Principal Planner - Planning, Trails, & GIS na East Bay Regional Park District, CA

About the Department

The Park District is currently recruiting to fill one (1) vacancy for Principal Planner in the Interagency Planning Unit in the Acquisition, Stewardship, & Development Department located at the Park District’s Administrative Office, 2950 Peralta Oaks Ct., Oakland. The Principal Planner leads interdisciplinary teams and manages programs to expand public access and protect the natural resources of the East Bay Regional Park District. This is an exciting opportunity to apply knowledge and expertise of open space planning, community engagement, environmental review, and regulatory processes to direct staff and lead cross-divisional projects. The Principal Planner will coordinate projects and programs focused on interagency planning, balancing public access needs with protecting and enhancing natural and cultural resources, leading meaningful stakeholder engagement, and collaborating with colleagues to achieve the Park District's mission. The hiring pools established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur during the one-year life of the hiring pools.  

ABOUT US:
The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres; 1,250 miles of trails; 55 miles of shoreline. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. Learn about our Mission and Vision, History, and our contributions to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

OUR MISSION:
EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.

OUR VALUES:

•  Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.
•  Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.
•  Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.
•  Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.
•  Transparency – We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.

WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?

• Work with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties
• A community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its mission
• Excellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here for details regarding additional benefits
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development
• Free on-site parking
• Free parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)
• Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch.

 
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:
Under general direction, supervises staff in the planning and land use area of the District’s regional parks and trails system; implements the planning and land use goals and policies of the District’s Master Plan; and performs related duties as assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:
The ideal candidate has some or all of the experience listed below.

• Administration: Ability to build cross-disciplinary project teams, manage the performance and functions of staff in the Unit; manage professional services consultant contracts; review and develop planning policies, procedures and plans; manage staffing and budget
• Environmental compliance: Familiarity with CEQA, NEPA, Section 106, A.B. 52 regulatory permitting and mitigation process
• Interagency planning: Experience with multi-year, interagency projects that includes tracking projects, providing feedback, submitting formal comments, and negotiating agreements
• Public speaking and engagement: Skilled public speaker with varied experience speaking in front of elected officials, the public, and other agency’s staff and interested parties, as well as demonstrated ability to lead a public engagement process
• Highly adaptable, flexible, and professional: Ability to be a self-starter, take the initiative to lead projects, and embrace teamwork

Position Duties

Supervision: 

• Performs a variety of supervisory tasks; 

• Hires, trains, schedules, motivates, develops and evaluates staff; 

• Assigns, prioritizes and monitors work assignments; 

• Establishes goals and standards; 

• Works with employees to promote good performance, correct deficiencies, and implement discipline procedures if necessary; 

• Monitors neighbors, outside agencies, operating agreements and contractors; performs a variety of administration and budget tasks.

Administration/Budget: 

• Writes reports, letters, and memos; prioritizes planned and unplanned work; 

• Compiles planning project updates, keeps logs and records project conditions of approval and mitigation measures; 

• Prepares, writes specifications, administers and monitors contracts; 

• Participates in the development and negotiations of operating agreements and ensures adherence to these agreements.

Communication/Coordination: 

• Coordinates the activities of assigned area;

• Maintains open communication with other district departments, other public and private agencies, neighbors, and the general public;

• Coordinates with contractors for job scheduling, preparation and planning;

• Responds to inquiries, concerns, and complaints;

• Participates in the acquisition, planning and design process, when necessary;

• Prepares and conducts presentations to the public, District staff, Board, Board committees, outside agencies, neighborhood associations, and other key stakeholders;

• And performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

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

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in city or regional planning, landscape architecture, or a related field, AND

Experience: Four years of experience in the East Bay Regional Park District classification of Senior Planner, OR 

                      Six years of increasingly responsible experience in land use planning or a related field. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of: 

Federal, state, and local planning and environmental laws, rules, regulations, and acts; design principles and environmental evaluation procedures; written and verbal communication to deliver public presentations, coordinate interagency and interdepartmental meetings, and facilitate discussions with key internal and external stakeholders; principles and practices of project management; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as digital imagery, GIS, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability to: 

Coordinate multiple activities simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines; supervise support staff; communicate graphically; organize and create maps and presentation graphics; understand and apply District and departmental policies and procedures; think clearly and apply logic and common sense to problem solving; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work at all levels, including a culturally diverse general public, with a focus on quality service to internal staff and external customers.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must pass a Level 1 Background Check.

• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License is a condition of initial and continued employment in this classification.  

• May be required to attend public hearings and other meetings which may be scheduled outside of normal work hours. 

Other Qualifications

UNION AFFILIATION:

AFSCME: East Bay Regional Parks Employees, Local 2428, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, represents this classification. Wages, hours, and other terms of conditions of employment are covered in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Park District and Local 2428.  The probationary period for this classification is nine (9) months.

 

Internal Promotions: Placement shall be made at the first step in the salary range for the new position (Step A) unless the salary rate at Step A of the new position is less than a 5% increase. In such instances, the employee will be placed at a step in the new salary range that ensures at least a 5% increase.

 

Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:

1. A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
2. Completed supplemental questions

 

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system.  If you have previously applied to a position on GovernmentJobs.com, please allow time to update your existing profile. Applications are accepted online only. Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627. 

 

Notification: All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications. If you have questions about the status of this recruitment, please contact HR Analyst, Christina Souza at [email protected].
  
Selection Process: The application materials for all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed by a screening panel to select the best qualified for testing or oral examination/interview. The District reserves the right to set up a written test, performance test, and/or other assessment procedures before or after the interview process. Possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview or invitation to test. Pursuant to the Federal Immigration and Reform Act of 1986, all applicants who are hired will be required to provide proof of identity and appropriate work authorization documents prior to commencement of employment.
 
Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154 at least five business days before the test.
 
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

 

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