planning, environmental compliance, interagency coordination and land development engineering; trains staff in work procedures; evaluates employee performance, counsels employees, and effectively recommends initial disciplinary action as needed; assists in employee selection and promotion.
• Monitors activities of the Planning Division; recommends improvements and modifications and prepares various reports on activities, programs, and projects; recommends and assists in the implementation of goals and objectives; implements policies and procedures.
• Determines and recommends staffing needs for assigned activities and programs; participates in the annual budget preparation; prepares detailed cost estimates with appropriate justifications, as required; maintains a variety of records and prepares routine reports of work performance.
• Assists in the development, monitoring, implementation, and updating of the City's General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, specific plans, and other land use studies; drafts new City ordinances governing land use development; provides guidance to staff on appropriate community engagement and outreach tools and approaches and data collection methodology, analysis, and management; continuously evaluates long-range planning documents and recommends revisions to the Director.
• Serves as project manager on complex current and long-range planning and development projects; meets with prospective developers to discuss new and ongoing projects; schedules and facilitates meetings and community hearings; and monitors project implementation to ensure conformance with approved plans, conditions, and mitigation measures.
• Assists in the professional review and processing of proposed development projects to ensure applications for land use entitlements are complete and in conformance with City policies and regulations and local, state, and federal requirements; coordinates the technical processing of development proposals and reports; may conduct the more complex reviews of entitlements and environmental reports.
• Participates in the review and preparation of documents to ensure compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and federal environmental requirements. Coordinates Division programs, projects, and activities with other City departments, local jurisdictions and agencies, and regional, state, and federal agencies. Advises other departments of environmental and permitting requirements and identifies recommended course of action.
• Assists the Principal Planner, Deputy Director of Development Services, and Director of Development Services with special projects; conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate.
• Prepares, reviews, and presents staff reports, management and information updates, and reports on projects to the Planning Commission, Architectural Review Commission, Cultural Resources Preservation Committee, City Council, and other committees and commissions, and at public meetings.
• Responsible for overseeing the development, administration, and compliance of grant programs.
• Participates in developing and implementing strategies for the conservation, rehabilitation, and protection of historic buildings, structures, and districts.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in urban planning; research and monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Supervises and participates in assisting the public at the front counter, by telephone, or by email, answering questions and providing information.
• Receives, investigates, and responds to problems and complaints in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.
• Performs duties of a disaster services worker in event of an emergency.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, standards, and procedures relevant to zoning and land use planning.
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and budget and contract development and administration.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive planning program, including current and long-range planning.
• Principles, practices, theories, trends, and technical and legal issues of urban, land use, and regional planning, zoning, and environmental review.
• Geographic, socio-economic, transportation, political, and other elements related to city planning.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning, zoning, and environmental review.
• Methods and techniques of conducting public meetings and presentations.
• Authority and the role of the Planning Commission, Architectural Review Commission, City Council in approving planning related projects.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to planning, zoning, and environmental review.
• Research methods and statistical principles related to urban growth and development.
• Practices of researching planning and zoning issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to planning work.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• General familiarity with operation GIS programs and applications.

Ability to:

• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, standards, and procedures relevant to zoning and planning.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient services.
• Administer complex, technical, and professional planning programs, projects, and activities in an independent and cooperative manner.
• Plan, organize, assign, review, and evaluate the work of staff.
• Participates in selecting, hiring, training, motivating, and evaluating assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; conducts performance evaluations; implements discipline procedures.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public; identify and respond to issues and concerns of the public, City Council, Planning Commission, Architectural Review Commission, and other stakeholders.
• Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, and regulatory organizations and individuals.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Make accurate arithmetic and statistical computations.
• Establish and maintain accurate databases, records, and files.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Administer permit tracking software for division, coordinates with software consultant and Information Systems Department, and prepares tracking reports.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in urban planning, or environmental studies, engineering, or a related field with a master's degree in planning; AND four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience.
Supervisory experience preferred.

Licenses and Certifications:
None.
The City of Palm Desert offers a competitive benefits package to all employees. These benefits include:

• Competitive salary ()
• Medical, dental and vision coverage for employee and dependents (up to 100% paid by employer)
• 12 paid holidays annually
• 12 paid sick days annually
• Two weeks of annual paid vacation, additional vacation available for Management positions
• The City does not participate in the Social Security program, except for the mandatory 1.45% Medicare contribution.
• 2% @ 62 CalPERS retirement, 2% @ 55 for Classic Members
• IRC 125 Cafeteria Plan (flexible spending plans)
• Life insurance (equal to annual salary)
• Longterm Disability Plan
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage
• Retiree Health Savings Plan: 1% Employee Contribution, 1% Employer Match
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Rideshare Incentive Program
• Qualified employer for PSLF Program eligibility

01

Instructions for completing the supplemental questionnaire: Responses to the questions below will be used to determine your eligibility to advance in the recruitment process. An attached resume is not an acceptable substitution for a completed application. Please do not type "see resume" or "see application" in your responses. Incomplete responses, false statements, or omissions may result in disqualification in the selection process. By continuing in the process, you are certifying that all information provided in the application and supplemental questionnaire is true to the best of your knowledge. Select "Yes" to reflect that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

02

Please describe your experience interpreting planning, zoning and other codes/regulations by telephone/public counter.
03

Describe your experience with public presentation. Please include examples in which you either led, facilitated, or participated in public presentations (including to Boards, Commissions, and Councils); meetings with other staff, consultants, developers and stakeholders; public meetings and community outreach programs.
04

Describe your experience analyzing land development applications for conformance with zoning regulations/preparing zoning regulations or design guidelines. If no experience, type "N/A".
05

Describe your experience preparing written correspondence and detailed technical reports.
06

Describe your experience with reviewing environmental documents pursuant to CEQA.
07

APPLICANT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT - NOTIFICATION VIA EMAIL: I understand that it is my responsibility to check my email, including junk mail or spam folders, for any communication from the City of Palm Desert. Communication will be sent via email to the email address I have provided on my application. Select "Yes" to reflect that you have read, understand, and agree to this statement.

• Yes
• No

Required Question