Senior Planner (20518249)

Senior Planner
Annual Salary: $118,354 - $159,778 (DOQ)
Closing Date: July 14, 2024

Welcome to the Senior Planner recruitment announcement for the Town of Los Altos Hills. The Town of Los Altos Hills is a small community in the heart of Silicon Valley with just over 8,400 residents. The town’s residents are some of the world’s best and brightest in their fields, and the same is true of its staff and leadership team, who are looking to add a dedicated planning professional to its community development team.

Los Altos Hills is known for its residential feel, highlighted by one-acre estate lots, a rural focus, and a network of pathways and trails to keep residents active and connected. Don’t let this fool you into thinking there isn’t much going on in Los Altos Hills. While the town’s size and residential makeup lend itself to a relaxed work environment and steady pace of work, the town is a leader in the Bay Area, being one of the first municipalities to adopt and implement its sixth-cycle Housing Element and to enact new legislation, a first in California, to curb climate change. While other jurisdictions are stepping back, the Town of Los Altos Hills is standing up, working with industry leaders, our City Council, and residents to build a more sustainable and resilient community. Los Altos Hills is focused on enhancing the quality of life for its residents and staff.

Los Altos Hills operates under a city council/city manager form of government, with the city council comprised of five members elected at large, and a new council member appointed as mayor each year. The town boasts thirteen separate committees and commissions, including the planning commission that helps the city council and staff lead the way. The city council and planning commission are helmed by thoughtful and supportive representatives that this position will undoubtedly interact and team with to continue to protect and improve our community. The most prominent committees for the planning division are Environmental Design & Protection, History, Open Space, and Pathways, all of which can play a part in public outreach and provide feedback for projects. Town residents are known for their spirit of community volunteerism and are encouraged to become active in Town governance, serve on the various committees, and participate in local events. This inclusive, open style of governance is embraced by the residents and is part of what makes Los Altos Hills a unique and progressive town.

Added support for the senior planning position comes from the staff itself. With a city manager focused on supportive environment that grows up and coming leaders and a new Community Development Director and Assistant who have decades of experience in Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement—the divisions that make up the Community Development Department—this position will have no shortage of like-minded professionals focused on transparency and accountability in both long-range and current planning efforts to help guide and support the new senior planner.

This position will focus on long-range planning while existing staff focuses on continuity within current planning. Long-range planning efforts also have the benefit of utilizing consultants and subject matter experts to help develop and refine the town’s programs and initiatives as we work through the implementation of the housing element and other long-range planning efforts like updates to the town’s general plan, zoning and objective design standards, hazard mitigation, and emergency operation plans. Example duties, knowledge and abilities, and qualifications needed to succeed in the role of the Senior Planner for the town are as follows:

Examples of Duties:

• Reviews applications for subdivision and residential development; evaluates alternatives and conformance with Town policies, ordinances, the General Plan, and state and federal laws; prepares and presents staff reports to the Planning Commission and the City Council.
• Serves as project manager for complex planning projects, including analyzing and evaluating site and architectural plans, performing technical reviews for project plans and applications, and making recommendations.
• Manages consultant contracts, including determining scope of work and budgets, tracking budgets, and approving contract payments.
• Supervises, coaches, and trains professional, technical, and support staff, including determining workloads and schedules, developing and interpreting policies and procedures, evaluating staff performance, and making hiring, disciplinary, and termination recommendations.
• Updates and creates long-range planning documents such as the Town’s General Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Emergency Operations Plan, and other assigned plans; prepares modifications, amendments, or updates to specific General Plan elements.
• Prepares written project analysis, including identifying appropriate land use policy, design issues, and environmental requirements; makes recommendations for action.
• Serves as staff liaison for committees and elected officials, including providing technical advice and giving presentations.
• Confers with and provides information to property owners, contractors, developers, engineers, architects, and the public regarding conformance to standards, plans, specifications, and codes; explains codes, requirements, and procedures and evaluates alternatives.
• Conducts site inspections, including determining if projects comply with laws, regulations, and ordinances; makes recommendations on changes.
• Administers and evaluates projects for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and related state and federal laws and regulations; prepares Negative Declarations or coordinates the preparation of Environmental Impact Reports as necessary.
• Manages the Housing Element.
• Coordinates interagency programs, enforcement projects, and cross-functional reviews with other departments and agencies and assists with code enforcement investigations.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and procedures related to Town and regional planning and zoning administration, including applicable state and local laws and regulations.
• Comprehensive plans and current planning and the development process.
• Planning policy and administration.
• Computer applications related to the work, including permit tracking software and basic GIS concepts and applications.
• Project management techniques.
• Practices of researching planning issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Principles and practices of effective supervision.
• Techniques for effectively representing the Town with governmental agencies, community groups, business, professional, and regulatory bodies, and with property owners, developers, contractors, and the public.

Abilities:

• Provide leadership and support to Community Development staff.
• Administer complex current and advanced planning and zoning conformance activities independently and effectively.
• Conduct complex planning research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Understand, interpret, apply, and explain complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Direct and review the work of support staff on a project or day-to-day basis and train staff in work procedures.
• Effectively represent the department and the Town in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Work effectively with the Director and Assistant Community Development Director, City Manager, Planning Commission, City Council, and volunteer committees.
• Conduct zoning studies and interpret Town zoning laws, regulations, and codes.
• Use specialized computer software such as GIS, permit tracking systems, and AutoCAD.
• Read, understand, and explain site development and construction plans and conduct site inspections.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with officials, co-workers, subordinates, the public, representatives of organizations, and others to exchange or convey information and receive work direction.

Qualifications:

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in city, urban, or environmental planning, architecture, or a field related to the area of assignment, and seven years of planning-related experience, which must have included two years of project management or supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above. Master’s degree preferred.
• Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners.
• At the option of the appointing authority or the Town, persons hired into this class may be required either to possess at entry or obtain within specified time limits, designated licenses, professional registration, certification, or specialized education and training related to the area of assignment. Must possess and maintain a valid California class C driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record.
• Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to attend meetings at various sites within the Town and away from the Town and to inspect various work, building, or construction sites; strength to lift and carry materials and equipment up to twenty-five pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone and/or radio.