About the Department

Palo Alto is a community known for innovation and public service excellence. The City of Palo Alto is seeking an experienced city planner who enjoys working in a dynamic, vibrant community.  

In this exciting opportunity, the Long Range Planning Group has a vacancy which can be filled at either the Planner or Senior Planner level, depending on qualifications. If you're looking for an opportunity to make a difference by shaping the future of land use in the Palo Alto community, we encourage you to apply and join our Long Range Planning Group.

The Long Range Planning program engages with the community to guide and develop the City’s land use, community development, and housing policies and programs. This team is responsible for advancing City Council land use policy priorities and initiatives; Housing Element implementation; area plan development; Comprehensive Plan amendments; and managing the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Below Market Rate (BMR) housing program, and Rental Registry Program. This fast-paced team offers an opportunity to work on a variety of strategic policy and projects that enhance and preserve the Palo Alto community for the future.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

The Palo Alto Planning and Development Services Department 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. For more information on Planning in the City of Palo Alto, click here.

 Our ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Ability to write clearly and communicate effectively; ability to prepare and write high quality staff reports, professional documents, and communications;
• Ability to handle a variety of assignments and adapt quickly to changing priorities and assignments;
• Experience in housing policy development, housing element program implementation, zoning code interpretations and amendments;
• A strong customer service focus and superior interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, management, elected officials, community members, and representatives of public and regulatory agencies;
• Experience working with consultants;
• For Senior Planner, strong project management skills and experience with development of specific/area plans.

Depending on applicant qualifications, the position may be filled at the appropriate level/salary of Planner or Senior Planner. 

Position Duties

Essential duties vary by position, with increasing levels of experience and responsibility across the positions included in this listing, in the following order of increasing seniority: Planner and Senior Planner. 

To see the complete job description of Planner, click here.

To see the complete job description of Senior Planner, click here.

What does Palo Alto offer?

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits
• CalPERS retirement
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement
• Supportive team environment
• Meaningful, engaging work serving the vibrant Palo Alto community

Minimum Qualifications

For Planner:

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or related field from an accredited college or university, and
• Three years of suitable professional experience in urban planning. 

For Senior Planner:

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Historic Preservation or a directly related field from an accredited college or university. An advanced degree is highly desirable, and
• Five years of suitable professional experience in urban planning (or substitute for up to two years of experience a master's degree in planning or a related field).

Special Requirements: All positions require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Other Qualifications

This position must periodically participate in public meetings during non-business hours and evening meetings of boards, commissions, or city council. Participation in community public meetings may also be required from time to time.

These positions are represented by SEIU.  

Salary ranges shown include the broad range from Planner through Senior Planner. Actual salary will be based upon position level hired and candidate qualifications. The SEIU salary schedule can be found here.

The City offers generous employee benefits, which can be found here.

More than one position may be filled through this posting.

Hiring Process: Applicants will receive email recruitment status notifications. Governmentjob.com account also has notification status updates.

Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination process may consist of a supplemental question, online assessment, written examination, practical performance, oral examination, or any combination to determine which candidate will move forward in the hiring process. 

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.

Benefits

See our Benefits at a Glance Booklet for more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE. 

Supplemental Questions

01

1. Essential duties vary by position, increasing levels of responsibility in the order listed below with Senior Planner as most experienced, complete job descriptions are available online. Which position are you applying for? (Please note that if you choose one, you may be considered for the other position based on qualifications and experience):

• Planner
• Senior Planner

02

2. Which of the following best describes your verifiable county, city, regional planning experience? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 3 years
• 3 – 5 years
• More than 5 years

03

3. Briefly describe your professional experience with CEQA, general plan/comprehensive plan amendments, ordinances, housing policy. (please keep your response under 300 words).

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer

City of Palo Alto

Address

250 Hamilton Ave








Palo Alto, California, 94301

Phone

(650) 329-2376

Website

https://www.paloalto.gov/Home