Assistant/Associate Planner

The Department: 
The Community Development Department enhances the community’s safety, welfare, quality of life, and economic opportunities by providing advanced planning, development review, permitting and inspection services, as well as administration of programs related to affordable housing. The Planning Division reviews current development proposals for conformance with the City’s adopted policies and ordinances and plays a key role in supporting economic development and ensuring opportunities for the public to participate in land development activity in Santa Clara. For more information about the Community Development Department, please visit the department website.  
 
The Positions: 
Assistant Planner
Responsibilities include providing support to the Permit Center, demonstrating good diplomatic skills in dealing with the general public and staff, as well as making decisions and acting within general guidelines in the role of a project planner. This classification is distinguished from the Associate Planner by the performance of the less complex, more routine professional tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series.

Associate Planner
This classification is flexibly staffed with the lower classification of Assistant Planner. Appointment or promotion is based on the employee’s demonstrated ability to perform the full range of duties and meet the qualification standards for the class, including those that require knowledge of performing routine to complex planning duties in the administration of land use regulations, the City’s General Plan, environmental review, and design review. Depending on area of expertise, an Associate Planner may be primarily assigned to one or more of the following specialties: current planning, advanced or long-range planning, architectural review, transportation planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, or database development.

Additional Information: 
Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and, 2) Resume.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.
 
Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. This position is continuous or open until filled: Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis for consideration to the position.  If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the position is closed.

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. 
 
The annual salary range for the Assistant Planner position is $100,109.88 – $127,482.24. The annual salary range for the Associate Planner position is $118,485.96 – $151,171.32. These positions may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range.

Typical Duties
Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification for Assistant Planner, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification for Associate Planner, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

Minimum Qualifications
Assistant Planner
Minimum Requirements:
 • Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Architecture, or closely related field;
 • Six (6) months of experience in a position with public contact, including customer service, complaint resolution, public education, or policy analysis
 
Acceptable Substitution: 
None.
 
Desirable Qualifications: 
• Paraprofessional or internship experience in public or private sector.
 • Computer proficiency in mapping programs, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or permitting software, such as Accela.
 
Associate Planner
Minimum Requirements:
 • Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Architecture, or closely related field; and;
 • Two (2) years of increasingly responsible professional municipal or regional planning experience performing duties similar to an Assistant Planner for the City of Santa Clara.
 
Acceptable Substitution: 
• A Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning or closely related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
 
Desirable Qualifications: 
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), permit tracking and data tracking programs, such as Accela.
 • Planning experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment.
 
Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.  
  
If applying for the Assistant Planner position, you may qualify for: 

VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: This position qualifies for Veteran’s Preference Points.  Applicants who have separated from service (Active Duty Status) must submit proof of honorable discharge (Form DD214) with their application at time of filing or will be ineligible to have points added to their final score.
 
If applying for the Associate Planner position, you may qualify for: 
PERMANENT CITY EMPLOYEES PREFERENCE POINTS: Current permanent employee candidates who receive a passing score on the examination will have an additional five (5) points added to their final score.

Per Civil Service Rules, section 2.24, MORE THAN ONE PREFERENCE POINT PROGRAM: An applicant may use only one (1) preference point program and shall make his/her decision as to which preference point program he/she desires to utilize at the time he/she submits his/her application.
 
The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.