Senior Planner na City of Richmond (CA), CA

About the Department

The City of Richmond’s Community Development Department is seeking an experienced Senior Planner to take a lead role in the City’s current planning program. This position will serve as the project manager for complex development applications, including major residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. The Senior Planner will guide applicants through the City’s entitlement process, coordinate technical review among multiple City divisions and departments, and ensure compliance with the Richmond Municipal Code, CEQA, and state housing laws.

Key responsibilities include preparing staff reports and presentations for the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, and City Council; managing public outreach and stakeholder engagement on high-profile projects; and mentoring junior planning staff on project review practices.

It is anticipated that this position will ultimately staff the City’s Design Review Board. The City is therefore seeking a candidate with demonstrated experience in architecture, urban design, and CEQA/environmental review, along with strong project management and communication skills to effectively represent the Department in both public and technical settings.

Annual salary for this classification is as high as $151,389.60 at the top of the range.  Additionally, City-paid benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, holidays, administrative leave days, sick time, CalPERS retirement contribution, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, annual professional development reimbursement, four weeks of paid parental leave, and more! All benefit information can be found in our Benefits Summary. 

Position Duties

The Senior Planner manages and processes advance and current planning projects such as General Plan amendments, Design Review Permits, etc. The incumbent performs research, administration, and technical analysis necessary for making recommendations to various boards and commissions. The Senior Planner is the advanced level classification in the professional Planner series. Incumbents may provide lead direction for planning activities, supervise new or entry level planning staff, and perform highly specialized and difficult planning functions. The work may involve providing advice or working on current planning projects requiring considerable technical knowledge and independent judgment.

The ideal candidate for this position is:

• A clear, strategic thinker with strong project management and direction-setting skills;
• Equipped with a high degree of emotional intelligence, able to build trust, navigate conflict, and foster positive working relationships;
• Passionate about striving to improve the Richmond community;
• Collaborative with co-workers, applicants, and stakeholders;
• Adept at managing multiple priorities to meet targeted deadlines;
• Reliable and adaptable in a fast-paced work environment;
• A confident professional with excellent public speaking and presentation skills; and
• Someone who enjoys analyzing complex problems and developing thoughtful, practical solutions.

The following list is intended to be illustrative in nature and does not necessarily represent the entire range of work duties expected of employees within the job classification.  

• Reviews and investigates advance and current planning project applications to determine conformity with laws, policies, regulations, and procedures, and completes processing as appropriate.
• Identifies and addresses any problems with planning applications, and recommends alternatives to stakeholders, as needed.
• Collaborates with consultants on any necessary environmental reviews.
• Assists the public by answering a variety of questions and providing information regarding ordinance requirements as to general plan, zoning, environmental impact and other policies and regulations. Performs thorough technical analyses, and interprets the zoning ordinance to make final decisions regarding project approvals.
• Conducts field surveys and investigations related to planning and zoning projects or requests
• Makes special investigations of a technical nature regarding planning projects; reports conclusions and recommendations in technical report form or in form for publication.
• Prepares and presents materials, including staff reports, for presentation to the City Council, Boards, Commissions, and community groups and participates in long-range planning and policy development.
• Composes a variety of communications, compiles analytical reports, and drafts revisions to local ordinances, policies, and procedures for review by senior leadership.
• Implements the City’s environmental review process.
• Serves as project planner for preparation of Environmental Impact Reports, and prepares other environmental documents consistent with state law and City regulations. 
• Evaluates and processes a wide range of planning applications, including use permits, subdivisions, design review, and ordinance amendments. 
• Reviews building permit plan checks for compliance with discretionary approvals.
• Evaluates improvement plans for consistency with approved subdivisions.
• Inspects public and private development projects to determine compliance with planning requirements.
• Conducts Zoning Code compliance review.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees, and the public, using principles of good customer service.
• Directs the work of subordinate planning staff members, and serves as a technical expert and resource to answer questions and resolve issues.
• Collaborates with City Council, Boards, Commissions, and community groups; conducts presentations; and guides long-range planning and policy development.
• Assists in the identification, preparation, and submission of grant applications, and supports the administration of grant funds.
• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in city, regional, or urban planning or a related field 
• Three (3) to five (5) years of planning experience with a local jurisdiction in California. 
• Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities

Desirable Experience or Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience processing complex and often controversial development applications, including those involving industrial land uses, environmental impact reports (EIRs), development agreements, and subdivision maps.
• Deep understanding of California housing laws and policies, including SB 330 (Housing Crisis Act), SB 35 (Streamlined Housing Approvals), Density Bonus Law, Housing Accountability Act, and related state mandates, with the ability to apply them in the context of local project review.
• Commitment to professional ethics and ongoing professional development; possession of an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification is highly desirable.
• Additional desirable experience in the following areas:
  • General Plan Updates and Implementation
  • Specific Plan Preparation/Amendments
  • Zoning Ordinance Updates and Objective Design Standards
  • Environmental Justice and Planning for Disadvantaged Communities
  • Active Transportation, Complete Streets, and Mobility Planning
  • Parks, Open Space, and Trails Planning
  • Economic Development and Land Use Policy Integration
  • Grant Program Implementation and Administration

Required Licenses or Certifications

• Possession of a valid California driver's license and satisfactory driving record is an ongoing requirement

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

• It is the City’s policy that all persons hired on or after October 18, 2021 must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including the booster. New employees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before employment may commence. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Human Resources.

REQUIRED KSA FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of:

• Project management
• The principles and practices of governmental planning and zoning 
• Current trends in federal, state and local planning
• National, state, and local laws relating to planning of governmental and private agencies affecting community planning including, but not limited to, the Subdivision Map Act and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Zoning Code, General Plan, and Specific Plan
• Principles of Urban Planning and emerging trends
• Planning regulations and processes
• Statistical analysis techniques, and formulas relevant to the planning process
• Modern office practices and equipment, including computers and applicable software

Skill in:

• Analytical thinking
• Public speaking
• Organization and time management
• Record keeping

Ability to:

• Review architectural and civil plans, and understand various scopes of work
• Interpret and explain City ordinances and zoning codes
• Analyze a potential use, design, or project for consistency with regulations
• Research, analyze, and compile planning data to generate reports
• Supervise staff, and delegate work assignments
• Exercise sound independent judgment
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Organize workload and prioritize assigned responsibilities to ensure accomplishment of Planning Division goals and duties
• Articulate and effectively communicate feedback to stakeholders

Other Qualifications

Immigration Reform Control ActAnalyst: J. Somera
09/2025

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