UC Santa Cruz – Senior Physical Planner

Under the direction of the Director of Campus Planning, the Senior Physical Planner has responsibility for implementing the activities of the Physical & Environmental Planning unit within the Physical Planning, Development & Operations (PPDO) department, through the successful completion of tasks and assignments associated with: campus land use, circulation, and infrastructure planning and campus-related community and regional planning. The Senior Planner conducts professional-level planning by reviewing and assisting with the preparation of campus plans and studies, area plans and studies, participating in the revision of campus Long-Range Development Plans, conducting planning research and maintaining planning data, working collaboratively with others to properly obtain entitlements for development, and representing the campus and its interests in its relationships with public jurisdictions, public agencies, and community groups. The incumbent may supervise associate planners, assistant planners, and student assistants the performance of assigned duties.

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced planning professional with a full understanding of industry practices and organization policies and procedures and full range of planning skills and expertise; resolves a wide range of issues. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Operates with considerable independence in concept planning, project definition and feasibility phases of assigned campus projects.

Physical & Environmental Planning, a unit of Physical Planning, Development & Operations (PPDO), supports the UC Santa Cruz academic vision by managing and overseeing all physical and environmental planning efforts required to successfully support campus development plans, master plans, are plans, and construction projects. Under the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor- PPDO, Physical & Environmental Planning ensures planning efforts contribute to and support campus life by creating visually pleasing, functional, and sustainable infrastructure and facilities that are sensitive and responsive to the surrounding natural landscape. We collaborate with other campus departments to facilitate and realize programmatic, or operational needs when building or altering facilities.

Advanced knowledge and skills associated with planning principles including land use planning, urban and architectural design, open space preservation, entitlement procedures, and infrastructure and utility development as related to a large-scale public or institutional setting.

Advanced knowledge of the organization, including its architectural history, short and long range development plans, infrastructure and current, on-going and future design and construction plans.

Advanced skills required to research, analyze, and synthesize data from a variety of sources and generate reports including identifying and analyzing problems and viable solutions.

Advanced communication and negotiation skills, including political acumen, to work successfully across all levels of the University, outside agencies, and with customers.

Thorough knowledge of environmental and legal issues as well as federal, state and local laws, regulations and practices governing planning, and state/federal legislative processes.

Thorough knowledge and experience in personnel management including strong leadership and problem recognition/avoidance/resolution skills as well as effectively supervision.

Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with the California Environmental Quality Act, including both written and review of environmental documents.

Demonstrated experience working with local, state, and federal agencies.

Demonstrated experience associated with design and construction processes related to major capital projects within a large-scale public or institutional setting.

Demonstrated experience managing assigned tasks and projects within budget and schedule expectations.

Understanding, knowledge, and experience writing or administering resource management and natural resource plans.

Experience recruiting, selecting, and managing consulting firms tasked with preparation of environmental resource analyses and compliance documents and planning studies.

Ability to implement a customer service approach, with a commitment to high ethical standards.

Ability to take initiative and independently plan, organize, and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved.

Ability to effectively interpret, organize and present information, ideas and concepts in written or presentation format and use consultative, collaborative and facilitation skills to obtain decisions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with University departments and staff and to serve as a liaison to outside agencies and the community. Ability to collaboratively work with others and manage potentially sensitive or confidential issues appropriately.

Ability to work harmoniously with a wide variety of individuals and organizations associated with projects and/or assignments.

Ability to recognize and accommodate changing priorities; meet deadlines/goals; and complete tasks despite intermittent interruptions.

Ability to initiate, establish, and foster teamwork by maintaining a cooperative atmosphere and effective working relationships with a diverse population from various cultural backgrounds.

Ability to operationalize and incorporate the concepts of sustainability into daily work efforts.

Ability to effectively use computer-based tools including graphic presentation, design/drafting, and geographic information system software as well as relational databases.

Demonstrated physical planning experience in a topographically and geologically challenging and rural yet urban landscape which purposefully includes areas of both high density and vast open spaces.

Experience working in a University setting.

AICP certification through the American Planning Association preferred.

The position requires fingerprinting and successful completion of a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities.

The position requires the ability to work occasional overtime, including evenings and weekends, as needed.

The position requires the ability and willingness to travel as necessary for University-related business.

(Note: Certain positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verifycheck which confirms the individual’s eligibility to work in the U.S.)

Bottom of Form