Associate Planner – City of Carlsbad (Due 4/25/22)

A world-class city is seeking world-class talent.

Carlsbad -The Community: Carlsbad is a well-balanced community with beaches, lagoons, habitat preserves, a variety of housing types, world-class employers, Legoland, the second-highest number of hotel rooms in San Diego County, a successful auto dealership core, two golf resorts and a municipal golf course, two rail stations, a thriving downtown village, and an engaged public. This balance has been achieved not by accident, but in part through the efforts of a strong team of experienced planners. From translation of the community’s vision into ambitious General Plan goals and policies and application of rigorous growth management principles that ensure public facilities, open space and infrastructure are provided in conjunction with development, to consistent implementation of zoning rules and development codes, the Planning Division is at the forefront of ensuring that Carlsbad’s high quality of life is maintained and the city continues to evolve in a manner valued by the community.

In addition to the many benefits that the City offers, incumbents will have the option of a 9/80 work schedule, a professional membership fee paid, and a variety of training and career advancement opportunities (please see the “Benefits” tab and our website for benefit details).

Ideal Candidate: The City of Carlsbad is recruiting for a vacancy in Special Projects. The ideal candidate for this position will have strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills which are critical to success in the position. Prospective candidates must be effective in project management, able to successfully prioritize work assignments, wisely use time and resources, and adapt well to changing circumstances. They must be able to exercise good judgment, discretion and initiative in carrying out job duties, and work well on teams.

Special Projects: A core responsibility of Special Projects team members is to provide planning support to City capital project managers (parks, streets, beach access, water, sewer, and drainage projects) by advising on permit requirements and environmental clearance, interfacing with other regulatory agencies (such as Coastal Commission, state and federal wildlife agencies, Army Corps of Engineers, regional water resources control board, etc.), processing discretionary permit applications, and monitoring conditional use permit compliance. A few key projects in the planning stages include the development of a new city public works facility, city parks, major remodeling of at least one fire station, and improvements to beach accesses and Carlsbad Boulevard.

Additionally, Special Projects planners will be assigned special research and study assignments in support of planning and housing policy development. Major policy efforts include implementation of General Plan Housing Element Policies and development of a successor program to the Growth Management Plan. The Special Projects planner may also assist with activities related to the comprehensive update to the city’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) and Zoning Code (ZC) amendments.

The Job Description can be found here: Associate Planner
Salary Range: 78

• Manage general, community and urban plans
• Manage land use and land development projects
• Review and write environmental documents
• Prepare and coordinate processing of local, state and federal permits
• review and analyze technical drawings, specifications and reports
• perform site inspections and field research
• research, review and prepare ordinances and policies
• review projects and advise citizens and developers during the application process to ensure compliance with City regulations
• prepare planning reports, use GIS products/maps
• perform quality control, coordinate various departments and agencies, monitor mitigation requirements for environmentally sensitive projects and perform proper documentation and reporting and perform related tasks
• Respond to inquiries/requests; assist customers with planning issues, and intake permits, conduct sites visits for proposed development sites; organize and participate in conducting and organizing public workshops and hearings
• Serve on cross-functional teams
• Present staff reports to Planning Commission and City Council
• Perform informational and advisory reporting
• Research and create draft resolutions, ordinances, and General Plan amendments for review
• prepare legal notices and notices of decision
• conduct surveys and studies to address significant development issues
• review and process private and public development projects and update land management files
• Attend public hearings for assigned projects
• prepare Planning Commission and City Council staff reports, conduct final inspections on projects, process private and public development projects and review grading improvement plans
• Provide solutions to a wide variety of problems of moderate scope and complexity
• Handle complex projects, perform site inspections and field research, review and enforce plans and specifications, perform quality control, coordinate various departments and agencies, monitor mitigation requirements for environmentally sensitive projects and perform proper documentation and reporting, and perform related tasks
• Exercise judgment within the standard, defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action
• May attend regional committees for information and assist in communicating agency input on regional issues
• Perform other related duties as assigned

• Requires a thorough understanding of:
  • Municipal planning principles, procedures and methods including principles of urban design, site planning and architectural design, applicable federal, state, and local planning laws, ordinances, and policies
• Requires full use and application of standard principles, theories, concepts used and a basic understanding of the City’s policies and procedures
• Effective communicator with both written and oral presentation
• Excellent presentation, demonstration, and writing skills
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills
• Effective team player and leader of small, departmental or interdepartmental teams

• The equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major work in planning or a related field
  • Masters’ degree in planning, public administration or a related field is desirable
• Minimum of Three years of related work experience