Description:
The City of Palo Alto is offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced planning professional to fill the position of Long-Range Planning Manager in the Planning and Development Services Department. The Long-Range Planning Manager is responsible for a wide range of projects including oversight, coordination and implementation of strategic plans, the City’s General Plan, coordinated area plans, housing programs including a rental registry, the City’s below market rate housing, community development block grant, annual reporting, special studies, and other programs. The Long-Range Planning Manager supervises at least 7 professional staff and provides oversight of consultant work. This working manager will be responsible for amendments to zoning code to allow for state law implementation as well as applying for, tracking, administering and reporting on grants. Frequent coordination with the Current Planning team and Office of Transportation staff is an important part of this role.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto is a vibrant community and home to many tech companies. This position will work with senior management, boards and commissions, city leaders and the community to identify long term goals, then create plans to achieve those goals.
Planning and Development Services is a fast-paced, dynamic city department serving an involved and well-educated community. Top-level candidates are familiar with feasibility studies, public outreach and engagement, project management, and local, state, and federal land use laws. Planning and Development Services provides the City Council and community with creative guidance and effective implementation of land use development, planning, housing and environmental policies and programs in order to maintain and enhance the City’s safety, vitality, and attractiveness. The department is also the resource for homeowners, businesses, designers, and contractors in building safe, healthy and sustainable buildings that comply with applicable codes and regulations.
For more information on the City of Palo Alto, click
HERE. For more information on the Planning and Development Services Department, click
HERE .
IDEAL CANDIDATEThe ideal candidate will:
- Have demonstrated experience completing complex, multi-year planning projects involving extensive public engagement
- Have experience with updating a General Plan or Housing Element
- Have experience with revising zoning code to implement state laws and other initiatives
- Be an organized, creative, and energetic self-starter with excellent communication and project management skills, who enjoys working within a collaborative team dynamic
- Have planning experience in another California city
- Have strong analytical, communication, management, and supervisory skills
- Have experience working with community organizations
- Have experience applying for or administering grants
- Have working knowledge of GIS, graphics/presentation programs, database management programs and other comparable programs
- Have skills at presenting to Commissions or Boards, and Council
- Have served as a liaison to a board or commission.
- Be familiar with the recent state legislative changes effecting long range planning.
- Have demonstrable experience exercising good judgment and managing expectations with sensitive projects in a politically challenging environment.
Essential Duties:
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Supervises technical, clerical, lead staff and entry level supervisors or managers to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
- Manages and directs the operations of a section, including developing policies, principles, procedures, work processes and evaluating achievement of goals and objectives.
- Represents the Agency to the public, to other agencies, and to regional and sub-regional committees, including conducting public meetings, making presentations, and responding to requests for information.
- Attends, chairs, and conducts a variety of meetings; serves on committees as requested; makes presentations to the City Council; represents the Department and makes oral presentations at meetings, inter-agency meetings, conferences and other events.
- Prepares and develops budgets; monitors and approves expenditures in accordance with policies and principles of sound fiscal management. Develops and maintains analytical tools for audit and control of programs.
- Manages consultants and contractors.
- Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
Minimum Qualifications:
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through:Bachelor's degree in a field relevant to the program or function being managed:
For urban planning functions, urban planning, architecture, or a related field..Five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal government including supervisory experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. Master's degree is preferred.
Licensing Requirements:- Valid California Driver's License
The full job description for Planning Manager can be found
HERE .
Supplemental Information:
More than one position may be filled through this posting.
Benefits:
The City of Palo Alto offers a robust benefits package:
- 12 Paid Holidays per Year. One of these days is a floating holiday, granted each calendar year in acknowledgement of days of historical significance.
- Paid Vacation and Annual Management Leave: In addition to generous vacation time, management positions receive 80 hours of management leave annually.
- Paid Parental Leave. Up to six weeks to care for and bond with a newborn or a newly adopted or newly placed child.
- Retirement Benefits. The City's retirement plan is administered by CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System). The City also offers a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.
- Excess Benefit. $2,500 annually available for employee use in accordance with the Management Compensation Plan.
- Commuter Benefits. The City offers a collection of commuter benefits.
- Enrollment in Palo Alto Unified School District. The City currently offers the opportunity to enroll your children in the prestigious and highly rated Palo Alto Unified School District.
- Healthcare Coverage, Dental and Vision Plans. The City offers medical plans, a dental plan and a vision plan. Health plan choices include both HMO and PPO.
- And much more. Information on benefits can be found here . The Management Compensation Plan can be found here.
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
The City of Palo Alto offers its employees a generous benefit package, featuring family medical coverage, retirement, life insurance, plus 12 paid holidays per year. - Participation in a Governmental 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
- Fully paid employee and dependent Dental Plan
- Fully paid employee and dependent Vision Plan
- Fully paid Life and AD&D insurance equal to annual salary
- CalPERs sponsored medical plan with City flat rate contribution
- Fully paid Life Insurance equal to one-times annual salary
- Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability plan
- 12 annual paid holidays
- Two to five weeks vacation annually depending on years of service per MOA
- 96 hours annual sick leave
- Direct Deposit
- Flexible Spending Account for Healthcare and Childcare expenses
- Paid Parental Leave- Six weeks of Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the first twelve-month period, immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a child with the employee.
Some Management classifications may qualify for
- 80 hours of Management Leave
- Professional development reimbursement
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)
- 2% at60 formula for Classic Misc Employees, one-year calculation for final compensation
- 2% at 62 formula for New Misc CalPers Members, three yearcalculationfor final compensation
- 3% at 50 formula for Classic Safety Employees, one-yearcalculationforfinal compensation
- 3% at 55 formula for New Safety CalPersMembers, threeyearcalculationfor final compensation
- Retiree Medical benefits for employee and dependents according to Retiree Medical Group
Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security.Since they City does not participate in SDI, City employees are not eligible to claim against the State's Pregnancy Disability Leave or Paid Family Leave programs.
Closing Date/Time: 4/30/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
