Job Summary

The County of San Diego Announces an Exceptional Management Level Opportunity

LAND USE/ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING MANAGER

Interviews will take place on an ongoing basis.

The County of San Diego is currently accepting applications for Land Use/Environmental Planning Manager. This job classification is assigned to county departments within the Land Use/Environment Group (LUEG). Current vacancies are with the Planning & Development Services' (PDS) Long Range Planning and Project Planning. This list may also be used to fill future vacancies in other PDS Divisions and Departments within Land Use Environment Group (LUEG).

Planning & Development Services

Divisions - Project Planning:

The Project Planning division reviews privately initiated, discretionary projects, specifically the review for compliance and conformance with Federal, State, and Local ordinances and policies including the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and Community plans. The Project Planning Division is responsible for managing all aspects of new development projects in the County, including new affordable and market housing, renewable energy projects like solar and battery storage, and commercial and mixed-use projects. In processing projects, the Project Planning Division engages with the public, management, stakeholders, and consultants and gives presentations to appointed and elected officials, including the Board of Supervisors.

Long Range Planning:

The Long Range Planning (LRP) division plays a vital role in maintaining long range land use documents, developing programs, and formulating policies in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. As per the Board of Supervisors' directives, LRP is dedicated to modernizing regulations and removing barriers to development while fostering sustainable growth and development that not only respects the environment and ensures public safety, but also prioritizes the well-being and unique needs of the County’s 26 unincorporated communities.

Central to LRP's mission are outreach and community engagement. The division actively strives for excellence in public engagement by championing principles of accessibility, inclusivity, integrity, and equity. LRP projects can be complex and controversial due to the broad impact to residents and other stakeholders. To ensure flexibility and seamless integration of planning efforts, the division is organized into five interdisciplinary sections that work collaboratively: Housing & Transportation, General Plan & Community Plans, Sustainable Land Use, Operations & Regulations, and Planning Services. Through this cohesive approach, the Long Range Planning division has emerged as a pioneer in employing innovative strategies driven by transparent and inclusive public engagement.

Positions in this job class are located at the County Operations Center, a modern 44-acre regional complex in Kearney Mesa. The Operations Center includes 18 structures and houses 19 departments, including an employee gym/workout center and onsite employee wellness classes.

This recruitment is conducted to establish a six-month eligible list to fill immediate vacancies immediate vacancies in the County's Planning & Development Services. This eligible list may also be used to fill additional vacancies with other divisions and other LUEG departments, including Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).

Work Location: The selected candidates may be assigned a hybrid schedule consisting of teleworking or working remotely; and working at the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for Land Use/Environmental Planning Manager will possess the following experience, attributes, and traits:

Successful outcomes in managing, mentoring, and coaching staff
Professional project management experience in the planning, land use, and environmental areas
A high degree of motivation and progressive thinking
Experience with state and federal permitting and in obtaining resource agency permits
A strong willingness to continually learn and grow professionally
A professional and management perspective and objective demeanor when positive or negative/difficult situations occur
A customer-service focused attitude and experience in cultivating customer service within internal and external teams
Experience in reviewing and handling complex projects involving multiple functional groups and consultants
Experience in developing and implementation of large, complex consultant contracts
Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written form; articulate communicator and has skills in presenting and listening effectively
Management success through good leadership, interpersonal, and teamwork skills, including building relationships and collaborating with others to keep projects moving in a positive direction
Willingness to seek out and understand the perspectives of others, and embrace diversity and inclusiveness
Effective leader at visioning, consensus building, planning and programming
Team player, politically intuitive and sensitive, a problem-solver, attentive to timelines, and effective at mentoring and training personnel
Ability to facilitate meetings and monitor projects for on-time completion
Ability to be comfortable and confident in making presentations and engaging with elected officials, County and other agency staff, and residents and leading project meetings with consultants and community members.

If you believe that you possess these qualities, PDS would be an ideal place for you. PDS has a culture that values collaboration and teamwork.

Hiring Process and Timeline:

Job Offer and Background Process begins after the interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications

A master's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in urban studies, urban planning, geography, anthropology, biology, geology, ecology, zoology, environmental management, landscape architecture, engineering or a closely related field; AND, three (3) years of professional level regulatory planning, land use permit processing, long-range planning, or environmental management experience with a public or private land use agency. Professional level experience must be at the level equivalent to a Land Use/Environmental Planner III within the County of San Diego; OR,
A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in urban studies, urban planning, geography, anthropology, biology, geology, ecology, zoology, environmental management, landscape architecture, engineering or a closely related field; AND, four (4) years of professional level regulatory planning, land use permit processing, long-range planning, or environmental management experience with a public or private land use agency. Professional level experience must be at the level equivalent to a Land Use/Environmental Planner III within the County of San Diego; OR,
One (1) year of experience as a Land Use/Environmental Planner III with the County of San Diego.

Note: Professional-level land use/environmental planning experience supervising/managing a multi-disciplinary team, acceptable to the County, in a public or private agency may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, for up to two years of the education requirement.

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation Process

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month eligible list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment and supplemental application.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application form will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.
Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference PolicyThe County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego.

Military Skills TranslatorDo you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help!

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