PROJECT PLANNING OFFICER (CURRENT PLANNING OFFICER)

DESCRIPTION

Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint $155,567.284 of the salary range, however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.

The City of Long Beach is seeking an experienced, creative, innovative and collaborate individual who is committed to develop and support the Department of Community Development.

THE COMMUNITY

Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and I've golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best-value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.

CITY GOVERNMENT

Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council Members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Water and Energy Resources Departments. In 2019, the City of Long Beach and Plenary Properties Long Beach unveiled the completion of the new four-building Long Beach Civic Center, which includes a new City Hall and Port Administration Building. The tree-lined pedestrian plaza is reflective of an innovative public-private partnership and the Civic Center is designed to revitalize the civic core of downtown to serve residents, attract visitors, and provide safe and efficient city operations. The City is supported by a FY2023 total budget of $3.2 billion with a General Fund budget of $669 million. It has a FY 2023 Capital Improvement Budget of $500 million. Long Beach employs approximately 6,048 full-time equivalent staff. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Community Development delivers a wide variety of programs and services to help create and maintain more safe, sustainable, and livable neighborhoods. The department is comprised of five bureaus: Administrative and Financial Services, Building and Safety, Code Enforcement, Housing and Neighborhood Services, and Planning.

Our staff of more than 200 works tirelessly to serve the community through an array of policies and programs, including land use and development, affordable housing, environment and historic preservation, neighborhood improvement, and construction standards and safety. We are dedicated to making a positive difference in our role to help transform Long Beach into a model urban community that honors its past and embraces the future.

THE POSITION

Under general direction of the Planning Bureau Manager, the Project Planning Officer (Current Planning Officer) is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Project Planning Division by providing day-to-day direction to and supervision of the professional and support staff within the division. The successful candidate will be a highly organized professional who is familiar with entitlement review processes, project management, zoning ordinances, coastal development requirements, site planning, design review and environmental compliance.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

The Project Planning Officer will:

• Oversee a group of professional planners to review and process requests to develop and redevelop public and private property in the City. This includes reviewing proposals against relevant codes and plans and making recommendations for improving site plans; facilitating and coordinating review with other city departments and public agencies; environmental review and disclosure requirements pursuant to CEQA; making recommendations as to whether such proposals should be approved based on appropriate analysis and findings; and crafting appropriate conditions of approval to ensure the public good.
  
• Make recommendations for improving site plans including related to project design, circulation and compatibility with city plans and policies.
  
• Provide guidance and training to aid staff in their review of development projects, entitlement requests, and to improve project proposals and support effective project management.
  
• Provide information and answer questions from the public regarding general plan and zone designations (Zoning Maps), permitted land uses, entitlement processes, procedures and requirements.
  
• Provide professional planning advice to project applicants and members of the public seeking project information.
  
• Collaborate with the Long Range Planning Officer to maintain, update, and implement policies and development standards within the City's General Plan, specific plans, zoning ordinance, certified Local Coastal Plan and planned development districts.
  
• Provide guidance and develop feasible solutions for complex, highly visible, sensitive, and/or controversial projects.
  
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training and mentoring professional planning and support staff for the Planning Bureau.
  
• Improve systems for project review and for providing information to the public, including through development of new service delivery methods and by participating in the development and implementation of a new Enterprise Land Management (ELM) software being prepared for deployment.
  
• Collaborate with the other Current Planning Officer (Zoning Administrator) on implementation of records management practices and procedures.
  
• Provide guidance for and administer various capital improvement plan projects, analyze planning issues and make appropriate recommendations.
  
• Determine project priorities/schedules, and manage project resources to completion.
  
• Provide professional recommendations and information support to the City Council, Planning Commission and City Management.
  
• Interpret provisions of the City's land use plans, zoning ordinances and associated state and federal regulations for staff, City Council, Planning Commission, developers and the public.
  
• Regularly attend and staff Planning Commission meetings and attend City Council meetings and community meetings as necessary.
  
• May act as the Zoning Administrator at noticed public hearings, and
  
• Other related duties as assigned.
  

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

EDUCATION

• Graduation from an accredited institution with a Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related field

EXPERIENCE

• Three (3) years of paid, progressively responsible, full-time experience in municipal planning/community development.
• One (1) year of the required experience must have been gained in a supervisory capacity supervising professional staff involved in planning and zoning activities.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• American Institute of Certified Planners (ACIP) certification is desired.
  
• A valid Class C driver's license and proof of auto insurance are required. Position will be required to attend evening meetings, such as Planning Commission meetings (twice a month) and occasional City Council and/or community meetings.
  

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Considerable knowledge of and experience reviewing and processing development projects.
• Knowledge and experience with improving site plans including related to project design, circulation and compatibility with city plans and policies.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and bring projects to resolution.
• Experience guiding others to process entitlements and planning permit applications.
• Considerable knowledge in reading, interpreting maps, plans, and specifications.
• Considerable knowledge of reading, interpreting, applying and writing Zoning Codes and Zoning Code Amendments.
• Knowledge of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Superior customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Lifelong learner.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Strong ability to coach, empower, and develop staff and provide structure for the Division.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to analyze information and consistently make sound decisions.
• Highly organized multi-tasker.
• Ability to efficiently and effectively interact, communicate, and coordinate work efforts within and across bureaus/departments.
• Always maintain a high level of professionalism and conduct business in an ethical manner.
• Committed to equitable planning and management practices.
• Creative, strategic thinker.
• Ethical and integrity based.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on December 7th . To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, license, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration. Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please call(562) 570-6913.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-6913 .

The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally.As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:

Retirement:California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% or 2.7% (depending on hire date) @55 for "Classic" members and 2% @62 for new members as defined by PEPRA, subject to the compensation limitations set by PERS. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security.

Health and Dental Insurance:The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected.

Life Insurance:City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.

Disability Insurance:City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.

Management Physical:Annual City-paid physical examination.

Vacation:Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service.

Executive Leave:Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year.

Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.

Holidays:Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.

Transportation Allowance:Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below;

• Department Head $650.00
• Deputy Director/Manager/Director (Harbor/Utilities) $550.00
• Division Officer/Superintendent/ Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA $450.00
• Assistant to Executive / Executive Assistant / Executive Secretary/ Executive Support Staff $300.00

Deferred Compensation Plan:Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation).

• Classic CalPERS Members: The City will contribute a maximum of up to two percent (2%) of base salary* for all qualified Classic CalPERS members.
• Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) CalPERS Members: Effective the second full pay period following City Council adoption, the City contribution will increase from two percent (2%) to three percent (3%) of base salary* for all qualified PEPRA CalPERS members.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA):Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.

Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule:Available (subject to City Manager approval).

Paid Parental Leave: The City provides one hundred and sixty (160) hours of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child, regardless of the gender, marital status or sexual orientation of the parent.

Closing Date/Time: 12/11/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Long Beach

• 5625707057

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