Associate Planner

Annual Salary: $87,609.60 - $105,851.20

Associate Planner positions develop and manage environmental, general, community, and urban plans; manage land use and land development projects; review and write environmental documents; prepare and coordinate processing of local, state, and federal permits; perform development permit review, landscape review and plan checks; review and analyze technical drawings, specifications, and reports; research, review, and prepare ordinances and policies; make presentations on environmental and planning issues at public hearings and meetings; review projects and advise citizens and developers during the application process to ensure compliance with City regulations; interpret regulations and requirements to the public; engage community members in the planning process; prepare planning reports; perform Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping; handle complex projects; perform site inspections; review and enforce plans and specifications; perform quality control for document preparation and submittals and coordinate with various City departments, as well as federal, state, and local agencies; monitor mitigation requirements for environmentally sensitive projects; perform proper documentation and reporting; lead the work of subprofessional staff; may manage contracts; and perform other duties as assigned.

Notes:

Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:

• 2% effective 1/1/25
• 5% effective 7/1/25

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter).

Note:

• Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.

EXPERIENCE: Two years of full-time professional-level planning experience. Qualifying professional-level experience must be in at least ONE of the following areas:

• Prehistoric or historic archeology.
• Historic preservation.
• Environmental review or analysis.
• Resource management.
• Landscape planning or landscape architecture.
• Environmental, general, and community planning.
• Transportation planning.
• Design, redevelopment, and capital improvement projects.
• Zoning administration and enforcement.
• Architecture and urban design.
• Site planning.
• Discretionary permit review and processing.

Notes:

• A Master's Degree in Archeology, History, Urban Planning, Urban Studies or Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Economics, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Public Administration, Life Science (e.g., Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany), Environmental Studies, or a closely related field may be substituted for a MAXIMUM of one year of the required experience.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Certified Planner Certification issued from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
• College-level course work in Archeology, History, Urban Planning, Urban Studies or Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Economics, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Public Administration, Life Science (e.g., Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany), Environmental Studies, or a closely related field.
• Conservation biology and/or Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) experience.
• Experience supporting equitable public engagement for planning initiatives.
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental documentation and compliance experience.
• Watershed or environmental plans.
• American Society of Landscape Architects membership.

Please visit our City of San Diego website for official details and additional information.