Junior Planner / Assistant Planner

Job Description:

Junior Planner / Assistant Planner

Description

Definition

The City of Milpitas is home to family-centered communities that embrace cultural diversity, quality schooling, and conveniently located neighborhood parks and shopping centers. Milpitas has an ethnically diverse array of retail and restaurants, and major regional retail destinations that attract shoppers from beyond the city. With over 40,800 jobs and 39,600 employed residents, Milpitas is a jobs rich community and is often called the “Crossroads of Silicon Valley”. Once a small agricultural town and later a stopover point for travelers between Oakland and San Jose, Milpitas has blossomed into one of the world’s premier computer and semiconductor producers.
To learn more, visit This Is Milpitas.

Junior Planner: $96,099.12 - $116,809.42 Annually
Assistant Planner: $111,953.14 - $136,060.86 Annually

We are looking for a Junior or Assistant Planner to join our Planning and Neighborhood Services Department. The person in this role will perform professional level work in the field of current or advanced planning within the department by working on special projects, conducting research as assigned, and preparing reports and recommendations relative to the assigned area of responsibility.

Junior Planner - This is the entry level class in the professional planning series. Positions at this level typically have appropriate specialized training with little or no job-related experience. The Junior Planner class serves as a training class to incumbents. The Junior Planner classification is distinguished from the Assistant Planner in the incumbents perform a significant portion of the work assigned to the full journey level class, but without the independence or full responsibility expected of positions at the journey level.

Assistant Planner - This is the full journey level class in the professional planning series. The Assistant Planner classification is distinguished from the Junior Planner by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned with only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise. Incumbents work independently under general supervision. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the Junior Planner class.

The ideal candidate should have an excellent track record of successfully reviewing a wide range of planning permit applications, delivering high-quality customer service at the front counter, and collaborating with staff from all City departments. Strong communication skills, foundational knowledge of planning concepts, and attention to detail are highly desired. Recent planning entitlements include major mixed-use, multifamily residential, and industrial developments and new hillside homes.

For the full job descriptions, please visit: Junior Planner / Assistant Planner .

*This posting is written notice of a permanent, vacant position. Internal applications will be reviewed on 01/09/2025, which is 10 working days after the recruitment is posted. Internal qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Milpitas Professional and Technical Group (ProTech). External applicants will not be considered until after the internal applicant review process has concluded.
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Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Perform professional level work in the field of current or advanced planning.
• Maintain demographic data and other related statistics.
• Research, analyze, and interpret social, economic, population and land use data and trends.
• Compile information and make recommendations on special studies; prepare technical and complex reports.
• Serve as project manager for development proposals and work with developers to reach agreement on acceptable site plans; review building plans, parcel maps, and subdivision proposals for conformance with appropriate regulations; prepare reports of recommendations.
• Coordinate planning activities with other departments, divisions and outside agencies and organizations.
• Check commercial, industrial and residential development plans for issuance of zone clearance; process permit applications.
• Conduct field inspections for development proposals, land use surveys, and related planning studies; ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and conditions of approval.
• Confer with and advise architects, builders, attorneys, contractors, engineers, and general public regarding City development policies and standards by providing customer service at the counter, over the phone and in the field.
• Prepare staff reports and graphic displays; make presentations to the Planning Commission, City Council or other committees and boards as assigned; serve as staff.
• Support project manager for advance planning projects by researching and drafting ordinances for review.
• Conduct environmental reviews; collect and analyze data; prepare environmental documents.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Junior Planner

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban planning.
• Current literature, information sources, and research techniques in the field of urban planning.

Ability to:

• Learn pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations underlying general plans, environmental matters, zoning and land division.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with City staff and general public.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Learn site planning and architectural design techniques and methods.
• Learn to interpret and explain planning and zoning ordinances and regulations.
• Learn to analyze and compile technical and statistical information and prepare reports.
• Learn current literature and recent developments in the field of planning and zoning.

Assistant Planner
In addition to the qualifications for Junior Planner:
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban planning and development.
• Effective report writing techniques.
• Laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions.
• Applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• Current literature, information sources and research techniques in the field of urban planning and zoning.
• Statistical and research methods and techniques related to planning.
• Computer operations and software applications.
• Applicable Federal, State and local laws, rule and regulations.

Ability to:

• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Perform complex professional planning work with a minimum of supervision.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Junior Planner

Experience :None required.

Education :A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning or closely related field.

Assistant Planner
In addition to the qualifications for Junior Planner:

Experience : Two years of responsible planning experience comparable to that of a Junior Planner in the City of Milpitas.

Education :A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning or closely related field.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE
Junior Planner and Assistant Planner
Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate, valid California Driver's License.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Junior Planner and Assistant Planner
Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment.

Ability to work in a standard office environment; able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Milpitas.

Supplemental Information

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Junior Planner
Receives immediate supervision from higher level professional positions within the planning series.
Exercises no supervision.

Assistant Planner
Receives general supervision from higher level professional positions within the planning series.
May exercise indirect supervision over subordinate planning staff.

SELECTION PROCESS:
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

Please note: The examination process (including dates) may be changed as deemed necessary by the Human Resources Department. Meeting the minimum requirements listed in this job description does not guarantee advancement in subsequent phases of the selection process.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Milpitas will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Human Resources Department.

The City of Milpitas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

RETIREMENT
Membership in CalPERS (2% at 60 or 2% at 62 with three year average salary). City of Milpitas employees do not participate in Social Security, but do contribute to Medicare.ProTech members participate both in CalPERS, and the LIUNA pension fund. The current cost of the LIUNA pension fund is $1.39/hour.

MEDICAL INSURANCE
Choice of CalPERS Medical Plans. City pays coverage up to the Kaiser rate (currently $2,228.36/mo. for family). Employees who waive health coverage are eligible to receive $125 per month in lieu of medical plan coverage with proof of other coverage.

RETIREE MEDICAL
Employees are eligible upon CalPERS retirement from the City to receive up to 100% retiree medical coverage (currently based on the Kaiser health rate), based on years of service.

DENTAL & VISION
City provides full family coverage for Delta Dental and MES Vision at no cost to the employee.

LIFE INSURANCE
City provides $50,000 term policy. Supplemental employee-paid life insurance is available up to $500,000, based on carrier acceptance.

DISABILITY INSURANCE
City provides a Short-Term Disability plan similar to State Disability Insurance (SDI) coverage. Employees do not participate in SDI. Long-Term Disability coverage of 60% of base salary up to $1,500 per month is available after a 60-day waiting period. Additional buy-up options for LTD are available up to $6,000 per month.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
City contributes $75 per month on the employee's behalf.

VACATION
Hourly employees earn 11-31 days of vacation based on years of service.

HOLIDAYS
Employees receive 12 paid holidays and one (1) floating holiday per year.

SICK LEAVE
Employees earn 12 days annually.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
Employees are eligible to receive up to $1,400 per fiscal year in tuition reimbursement.

FITNESS PROGRAM
Employeesare offered free access to City-sponsored sports and fitness programs.

The City also offers a flexible spending benefits plan, employee assistance program, and other voluntary insurance. Contact Human Resources (HR) at 408-586-3090 or https://www.milpitas.gov/245/Benefits for more information on employee benefits.

Closing Date/Time: 1/16/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

See Position Description