Planner IV - Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department

This City’s Planning Division provides oversight and assistance towards the City's growth and development in relation to regulations related to land use, zoning ordinances, development standards, neighborhood plans, and environmental impacts. The Citywide Planning Team is the section of the Planning Division that maintains the Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan and is responsible for all long-range planning functions of the department. The Citywide Planning Teams is also responsible for the updating of the City’s ordinances and policies relating to land use and urban planning, including the subdivision ordinance, zoning ordinance, and sign ordinance.   

The Division is seeking applicants for the Planner IV classification within the Citywide Planning Team.  These positions are responsible for the supervision and mentorship of a team of Planners (Planner I/II/III) conducting policy work related to implementation of the City’s adopted Housing Element, as well as, leading or managing complex special projects and programs related to housing.  Planner IV’s also provide valuable feedback to the development community and project design teams by leading preliminary review meetings and by participating in the review of projects submitted to the Planning department for entitlement. 

The Planning Division is divided into the following four sections:

• Permit Center: Plan check conformance, review for development projects, front counter/public information, and zoning compliance
• Development Review: Entitlement of zonings and development permits, historic preservation, and community engagement
• Environmental Review: Review of environmental clearances, CEQA compliance review of development projects
• Citywide Planning: Long range planning, General Plan updates and amendments, zoning and sign code amendments, preparation of Urban Village/area plans, station area planning, housing policy, data analysis/GIS, grant management, and community engagement.

What We Do

The Department’s Planning Division ensures compliance with the all the above-mentioned obligations by annually reviewing, analyzing, conducting, researching, processing, and issuance of:

• 4,000 compliance review for building permits
• Over 150 commercial, industrial, and residential development permits
• Over 500 of environmental clearance reviews for public and private projects
• Over 50 zoning changes
• Multiple General Plan Amendments, specific plans, and policies. 
• Over 50 community meetings and workshops

Salary Range for the Planner IV classification is: 
$144,777.36 - $176,314.32 Annually
This salary range(s) includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

The Planning Division is seeking to fill two Planner IV Full-Time positions: one on the Housing Element and Housing Policy Team and one on the Permit Center Team.

The Division is seeking applicants for one Planner IV on its permit center team. This position that is responsible for directly supervising a team of planning professionals who process an annual average of 1,300 administrative Planning permits and zoning verification applications, review about 3,800 building permits for zoning compliance, and provide public information services. This Planner IV oversees day-to-day team operations, manages staff workloads, provides staff development and training, facilitates process improvements, and coordinates across Planning Division teams and with interdepartmental partners.

The Citywide Planning Team is seeking a Planner IV to lead its Housing Element and Housing Policy Team that is composed of a team two Planners (Planner I/II/III) and reports to a Principal Planner. The Housing Element and Housing Policy Team is responsible for implementing and monitoring the programs and policies identified in the City’s recently updated Housing Element.

This position and team are also responsible for regular reporting and monitoring related to the City’s progress in implementing its Housing Element and progress toward its housing goals. The team will also be responsible for other special projects related to housing, and also responding to inquiries from housing developers and the public. The duties will require close collaboration with other City departments, and creative analytical thinking to formulate and administer City policies and programs to facilitate new housing.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervises subordinate planning staff, including: prioritizing and assigning work, training, editing documents prepared by subordinate staff, and general review of work performed by the team under supervision, conducting performance evaluations, making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
• Supervises a team of planners in one or more of the following projects:
  • Managing studies relating to formulating land use policies and General Plan designations
  • Developing special plans and planning policies
  • Developing housing elements, plans and programs
  • Gathering and analyzing socioeconomic and demographic data
• Mentor staff to prepare them for future promotional opportunities.
• Coordinates with other City departments and other planning agencies on matters relating to assigned planning programs.
• Meets with applicants, community members, or other interested parties to problem-solve on issues associated with long-range plans and policies, and land use regulations.
• Prepares complex technical reports, responses, and position statements with respect to planning ordinances, regulations, and policies.
• Represents the City and Planning Division at meetings and conferences and consults with citizens, property owners, developers, and professional consultants on various planning and land use issues.
• Makes presentations before the City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission, neighborhood and community groups, and/or other agencies.

This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Creativity - Addresses objectives and problems while questioning traditional assumptions/solutions in order to generate creative ideas and new ways of doing business; exhibits creativity and innovation when contributing to organizational and individual objectives; seeks out opportunities to improve, streamline, reinvent work processes.

Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational support and direction.

Multi-Tasking - Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).

Political Skill - In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Project Management - Ensure support for projects and implement agency goals and strategic objectives.

Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develop effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Communication Skills - Communicates and listens effectively and responds in an timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, well- organized, legible, concise, and in proper grammatical form; responds to statements and comments of others in a way that reflects understanding of the content and the accompanying emotion; asks clarifying questions to assure understanding of what the speaker intended, ensures consistent communication takes place within area of responsibility.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions.Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jennifer Macias at [email protected].