Principal Planner

Job Description

City of Claremont

This classification is subject to City Council approval on November 10, 2026.

The City of Claremont is seeking a thoughtful, motivated Principal Planner to join our growing, collaborative Planning Division. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the City’s continued growth and development while working alongside an experienced City Planner who offers valuable mentorship, knowledge sharing, and professional support. We are looking for a forward-thinking planning professional who is eager to make a meaningful impact, help shape the future of our community, and grow into a leadership role within an evolving Planning Division.

As a fiscally sound organization with a recently adopted balanced two-year budget, the City offers employees the opportunity to build their careers in a stable and well-managed municipal environment. We believe our employees are our greatest asset. We foster a workplace where innovation, collaboration, and public service come together to make a meaningful difference.

Claremont is a community that values intentional growth, exceptional design standards, and the preservation of its distinctive historic character. Home to noteworthy buildings and landscapes designed by some of the region’s most celebrated designers, Claremont is known for its tree-lined neighborhoods, internationally recognized colleges, and vibrant downtown - the Claremont Village. Planning in Claremont is both high-profile and meaningful, offering an opportunity to help guide thoughtful development, preserve the community’s unique identity, and shape a lasting legacy for future generations.

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. 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.

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

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

Candidate applications will be screened for minimum qualifications as well as against the pool of qualified applicants who apply. Successful candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview. Dates for recruitment processes are subject to change. Recruitment mayclose after a sufficient number of qualified applicants are received. All candidates will be notified of their standing in the recruitment process via email.

OPEN DATE:

November 2, 2026

CLOSE DATE:

November 29, 2026

PANEL INTERVIEW:

December 15, 2026

The Position

The City is looking for one highly motivated, creative, enthusiastic, customer service-oriented Principal Planner to work in current and advanced planning, depending upon qualifications. The Principal 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 (City Planner) 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 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 Housing Element and development of the upcoming 7th Cycle 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 Citywide Design Guidelines and assistance on creating 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 Principal Planner may supervise employees and provide technical direction. Work The City is a fully in-person organization, with no remote work opportunities, because our work requires us to be physically present and accessible to serve the community. H ours are generally Monday through Thursday (38-hour work week) between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The Principal 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 and/or AOCP certification is desirable and may count as one year of experience.

Experience: Five (5) 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: Asample staff report is required to be attached to your application to be considered for this position. Ideally, attach two reports, one regarding a more technical planning-related issue and one that includes a design/aesthetics heavy analysis.

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 $5.8 million and 23 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: 11/29/2026 5:39 PM Pacific