Senior Planner-Sea Level Rise

Job Description:

Senior Planner-Sea Level Rise

Description

ABOUT US

The Office of the County Executive is responsible for implementing the policy direction of the Marin County Board of Supervisors and supporting the effective delivery of public services across 22 departments. The office provides leadership on countywide initiatives, coordinates interdepartmental and cross-jurisdictional programs.

Our work includes advancing the Board’s strategic priorities, overseeing the County’s $865 million budget, and leading cross-cutting efforts in housing, climate, equity, emergency preparedness, homelessness, and more.

The County of Marin’s Climate Program is a new function within the Office of the County Executive - and part of the broader reorganization approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2025.

ABOUT THE POSITION

With more than 70 miles of coast and 40 miles of bay shore, Marin County is one of the communities most affected by sea level rise in the Bay Area. Much of our land is low lying and can easily flood. Rising sea levels will affect many parts of life here, including the safety of and access to our schools, businesses, roads, and wastewater treatment plants. The Senior Planner will play a key role in the countywide effort to accelerate climate action and adaptation planning across all County operations in partnership with local municipalities, the community, and with local and regional agencies.

The Senior Planner will be part of a dynamic team responsible for developing, updating and implementing planning programs including but not limited to the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP), the Local Coastal Program, the Countywide Plan, Development Code, and the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. This individual will apply specialized and advanced knowledge of climate change and sea level rise to analyze and interpret land use, environmental, economic and social data, and associated legislation, policies and regulations. They may serve as a technical expert, representing the County in meetings and presentations to community groups, governmental agencies, and the general public. Additionally, the Senior Planner will develop new and innovative methods to engage the County’s citizens to best understand their concerns, and prepare and recommend policies, regulations, and programs which address them. The Senior Planner may provide lead direction to more junior staff and/or to contractors and consultants.
This position works full time on-site in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Civic Center, with flexibility for remote work one day per week.

ABOUT YOU

The Highly Qualified Candidate

• Has a minimum of three years of professional planning experience related to the management and implementation of sea level rise, coastal watershed, and/or flood adaptation activities.
• Has project management and time management skills to ensure the successful delivery of projects on schedule and management of project resources including providing direction to staff.
• Has experience making recommendations before boards, commissions, and community groups involved with planning functions.
• Is a critical thinker who possesses excellent collaboration, organizational, public involvement, writing and presentation skills.
• Has experience in finding, preparing and securing grants, partnerships, budget commitments and other means of supporting planning work.
• Can identify and integrate the best available science and the expertise of technical partners in a variety of disciplines into planning projects
• Has the knowledge to engage the entire diversity of the community and effectively incorporate their input in the planning process.
• Can reach across departmental and institutional boundaries to build productive relationships and teams.

QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles and practices and trends in one or more fields of planning, such as current, advance, affordable housing, environmental, transportation, regional and/or sustainable development planning.
• Intensive practices and trends in planning policy development and analysis.
• Environmental, land use, and water resource analysis.
• Sustainable development practices.
• Legislative developments affecting regional and advanced planning including federal, state and local laws and ordinances.
• Difficult research, analytical and statistical methods and comprehensive cost analysis techniques.
• The physical, social and economic factors involved in land use and regional planning.
• Research and statistical methods as applied to the collection, tabulation and analysis of data essential to planning studies.
• Independent programs related to sustainability.

ABILITY TO

• Lead and direct staff in delivery of planning activities and projects.
• Actively manage projects and programs.
• Prepare and present studies, reports, and graphics within applicable time limits before boards and commissions.
• Implement current principles, practices and trends in land use planning.
• Interpret trends and statistics affecting public planning.
• Interpret and apply laws and ordinances to planning projects.
• Work collaboratively with community development agency and public work divisions to assure the provision of comprehensive and coordinated budgeting and fiscal services.
• Speak effectively at public hearings and forums before public officials, the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, and community groups.
• Think critically and conduct strategic planning.
• Work effectively as a member of a County management team.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Act as a liaison to advise or resolve differences with individuals, groups and management.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, clients, customers, and representatives of other agencies or departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills listed. Typically, equivalent to graduation from college with a major in planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, biological sciences or closely related field and three years of professional land use related planning experience.

Note: Additional graduate level courses in planning, environmental quality planning or closely related field may substitute for up to one year of the experience requirement at the rate of three semester units for one month of experience.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

For any questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Alisa Samuel at [email protected] .

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095.

PLEASE NOTE: The benefits described herein do not apply to temporary (contingent) or to part-time employees that work less than 50%.

COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL
Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the Marin County's Benefits Homepage .

Paid Time Off : Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.

Health Plan : Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.

Retirement : Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at www.mcera.org.

IRS 457 Plan : Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.

For specific questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at (415) 473-6104. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the Benefits Division at (415) 473-2197.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 2/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$109,531.50 - $131,059.50 Annually