Position Description

Application Filing Deadline: July 8, 2024

Exam #: 24/14K50/6CJ
The Department
The Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department is composed of four Divisions, including Building Services, Planning Services, Permit Center, and Housing. The department provides reasonable and safe development, planning for future needs of the County, and helps protect natural resources.

The Position
The Chief of Planning exercises substantial, independent authority to oversee day-to-day operations of the Planning Division. Planning Division functions include reviewing and processing applications for development, preparing and implementing land use policy and regulations; providing information to the public; preparing and reviewing environmental documents pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, coordinating on code enforcement of land use regulations, managing records, and maintaining long-range planning documents including the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, and implementing ordinances. Planning provides staff support to the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, Inter-Agency Review, Airport Land Use Commission, Land Use Advisory Committees, Historic Committees, and coordinates responses from County land use departments/agencies on land use programs and proposals by other jurisdictions.

The Chief of Planning reports to the Director of Housing and Community Development and may serve as a designee of the Director. This role involves representing the Division to the public, other county departments, the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, public officials, developers, businesses, and others. The Chief of Planning will join the department of Housing and Community Development during a time of exciting and challenging transition as retirements and attrition have resulted in several new executives on the leadership team. As the Chief of Planning is responsible for implementing divisional administrative and operational policies, procedures, and standards; formulating general policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and county codes, ordinances, and regulation; as well as developing the business plan that carry out the mission of the Planning unit; within this environment, there is a great opportunity to facilitate, coordinate, and enhance communications and work systems throughout the division. The key priority is to improve the efficiency of operations and turnaround time for the development review and approval process, and in doing so, to empower staff to further develop and expand their capabilities in their respective roles. Challenges and immediate priorities facing this role include completion of the County’s Housing Element 6th Cycle Update, overseeing multiple efforts to updates to County Codes based on the 2010 General Plan and recent changes in state law, and the need to balance process efficiencies for current planning efforts that reduce permit times while retaining the County’s track record of natural resource preservation and improving public opinion.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used county-wide to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

Examples of Duties

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate for this position will have leadership, management, and administrative experience in regional planning, environmental protection activities, and land use permitting processing, that encompass a high level of technical ability with excellent project management skills, and keen insight and vision for streamlining essential permitting processes and other departmental processes. A proactive and progressive leadership mentoring style is critical for successfully facilitating a greater level of service delivery and accountability; and for continuing to foster an environment where knowledge, confidence levels, and communication skills are further developed among the staff; and where collaboration, innovation, and efficiency thrive. The ability to build strong relationships and a culture based on responsive and timely customer service will allow the department to establish higher levels of credibility in its work product, and ongoing success in accomplishing its mission. The Planning Chief is also expected to have excellent interpersonal and presentation skills to complement their technical knowledge, especially in representing the division and in coordinating planning activities and programs with other County departments, local, state, and federal jurisdictions, and other agencies with the aim of promoting a uniform and comprehensive approach. Land use and planning expertise with extensive knowledge of the state regulatory environment, including CEQA and the Subdivision Map Act is a critical need. Additionally, knowledge and experience with regulations that govern coastal communities and prior experience working with the Coastal Commission will be highly desirable. This combination of expertise, knowledge, and skills will further enhance credibility towards setting the tone for code interpretation and in championing critical planning/land use decisions with the applicants, Planning Commission, and other policy makers.

Examples of Duties:

• Plans, organizes, and directs, through supervisors, staff engaged in the development and administration of the County General Plan and Coastal Plans for regional planning, community design, and land use laws and regulations.
• Represents the Department to the public, other County departments, the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, developers, businesses, and others; conducts or attends a variety of committee, commission, and staff related meetings.
• Participates on committees as directed by the Department director or Board of Supervisors.
• Implements divisional administrative and operational policies, procedures, and standards; formulates general policies to ensure compliance and enforcement of federal, state, and county codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Participates in and oversees the selection, performance management, and promotion of Planning staff.
• Coordinates planning, environmental review, and zoning activities with those of other county departments, local, state and federal jurisdictions, and other planning agencies to promote a uniform and comprehensive approach; works with various committees, community groups, and civic organizations to promote interest in support of planning programs.
• Reviews and evaluates current planning programs and anticipates future needs; directs the preparation of reports including geographic and statistical information; makes recommendations on operational activities for increasing the efficiency of the business unit.
• Remains informed on current trends and practices in the planning field.

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website: Chief of Planning

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, methods, and current trends involved in planning administration and management.
• Techniques used in the development of general plans and environmental impact documents.

Working Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, and county regulations pertinent to County and rural planning, zoning, environmental control, and land use; specifically, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Subdivision Map Act, and the Uniform Building Code.
• Operations and functions of County government and interrelationships with other agencies.
• Personal computers and common computer business software programs.

Skill and Ability to:

• Plan and direct a comprehensive Planning operation.
• Plan, manage, direct, supervise, evaluate, train, and develop the work of subordinate professional, and technical, staff.
• Analyze situations and problems accurately, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed action, and implement effective course of action in support of solution.
• Direct the preparation of difficult, complex, and specialized studies and surveys to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the business unit and satisfaction level of its customers.
• Formulate policies and procedures designed to provide effective and efficient public service levels.
• Determine appropriate research methodology for project studies and ensure analysis is complete and accurate.
• Utilize sound judgment in solving difficult administrative, technical, and personnel issues.
• Communicate effectively with others both verbally and in writing.
• Serve as technical advisor to the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, and the general public on planning, zoning, and environmental review activities of the County.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with the public, contractors, architects, engineers, County officials, property owners, developers, attorneys, and others contacted in the course of performing assigned duties.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience: Five (5) years of administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in the general management of land use planning with responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing the staff and activities of a program.
OR
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning, natural resource management, landscape architecture, geography, environmental, engineering, or a closely related field. A master’s degree in a land use discipline or business management is highly desirable.

Additional Information

REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver’s License or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency; travel out of the County to attend meetings.

BENEFITS:
The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Unit X & ZX. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions. Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9. If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

Application and Selection Procedures

Apply On-Line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty

By July 8, 2024, 11:59 PM(PST)

or

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

Human Resources Department

Attn: Cynthia Juarez, Associate Personnel Analyst

168 W. Alisal St., 3rd Floor

Salinas, CA 93901

Email: juarezc@countyofmonterey.gov | Phone: (831) 755-5228

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the final filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Cynthia Juarez, Associate Personnel Analyst, at (831) 755-5228, or juarezc@countyofmonterey.gov.

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/human-resources/human-resources/benefits/benefit-summary-sheet

Closing Date/Time: 7/8/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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