Classification Description

The City of Moorpark is excited to announce that we have an opportunity for a dynamic leader to join our team as a Planning Manager. In this role, you will oversee the Planning and Code Compliance Divisions under the guidance of the Community Development Director.
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 a Planning Manager who is a dynamic leader 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 supplemental 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.

Essential Functions

• Assume management responsibility for services, activities, and programs of the Planning and Code Compliance Divisions of the Community Development Department and other assigned responsibilities, including related contracted services; prepare and administer policies and procedures.
• Provide responsible staff assistance and support to the Community Development Director, Deputy Community Development Director, or other assigned supervisor.
• Manage and participate in the development and implementation of Community Development Department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for each assigned division or service area.
• Coordinate activities with other City departments and public agencies, Chamber of Commerce, economic development collaboratives, and applicable affordable housing organizations.
• Recommend, within Departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; allocate resources accordingly.
• Plan, direct and coordinate the work plan of any assigned division of the Community Development Department; assign projects to subordinate staff; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; direct and implement changes.
• Train and evaluate department personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of the Community Development Department budget as assigned; complete revenue and expenditure projections; monitor expenditures, cost recovery, and time accounting.
• Explain and interpret Community Development Department programs, policies, and activities; negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
• Establish schedules for development performance and other provisions of disposition and development agreements with private developers for the sale and redevelopment of City-owned property.
• Oversee City agreements for professional consulting services related to assigned programs and activities; monitor contract payments; ensure contracts are within budget requirements; ensure compliance with contract obligations.
• Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Monitor legislative developments related to assigned activities and programs.
• Attend and participate in professional training and group meetings, stay abreast of new trends and innovations for assigned areas of responsibility; and represent City at local and regional meetings.
• Provide expertise in application and interpretation of the Municipal Code, including Zoning Code.
• Provide regular reports to the department head and City Manager on the status of development applications and assigned programs and activities.
• Maintain organized and accurate records, files, and databases for entitlement processing and all other assigned areas of responsibility, including key deadlines for action and expiration dates for permits or agreements.
• May be assigned responsibility for supervising affordable housing programs and activities and including assisting with bond issues including debt service projections and analysis.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive municipal community development program, including economic development, planning, affordable housing, building and safety, code compliance, and related programs.
• Reporting and tracking methods for development applications including entitlement review and compliance with conditions of approval.
• Reporting and tracking methods for code compliance activities.
• Advanced site planning and architectural design techniques and methods.
• Planning theory and social policies.
• Principles and practices of building construction, structural design, and processing procedures for land development.
• Pertinent building related codes, ordinances, and regulations enforced by the City including the Uniform Building Code, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical codes, zoning ordinances, general land use codes, and related City codes and state mandated regulations.
• Civil engineering principles and practices.
• Geographic information system software.
• Technical report writing.
• Methods and techniques of research and analysis related to urban development and environmental impact assessment.
• Current literature, information sources, and research techniques in the field of urban planning.
• Affordable housing programs including deed restriction provisions, home mortgage financing, and related procedures.
• Principles and practices of tax increment financing.
• Principles and practices of state and federal tax credit financing, home mortgage financing, and other forms of public assistance provided for private for-profit and non-profit housing developments.
• Management skills to analyze programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Negotiation strategies.
• Principles and practices of contract administration.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Purchasing procedures and practices.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

• Oversee and participate in the management of the Economic Development and Planning Divisions and other divisions of the Community Development Department as assigned, including responsibility for administration, development review and entitlement processing for development projects, long-range and regional planning, environmental review, business registration, and code compliance.
• Plan, organize, direct and coordinate the work of lower level staff.
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff.
• Effectively manage contracts and evaluate the work of contractors.
• Delegate authority and responsibility.
• Lead and direct the operations, services, and activities of assigned areas of responsibilities including one or more divisions of the Department.
• Develop and administer division goals, objectives, and procedures.
• Identify and respond to community concerns and needs related to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Prepare reports that provide essential management information on the status of development applications and code compliance activities.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports.
• Prepare and administer large and complex budgets.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including computer, printers, and copiers.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Research, develop, and prepare ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and technical reports and associated summary data for presentation to City Council and others.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, press, or other agencies on sensitive issues in areas of responsibility.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Maintain mental capacity, which allows the capability of making sound decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
• Maintain effective audio/visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for the successful performance of assigned duties.
• Perform responsible and difficult administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.

Experience, Training, License/Certificate, Working Conditions

Experience and Training Guidelines: 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 urban planning experience that includes public agency economic development and affordable housing programs, projects and activities, and including two years of administrative and supervisory responsibility.
Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, engineering, economics, business administration, public administration, or a related field. A Master's degree is desirable.
License or Certificate: Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate, valid California driver's license. AICP Certification is desirable.
Environmental Conditions: Office and field environment; exposure to computer screens; exposure to outside atmospheric conditions.
Physical Conditions: 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.

The City of Moorpark operates most divisions on a 9/80 schedule and offers a comprehensive and generous benefit program. Highlights include the following:
Health, dental, and vision insurance:

• Medical insurance is through California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) which offers PPO and HMO plans. The City pays 90% of the PERS Platinum Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Health Plan family rate towards whichever plan the employee chooses. An employee may convert up to a maximum of $300 per month of the medical insurance allowance to cash out or deposit in deferred compensation each month if not used for medical insurance cost.
• 100% of the dental and vision insurance premiums for employee and dependents is paid by the City.

Life Insurance:$75,000 term life insurance paid by the City.
Supplemental Life Insurance: Employees have the option of increasing their life insurance by purchasing supplemental life through payroll deduction.
Retirement: The City participates in CalPERS to provide retirement benefits for employees. For eligible miscellaneous Classic employees (employees hired before 1/1/2013 with a 2% @ 55 formula and no required employee contribution), the City pays 7% of base salary on employees’ CalPERS contribution. For “New” members (employees hired on or after 1/1/2013 with a 2% @ 62 formula), the employee contributes 6.75% of salary. The City does not participate in Social Security.
Deferred Compensation Saving Plan: 2% of base salary paid by the City.
Annual Leave Accrual: Annual leave (vacation, personal, sick time hours) is accrued based on years of service. Annual Leave accrual rates for Management Employees begins at 22 days per year and maxes out at 32 days per year.
Administrative Leave: Management Employees at salary range 67 or higher receive approximately 68 hours per year. Management Employees at a salary range lower than range 67 receive approximately 44 hours per year.
City Paid Holidays:11 ½ paid legal holidays each year.
Remote Work Option: For certain positions where it may be appropriate without diminishing quality of performance or service delivery, remote work arrangements may be set up after six months of on-site work.
Flexible Work Schedule: For certain positions where it may be appropriate without diminishing quality of performance or service delivery, flexible work schedule arrangements may be set up.
Short and Long-Term Disability:City-paid coverage.
Tuition Reimbursement: Management employees will be reimbursed for courses pre-approved by the City Manager. The annual maximum tuition reimbursement is $1,800 and the lifetime maximum is $10,000.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): The City provides a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program for confidential counseling and services to City employees and their immediate families.