PRINCIPAL REGIONAL PLANNER / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS FIRE

Job Description:

PRINCIPAL REGIONAL PLANNER / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS FIRE

Description

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

APPLICATION FILING PERIOD

The application filing period will begin on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

EXAM NUMBER

54435A-FR

The LA County Board of Supervisors has unanimously ratified a Proclamation of Local Emergency in response to the windstorms and wildfires , including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, that have devastated communities across the County. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to assist the County in mobilizing resources and support needed to help our residents recover and rebuild. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Department of Regional Planning is seeking qualified candidates to fill an emergency Principal Regional Planner vacancy related to this unprecedented natural disaster.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Principal Regional Planner .

Essential Job Functions

FIRE RECOVERY ASSISTANCE DUTIES FOR ZONING ENFORCEMENT WEST:

• Serves as a primary point of contact by ensuring staffing levels are sufficient for the public counter, hotline, and email to respond to inquiries from fire survivors regarding rebuilding procedures.
• Operates/coordinates unmanned aircraft systems (drones) to support post-fire damage assessment and data collection.
• Collaborates with community leaders to inform and guide property owners through the rebuilding process.
• Leads and conducts on-site evaluations to determine the feasibility of rebuilding on fire-damaged properties.
• Participates in and facilitates public workshops to assist survivors with rebuilding application submittals.
• Proactively identifies and leads the enforcement of unpermitted land use activities during the rebuilding phase.
• Coordinates investigations of complaints related to unpermitted debris removal and construction, ensuring enforcement actions are taken when necessary.
• Develops and implements innovative, efficient enforcement protocols in coordination with regulatory agencies.
• Prepares, reviews, and/or submits state and federal grant applications to secure funding for fire recovery and rebuilding initiatives.
• Coordinates, conducts, researches, and analyzes property ownership, recorded documents, and zoning histories to support rebuilding eligibility and compliance.
• Prepares and oversees the preparation of visual materials-including maps, graphics, and exhibits-to effectively communicate findings and key issues to the Board of Supervisors, Regional Planning Commission, and other decision-making bodies.
• Utilizes digital planning tools and software to accept applications, review fee waiver requests, and generate reports, maps, databases, and visual updates on rebuilding progress.
• Works collaboratively with other Regional Planning sections, County departments, and public/private stakeholders to coordinate project activities and resolve issues related to fire recovery efforts.
• Participates in efforts within the Department and among County Departments and agencies to enhance operations, improve customer service, and share knowledge and skills.
• Assist the section head in the supervising of lower level staff, including helping to assess staff in preparation of performance evaluations.
• Assumes the leadership and administrative and operational management of the section in the absence of the section head.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
Three years of regional planning experience in a city or county regional planning department at the level of Senior Regional Planner*. One year of graduate study in an accredited college with specialization in Planning, Environmental Studies, Geography, Urban Studies, Public Administration, or Landscape Architecture will be accepted for one year of the required experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*At the level of Senior Regional Planner is defined as: Performs journey-level specialized technical work related to the development and implementation of the general plan, project management, permit processing, condition checks, and enforcement of land use regulations, and provides technical guidance to subordinate planning personnel.

In order to receive credit for graduate course work, you MUST include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization with your application at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of filing application.
The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf and
https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_ACE_Resource_Guide.pdf

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS II - LIGHT:
This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
This vacancy is located in our Zoning Enforcement - West Division.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION
Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add SWilliams@planning.lacounty.gov as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com , and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number .

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI) The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Department Contact Name: Savanna Williams
Department Contact Phone: (213) 974-6488
Department Contact Email: Drphr@planning.lacounty.gov

TELETYPE PHONE : (213) 617-2292
CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONES: (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

Salary:

$100,230.72 - $127,949.52 Annually