Senior Planner

City of Claremont

This position will receive a 3% increase effective July 1, 2026

The City of Claremont is seeking a thoughtful, motivated Senior Planner to join a collaborative and evolving Planning Division seeking a future leader of the Division.

Claremont is a community that values intentional growth, strong design standards, and preservation of its noteworthy historic character. The community includes buildings and landscapes designed by the region’s most celebrated designers and is celebrated for its tree-lined neighborhoods, internationally recognized colleges, and vibrant downtown (the Claremont Village). Planning work here is high-profile and meaningful.

This role offers the opportunity to work across a variety of projects, including development review, long-range planning, state and federal compliance planning, and historic preservation. You’ll partner closely with experienced and supportive managers and have the chance to contribute to projects that directly shape the community.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Brings strong planning judgment and attention to detail
• Is comfortable managing projects and working across disciplines
• Communicates clearly with colleagues, applicants, and the public
• Values both preserving what makes a place special and planning for its future
• Has a strong working knowledge of planning principles and state regulations

Claremont is a smaller organization by design, which means you will gain broad exposure, quickly be seen as leader in the community, take on meaningful responsibility, and see the impact of your work.

If you’re looking for a role where you can grow, contribute, and be part of a team that takes pride in its work, we encourage you to apply.

SUPPLEMENTAL RECRUITMENT INFORMATION: Applications will be reviewed for minimum qualifications and evaluated against the overall applicant pool. Candidates who best align with the position will be invited to participate in a panel interview. Recruitment timelines are subject to change, and the posting may close once a sufficient number of qualified applications are received. All applicants will be notified of their status via email.

OPEN DATE: June 11, 2026

CLOSE DATE: This position will remain open on a continuous basis, candidates are encouraged to apply early.

The Community Development Department currently has one vacancy. We are conducting a recruitment for both Senior Planner and Associate Planner. The position will be filled at one of these levels depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

The Position

The City is looking for one highly motivated, creative, enthusiastic, customer service-oriented Senior Planner to work in current and/or advanced planning, depending upon qualifications. The Senior Planner will conduct special projects and research as assigned, and prepare reports and recommendations relative to assigned area of responsibility. Incumbents are responsible for projects of complex difficulty and are expected to direct them to completion with assistance from the Division Manager and Department Director. Claremont is a truly unique community with a rich history and strong outlook for future growth including a planned expansion of its downtown to include a new, mixed-use, Transit-Oriented Neighborhood adjacent to the Metrolink station and planned A-Line light rail station.

Some of the exciting projects include:

• Implementation of the recently approved Village South Specific Plan, which will serve as an extension to the existing Claremont Village and is approved as a large mixed-use neighborhood that will include retail, shops, restaurants, office, and residential uses.
  
• Several new and proposed Claremont College buildings, including student centers, dormitories, offices, science centers, and other various educational institutional facilities designed by world-class architectural firms.
  
• New master plans for some of the City’s existing institutions including Scripps College.
  
• Implementation of the City’s recently adopted Housing Element and development of the next iteration of the Housing Element.
  
• Completing the City’s General Plan Safety Element.
  
• Proposed market rate and affordable housing projects on multiple parcels throughout the City.
  
• Implementation of a draft Citywide Design Guidelines document and needed work on Objective Design Standards for new multi-family development applications.
  
• Implementation of the recently adopted Cultural Resources Ordinance to protect the City’s historic resources.
  

The Senior Planner may supervise lower-level staff and provide technical direction to subordinate technical and clerical positions. Work hours are generally Monday through Thursday (38-hour work week) between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The Senior Planner will attend Commission meetings in the evenings, and other evening/weekend meetings or special events as required.

Ideal Candidate

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in urban planning or a related field. A Master's Degree in a related field is desirable and may count as one year of experience.

Experience: Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in urban planning, including one year in a responsible lead or supervisory capacity.

Licenses: A valid California driver's license and good driving record are required.

Attachments: A sample staff report is required to be attached to your application to be considered for this position. Ideally, attach two, one regarding a planning-related issue and one design review.

To view the complete job description, click here.

Additional Information

THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

The Community Development Department is responsible for managing and coordinating the work effort of three operating divisions: Planning, Engineering, and Building. To deliver the high-quality services necessary to fulfill the needs of the City Council and the citizens, the department has an annual operating budget of $5.2 million and 22 full-time employees encompassing all divisions.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The City of Claremont is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Individuals with qualified disabilities who need reasonable accommodation during the selection process or in the performance of their duties must specify the accommodations needed, in writing, at the time when the employment application is submitted.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Claremont is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to build and sustain an environment that values diversity, welcomes opportunities to engage and understand others, and fosters a sense of belonging.

This summary highlights select benefits. Comprehensive benefits, pays, and working conditions are outlined in the applicable Association Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The full MOU is available on the City’s website.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• City of Claremont

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