Senior Planner

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

• Serves as a project manager, team leader, subject matter expert, and/or primary reviewer/analyst of tenant development projects and Port initiated projects to ensure compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Coastal Act (Coastal Act), California Health and Safety Code, San Diego County Air Pollution Control Port rules, and other relevant federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, and Port policies and procedures; oversees and prepares issuance of coastal development permits and other entitlements consistent with CEQA, Coastal Act, San Diego Unified District Port Act, Port Master Plan, and the Public Trust Doctrine.
• Assigns, directs, reviews, oversees, and monitors the work of professional and technical staff and consultants; acts as team leader for staff coordinating department and inter-departmental planning activities; regularly monitors performance of team members and consultants; trains and mentors professional and technical staff, facilitates acquisition of resources and training for team members, and ensures staff training needs are met; coaches staff for better performance; edits written work of staff and consultants for accuracy and readability of content; coordinates and balances workloads among team members and consultants; monitors schedules; evaluates and modifies procedures to improve service delivery; mediates conflict between team members; keeps statistics of team’s work.
• Develops, designs, implements, and oversees Port, tenant, and inter-departmental planning programs to meet Port needs; administers complex Port policies and regulations; interprets and implements federal, state, and regional laws and regulations; interprets and integrates planning requirements into policy direction, plans, and management of department programs; determines the application of code and regulations in complex situations; writes and edits Port policy documents and regulations related to planning issues; researches, writes, and edits management plans; prepares amendments to the Port’s Master Plan; analyzes amendment requests from the general public and other divisions; reviews and edits proposed amendments to Port policy documents to ensure clarity and consistency; develops strategies, policy document amendments, and other measures to carry out policies.

• Coordinates activities with Port staff, division management, and elected officials; makes recommendations and presents reports to the Board of Port Commissioners; keeps department management and Port Commissioners apprised of the status of department programs and the department’s ability to meet regulatory requirements.
• Researches policy or planning issues and conditions; analyzes projects for conformance with relevant regulations; plans and manages processes to prepare detailed study designs that reflect outlined needs; prepares scopes of work; designs, conducts, and analyzes surveys, inventories, and evaluations, including data collection and interpretation, analysis, and evaluation of consequences of different courses of action; completes portions of environmental impact reports; issues coastal development permits.
• Briefs department staff on policy document changes and land-use recommendations; notifies Port employees on department programs; keeps team members updated on outcome of management decisions, interpretations, and new regulations.
• Acts as department spokesperson and liaison with other divisions and local, state and federal government agencies and provides planning expertise; represents the Port and participates on committees, subcommittees, advisory groups, councils, and boards that address local issues; organizes and hosts meetings and special events; presents programs and policies to community groups as needed; conducts and facilitates public meetings, workshops, and advisory committees; participates and serves on other division or agency technical advisory committees; convenes and leads team meetings and inter-department teams.
• Takes the lead in responding to questions from Port employees, developers, agency and industrial professionals, and the public on department programs, policies, and regulations; explains Port positions, policies, procedures, and regulations on planning matters.
• Recommends procedural and policy documents as appropriate to maintain function of policy documents and maps; prepares maps; analyzes and evaluates technical documents, drawings, plans, graphs, and charts for accuracy, completeness, and applicability to pertinent regulations.
• Develops budgets and manages consultant contracts; identifies candidates; prepares and distributes Requests for Proposals (RFPs); convenes interview panels and selects consultants; reviews work products and authorizes payments and invoices; monitors grant and funding opportunities; ensures compliance with contract terms addresses concerns with contractors as needed. 
• Keeps informed of new regulations, pending legislation, and trends in planning that impact department programs and processes; develops and implements course of action to adapt to new regulations or policies; writes summaries of regulations and briefs staff on relevant regulations; performs and/or directs a course of action for tasks to ensure compliance with regulations; communicates and coordinates with regulatory agencies. 
• Develops, manipulates, and maintains computerized databases, spreadsheets, progress monitoring systems, and filing systems.
• Conducts field work with operations staff to mitigate and take corrective action for issues and problems.
• Prepares complex reports, summaries, memos, agenda sheets, and correspondence.
• Performs assigned disaster service worker responsibilities, as directed.
• Observes and complies with all Port and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of leadership. 

• Principles of providing functional direction and training.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Advanced theories, principles, practices, and techniques of public administration, public financing, financial management, and redevelopment, as they apply to a Port and the disciplines of current and long-range land use planning, marine planning, environmental planning, natural resources management, environmental protection, air quality, environmental monitoring, and sustainability. 
• Principles and practices of project planning and management, including managing multiple projects, project budgets, and schedules.
• Principles and techniques of workload management and coordination.
• Social, political, and environmental issues influencing planning program/project development and implementation.
• Principles, practices, tools, and techniques of purchasing and maintenance of public records.
• Research methods and analytical techniques for both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Principles and practices of sound business communication.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
• Port and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Port staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and coordinate the work of assigned staff. 
• Effectively provide staff leadership and work direction. 
• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.

• Oversee large, complex, high-priority, and politically sensitive projects and contracts including budgets, schedules, and quality of work product. 
• Perform difficult and complex technical research and analysis of planning issues or problems, evaluating alternatives and recommending or adopting effective courses of action.
• Review, prepare, or direct the preparation of complex plans, applications, specifications, and legal contracts.
• Understand, interpret, and respond to internal and external customer needs and expectations.
• Supervise and evaluate the work of professional consultants, contractors, and designated staff, as assigned.
• Motivate and direct the work of assigned team or project staff and provide for their training and professional development.
• Present ideas and requirements clearly and persuasively, orally and in writing, to policy and decision-making bodies, organizations, committees, applicants, and citizens, involving complex and politically sensitive issues while adhering to the intent of Port policies. 
• Collect, evaluate, and interpret appropriate and applicable data, either in statistical or narrative form.
• Coordinate and negotiate project activities with multiple stakeholders to build agreement and consensus, where feasible.
• Apply sound, creative problem-solving techniques to resolve difficult program issues and problems.
• Ensure the maintenance of all required files, records, and documentation.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, documentation, and other written materials.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Effectively represent the department and the Port in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals. 
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Exhibit strong analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• 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:

Education:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, environmental planning, environmental science, or a related field.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in planning, environmental studies, or other related work. 

Licenses and Certifications: