Principal Planner

Definition & Distinguishing Characteristics

The County of Colusa is seeking its next Principal Planner to help guide thoughtful growth while preserving the agricultural culture and character that make this community so unique. In this exciting leadership position, you will oversee vital natural resources, planning projects, manage complex initiatives, and guide a talented team of professionals. Your work will directly impact the county’s growth as you collaborate with state, federal, and local agencies, ensuring that projects meet regulatory standards and serve the public’s best interests. You will prepare critical reports, secure grants, manage budgets, and represent the department at public meetings. You will be at the forefront of community development and in the absence of the Community Development Director, you will have the opportunity to lead and make meaningful contributions that drive Colusa County's goals forward. This Principal Planner role is ideal for a seasoned leader ready to drive business development, mentor a team, and deliver complex projects with excellence. This is more than a job - it's a chance to make a lasting impact! To learn more about this position, please check out the job description pages HERE .

This recruitment will be used to fill a current vacancy and establish an eligibility list to fill other potential openings without reposting.

What's this Job All About?
Under the general direction of the Director of Community Development, the Principal Planner leads natural resources, advance planning, current planning, and ordinance administration. The role involves supervising and training staff, managing complex planning projects, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The Principal Planner also represents the department in public meetings and acts as Director in their absence, advancing community development goals and department operations. in this role, you will serve as a manager, leader, and mentor within the Community Development Department. You'll guide staff, oversee complex projects and programs, and help foster a positive, high-performing team culture grounded in professionalism and public service.

Culture is at Our Core
The Community Development Department is a collaborative, customer-service oriented office whose primary role is helping our customers realize their hopes and dreams for their property. While we are busy and work hard, we also have a lighthearted, fun approach to our workday. Our values reflect the Department's commitment to our community to:

• Deliver "WOW" Customer Service to All
  
• Be Passionate and Determined
  
• Build Open and Honest Relationships with Communication
  
• Be Adventurous, Creative, & Open-Minded
  
• Be Humble and Kind
  
• Foster a Positive Team Spirit
  
• Pursue Growth and Learning
  

The Colusa County government is a small, relaxed, close-knit organization. The leadership team values work-life balance and recognizes the hard work of all County team members. As a member of the Colusa County "family," you are valued and appreciated. If you need time off to coach baseball, attend a ballet recital, take a pet to the vet, or engage in similar activities, you will be encouraged to do so.

How do we make a difference?
The Community Development Department consists of the Planning, Building, Environmental Health, Code Compliance, and Water Resources divisions to help facilitate the delivery of the highest level of customer service to the County's residents and businesses in support of agricultural activities and economic development.

What are the benefits?

• A beautiful, safe community in which to work and serve.
• A caring, empathetic, & fun work family that you will be welcomed into - where we work hard, but play hard, too!
• A job with WORK-LIFE BALANCE
• Competitive salary commensurate with education & experience
• A LIFETIME PAYCHECK(3% @ 60 for Classic Members and 2% @ 62 for New Members) - As long as you work for 5 years and vest in the CalPERS system, you will receive a retirement paycheck for the rest of your life.
• Amazing health care BENEFITS at NO COST to you - Unless you choose a premium health care plan.
• Authentically kind and engaged leadership who truly enjoy developing staff.
• 457 Deferred Compensation.
• PAID vacation, PAID holidays (15), and PAID leave if you get sick.
• Vacation Parity - Previous service with a public agency counts towards vacation accrual at Colusa County. A public agency includes cities, counties, districts, military and similar entities. To learn more about vacation parity please see our benefit summary.

COME WORK FOR COUNTY OF COLUSA: WE HAVE A SPOT JUST FOR YOU!

Supervision & Examples of Duties

Receives general direction from the Director of Community Development.

May exercise direct supervision over all technical staff in the absence of the Director of Community Development.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience :

Five (5) years of experience in public sector planning. Experience working in natural resource (such as water, forestry, and mineral resource) programs is highly desirable.

Some supervisory and management experience is preferred.

Training :

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, or any related field.

Supplemental Information

The salary range above consists of 15 steps. Steps 1-6 are annual merit steps with approximately 5% difference between each step, based on successful performance. Steps 7-15 are additional merit steps, requiring 2 years of satisfactory performance at the previous step. Steps 7-14 provide 2.5% increases, while Step 15 offers a 5% increase. The final salary offered will depend on the applicant's experience and qualifications, ranging from steps 1 to 15.

Colusa County offers an excellent benefit package. For a summary of current benefits, please click here: 2026 Benefit Summary

Closing Date/Time: 5/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Colusa

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