Principal Planner

Principal Planner

Salary

$137,993.02 - $167,730.99 Annually

Location

City of Poway, CA

Job Type

Full time - regular

Job Number

26-33

Department

Development Services

Division

Current Planning

Opening Date

07/21/2026

Closing Date

8/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits

Definition

The City of Poway is recruiting for a Principal Planner to lead complex current, long-range, and environmental planning initiatives, while supervising staff, managing major development proposals, coordinating consultant contracts, and implementing the City's General Plan, zoning ordinances, and Habitat Conservation Plan. This role works closely with developers, engineers, architects, partner agencies, and the public; prepares and presents staff reports; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations; improves departmental processes; and supports budgeting, policy development, and staff training. Key qualifications include strong knowledge of zoning, land use, CEQA, municipal planning, and project management; the ability to analyze and interpret complex plans and regulations; excellent communication and presentation skills; and the capacity to lead teams, manage multiple projects, and build effective working relationships. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, drive innovative planning solutions, and help guide a thriving community, we encourage you to apply!

Under administrative direction, manages, oversees, coordinates, and participates in the most complex and difficult work of staff responsible for providing planning related services and activities in assigned program areas; manages multiple sensitive and complex projects in the areas of assignment requiring highly independent coordination with other City staff as well as outside agencies and groups.

Receives administrative direction from the City Planner or assigned supervisor. Exercises direct and general supervision over assigned staff.

Key Responsibilities

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of assigned staff; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems, assigns work activities, projects and programs; monitors work flow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures.
• Assumes management responsibility for some City planning functions and activities, which may include current, long-range, and/or environmental planning activities.
• Provides assistance to Planning and Code Compliance staff, including reviewing plans, establishing project recommendations, discussing Code interpretations and resolving Code Compliance cases.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; recommends, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Participates in the selection, training, motivation, and evaluation of assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees on performance issues in coordination with Human Resources; effectively recommends initial disciplinary action.
• Participates in the development and administration of the assigned division's annual budget
• Assists in the administration and implementation of the City's General Plan and zoning ordinances, including providing staff direction regarding department policy interpretation and conducting meetings with the public regarding related issues.
• Participates in advanced-level land use and planning activities, including analyzing and reviewing complex development proposals; negotiates and manages consultant contracts for planning projects as well as development agreements.
• Provides project management for complex planning studies; analyzes site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services for all planning applications; performs field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process; ensures compliance with federal, state, local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Implements and administers the City's Habitat Conservation Plan, including preserving large corridors of lands to protect wildlife, setting limitations on how much, if any, of this land can be used for developments, establishing the grading and clearing criteria for these lands, and preparing the annual regulatory reporting.
• Confers with engineers, developers, architects, and a variety of agencies and the general public in acquiring information and coordination of planning, zoning, subdivision, building, environmental, and related matters; provides information regarding City development.
• Provides technical information and instruction regarding applicable procedures and methods; interprets and explains rules, regulations and procedures; answers questions and resolves concerns.
• Serves as a liaison for the Development Services Department with other City departments, divisions, and outside agencies; attends meetings, as necessary; provides staff support to commissions, committees and task forces, as necessary; negotiates and resolves significant and controversial issues.
• Provides highly complex staff assistance to the City Planner; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Conducts a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommends modifications to planning programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate.
• Prepares a variety of environment documents and reports; determines technical studies required for projects.
• Develops and reviews staff reports related to planning activities and services; presents information to the City Council and various commissions, committees and boards; performs a variety of public relations and outreach work related to assigned activities.
• Participates on a variety of boards, commissions, committees, and task forces; attends and participates in professional groups and committees; stays abreast of new trends and innovations.
• Receives, investigates, and responds to problems and complaints from citizens in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.
• Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement and reviews with the City Planner; directs the implementation of improvements.
• Assists in planning and coordinating the Development Services Departments work plan; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures.
• Oversees advanced-level land use and planning activities, including analyzing and reviewing complex development proposals; negotiates and manages consultant contracts for planning projects as well as development agreements.
• Provides project management for the most complex planning studies; analyzes site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities, and other urban services for all planning applications; ensures compliance with federal, state, local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Negotiates contracts and agreements; coordinates with City department representatives to determine City needs and requirements for contractual services.
• Participates on and makes presentations to a variety of boards and commissions; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of planning and other types of public services as they relate to the area of assignment.
• Maintains and directs the maintenance of working and official departmental files.
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect City or departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.
• Responds to difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
• Maintains attendance and punctuality that is observant of scheduled hours on a regular basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements/License or Certificates Required

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of the following education and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this classification.

Experience:

Six years of increasingly responsible professional urban planning experience in local government including project management experience including two years of supervisory, management and/or administrative experience. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) experience is highly desirable.

