Assistant Planner

Under the general supervision of the Planning Manager, the Assistant Planner performs routine professional planning work, assists in implementing zoning laws and ordinances, evaluates current land use requests, conducts a variety of planning studies, and performs other related duties as required.

Examples of Duties
(Duties may include, but are not limited to the following):

Performs various administrative functions for the department, including accepting applications and permits for processing and composing correspondence.
Provides information and assistance to the public at the counter, over the phone or electronically.
Reviews commercial, industrial, and residential development plans for consistency with the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code, and processes permit applications.
Assists at an intermediate level, in coordinating and facilitating planning projects.
Researches, analyzes, and interprets social, economic, population, housing, and land use data and trends.
Gathers and maintains demographic data and other related statistics.
Conducts field studies and surveys to collect original research data for City planning projects.
Prepares reports and makes recommendations.
Prepares and presents reports to the Development Review Committee, Planning Commission and City Council.
Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications
QUALIFYING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

The organization City Government and the functions of its various departments.
Principles, practices, techniques, and purposes of City planning.
Principles applicable to the collection, compilation, analysis, and presentation of data pertaining to City and master planning and urban renewal.
Provisions of local, state, and federal laws relating to City, regional, and master planning.
Accepted practices and applicable local state laws relating to the California Environmental Quality Act, zoning, land subdivision and control, and land use.
Principles and techniques involved in the maintenance of a comprehensive General Plan.
Zoning Codes and their implementation
Ability to:

Organize, prepare, and present complete and accurate reports.
Deal tactfully and effectively with personnel of other agencies, public officials, other employees, and the public.
Speak clearly, assertively, and effectively before professional and civic groups, public gatherings, and in presenting reports and recommendations to governmental agencies.
Establish and maintain professional working relationships with others and provide excellent customer service to members of the community and all those contacted while performing job functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of training and experience, which demonstrates attainment of the required knowledge and ability to perform the required work, typically:

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, geography, architecture, or related field is preferred.

Experience: Professional experience in urban and regional planning.  Must have proficient knowledge of computers and common software (Microsoft Office Suite).  GIS experience and knowledge of ARCVIEW and ARCINFO desirable.

Supplemental Information
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with some outdoor exposure and travel from site to site; exposure to all types of weather and temperature conditions; work scheduled and emergency overtime, attend evening and occasional weekend meetings.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light up to 25 pounds; to operate a vehicle to travel from site to site; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Vision:  close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus with or without correction. Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

To be considered for this amazing opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lahabraca. Applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited for an oral interview.  The final candidate must successfully complete a medical exam, drug screening, employment history verification, DMV check and will also be fingerprinted.

If any accommodation is needed during the interview, please notify the Human Resources Department at least five days in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we may be able to provide a reasonable accommodation.