JOB
Small Team – Big Opportunity If you are seeking a career in government where you can make a difference in the community every day and be part of a positive work culture that supports professional development, the City of Moorpark is the place for you. We are seeking an experienced Principal Planner to join our team. We welcome your application if this opportunity aligns with your career goals and experience. The City of Moorpark is a great place to make a big impact as part of a small team. We offer a competitive salary and a generous benefits package comprised of 90% City paid health insurance for employee and dependents, 100% City paid dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance for employee and dependents, CalPERS retirement, 2% City contribution of employee gross salary to deferred compensation, annual leave bank, 11 ½ days paid holidays, Flexible Spending Plan, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), tuition reimbursement, voluntary life insurance, 9/80, and work/life balance e.g., flexible work schedule/remote work. (See and review the benefits tab). Here at City Hall, we have a mentorship program, an Employee Engagement Team, and we celebrate and recognize employees every quarter. About the City of Moorpark The City of Moorpark was incorporated in 1983 as a general law city and operates under the Council-Manager form of government. We are conveniently located in the southeastern part of Ventura County near the cities of Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, within an hour’s drive to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and close to the Southern California beaches. Moorpark is nestled in a flourishing valley with spacious mountain views, a perpetual vacation climate, beautiful residential neighborhoods, cultural arts, shopping, a variety of restaurants, outstanding schools, and the exceptional Moorpark Community College. Moorpark also has 19 city parks with sport courts and fields, open grass, picnic areas, hiking, and viewpoints. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to “Strive to preserve and improve the quality of life in Moorpark.” Below are some employee comments on why they like working for the City of Moorpark: "As a parent, I like the flexible schedule. I can start at 7:00 a.m. and be done by 4:00 p.m. to be with my children”. “There is teamwork in my department. When I need help, there is someone always there to assist me”.“I like the All-Employee Meeting. The food is always good, and the City Manager gives updates on what is happening. We play games and recognize employees.”“I like working with professionals who are trying to do their best for the City.”“Flexibility in my schedule and easy-going employees. First review of applications will be on June 17, 2024. This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time. Prompt application submission is encouraged. Job Description: The City of Moorpark is seeking an experienced planning professional to join our Community Development team. The Principal Planner position provides an excellent career opportunity to be involved with a broad range of current and advance planning projects. Moorpark is rapidly moving forward with many exciting projects including the development of strategic mixed-use zoning tools, downtown revitalization efforts, enhanced economic development strategies, multiple complex residential developments, organizational process improvements and streamlining efforts, and the deployment of new electronic permitting and tracking systems. The successful candidate must demonstrate excellent writing and presentation skills, comprehensive planning experience, program administration, and experience in the application of the California Environmental Quality Act.The Principal Planner will review and process major development projects, the preparation of specific plans, zoning ordinance amendments, and environmental documentation under the California Environmental Quality Act, and the management of assigned activities with other City departments and outside agencies. The Principal Planner will also provide responsible and administrative support to the Planning Manager and/or Community Development Director. AICP Certification is desirable. This position is overtime exempt; receives general direction from the Planning Manager and/or Community Development Director; may exercise primary supervision over technical and clerical staff; administers contracts and monitors performance.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Plan, prioritize, prepare or assign, supervise, and review the work of staff responsible for the City planning function including current and comprehensive planning projects and special studies; provide technical assistance to professional and technical planning and code compliance staff and consultants.Provide responsible staff assistance and support to the Community Development Director or Planning Director.Recommend and assist in the development and implementation of department goals and objectives; implement approved policies and procedures.Establish schedules and methods for providing planning services; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; use resources accordingly.Participate in the selection of planning staff and consultants; provide or coordinate staff training; prepare performance evaluations; work with employees to correct deficiencies.Participate in the preparation and administration of the division or department budget; submit budget recommendations; monitor expenditures; prepare time accounting and cost recovery information.Review, coordinate, and process General Plan amendments and related entitlement applications including zone changes, subdivision maps, planned development permits, and conditional use permits, review and inspect projects, meet with architects, engineers and construction personnel.Update or coordinate consultant preparation of updates to General Plan elements and prepare yearly General Plan status report; prepare written staff reports and verbal presentations; to City Council, Planning Commission, City Council and ad hoc committees, other agency staff and representatives.Interpret and enforce the City's General Plan, zoning ordinances, related local and state regulations.Confer with developers, engineers, architects, landscape architects, environmental and planning consultants, other agency staff, elected officials, the general public regarding City development policies, standards, and the processing of development project and entitlement applications.Review and provide comments on other agency projects and environmental documents and CEQA compliance.Review programs related to housing and housing rehabilitation to further compliance with housing goals.Perform complex architectural, site, landscape and other development plan examining activities; coordinate and direct staff in making recommendations on plan components.Prepare professional services agreements and manage the work of consultants.Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of current and comprehensive planning and environmental analysis.Provide regular reports to the department head on the status of development applications and code compliance activities.Maintain organized and accurate records, files, and databases for entitlement processing, including key deadlines for action and expiration dates for permits or agreements.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible complex urban planning experience in either current or comprehensive planning including one year of supervisory responsibility.Training: Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, geography, public administration, business management or a closely related field.License or Certificate: Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate, valid California driver's license. AICP is desirable.Working Conditions: Office and field environment; travel from site to site; exposure to computer screens; exposure to outside atmospheric conditions, dust and noise. Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time, standing or walking; travel to various locations; light lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling; reaching; handling; use of fingers; talking; hearing; near acuity.