Education/Training:

A Bachelors Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed California units = 120 semester/180 quarter) from an accredited educational institution with major coursework in urban planning, regional planning, environmental studies, architecture, or a related field. A Master's degree is desirable.

Licenses and Certifications:

• A valid class C driver's license or the ability to arrange alternate and timely means of transportation in the performance of assigned duties.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is highly desirable.

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to inspect City development sites, to operate a motor vehicle, and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Environmental Elements

Employees work primarily in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees occasionally work outdoors. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Notice: Benefits listed below assume full-time (2,080 hrs/yr) status. Benefits for positions considered less than full-time are pro-rated based upon hours and may differ from those indicated.This position is an At-Will Classification.

Vacation - Annual paid vacation as follows: 0-4 years service = 120 hrs/yr; 5-9 years service = 144 hrs/yr; 10-14 years service = 180 hrs/yr; and 15+ years service = 199.2 hrs/yr. Employees may elect to convert up to 5 days (40 hours) vacation per year to cash on an hour-for-hour basis when they meet certain criteria. Prior Public Service Credit for vacation accruals may be granted for verifiable experience.

Executive Leave - Employees in this group are entitled to 50 hours of executive leave each fiscal year. Executive leave is not be carried over into the next fiscal year, but may be exchanged for compensation equal to 100% of the value at the end of the current fiscal year.

Sick Leave - The City provides 96 hours each year of paid sick leave with no maximum accumulation. There are sick leave incentive and conversion programs available to those who qualify.

Holidays - The City observes 10 holidays and two floating holidays each year.

Flexible Saving Account - These are IRS-approved plans, which enables you to have witheld from your paycheck an amount to cover eligible dependent care, and/or certain eligible medical exspenses without being subject to federal income or social security tax on the income used to pay for these benefits. Employees can opt into either the Dependent care or medical expense accounts.

Life Insurance - The City provides group term life insurance equal to 1 1/2 times annual salary to a maximum of $350,000. Supplemental life insurance for employees and family members is available by payroll deduction at reasonable group rates and is portable.

Short & Long Term Disability -

The City provides short-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of your income (up to $2,516) after a 7-day waiting period if totally disabled due to illness or injury.

The City provides long-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of your income (up to $10,900) after a 90-day elimination period if totally disabled due to illness or injury.

Retirement - Benefits are provided by the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Classic CalPERS members - 2% @ 60 formula with employees contributing 8% of regular salary. New CalPERS members - 2% @ 62 formula with employees contributing 8% of salary. Effective July 1, 2013, new members contribute 50% of the total normal cost. Beginning the first full pay period in July 2024, employees considered "classic" members will contribute an additional 1%. The total employee contribution will be 9%. The City participates in Medicare, but does not participate in Social Security.

Health Insurance - Poway provides employer-paid group medical and dental insurance for the employee. For medical plans, the City contributes 100% of the cost for employees enrolled in either the Kaiser or CIGNA HMO plans and 60% of the cost for dependent coverage for both HMO plans. The City also has a CIGNA PPO option, and the City covers the premium costs for employees enrolled in the CIGNA PPO equivalent to what the City covers for employees enrolled in the CIGNA HMO, at every coverage level. For dental plans, employees have a choice between an HMO and PPO plan. Family vision insurance is provided at no cost to the employee. An IRS Section 125 plan (Flexible Spending Account) for reimbursement of medical and dependent care expenses is also available.

Deferred Compensation Plan - Participation in a 457 deferred compensation plan is available to all regular employees and is voluntary with no City matching contribution. The City contributes $106.23 per pay period to a 401(a) deferred compensation plan with vesting on a graduated schedule beginning with 2 years service and becoming 100% vested after 6 years.

Retirement Health Savings Plan - The City contributes $1,040 annually to a Retirement Health Savings Plan. A portion of unused sick leave is converted to a cash contribution to the RHSP annually for those employees who qualify. Retiring employees will have unused sick leave converted to a cash contribution to the RHSP, up the maximum amount established in the Management/Confidential Salary & Benefit Plan.

Automobile Allowance - Employees in this group receive an automobile allowance equivalent to $160/month. The monthly allowance does not apply to those positions assigned a City vehicle.

Tuition Reimbursement - The City may reimburse the actual cost paid for tuition, books and required technical supplies and equipment up to a maximum of $1,500 per fiscal year for eligible employees receiving a grade of "C" or better in approved courses.

Additional Benefits - The City offers additional benefits such as Pet Insurance discounts, Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, and a 9/80 work schedule dependent on your position upon hire.

Employer City of Poway

Address City of Poway

13325 Civic Center Drive

Poway, California, 92064

Phone (858) 668-4440

Website https://poway.org/