The Planning and Development Services (PDS) Department provides the City Council and community with creative guidance and effective implementation of land use development, planning, transportation, housing and environmental policies, plans and programs in order to maintain and enhance the City's safety, vitality, and attractiveness.

The Current Planning Team is seeking a Planning Technician to fill a vital customer service role at the City’s Development Center. The Development Center is a one stop shop for development review services that houses representatives from multiple City departments. The City of Palo Alto is a dynamic community with a strong demand for a superior level of customer service. The City has a steady flow of development applications that results in a need for qualified and enthusiastic people to serve the community. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to foster effective, cooperative working relationships with City staff, property owners, the development community, and citizens at large are essential.

This position, under the guidance of a Principal Planner, may perform a multitude of planning functions within the department including but not limited to, building permit plan review, project management of planning entitlement applications, attending in-person and virtual counter meetings with the public to explain appropriate code, ordinance, or regulatory statutes, responding to email and voicemail inquiries, processing intake appointments for new entitlements, assisting with the Construction and Demolition Debris program, and general property research. The entitlement applications typically include Architectural Review applications for signs, minor façade and site improvements, landscaping, and Temporary Use Permits. A successful candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, excel at providing excellent customer service, and work well in a team-oriented environment.

The ideal candidate(s) will possess

• College-level course work in the theory, principles, and practice of Urban Planning.
• Professional experience with zoning and land use planning as well as an understanding of how to read architectural drawings.
• The desire to serve the public and provide a superior level of customer service.
• Prior customer service and public agency experience.
• Strategic thinking and strong oral communication skills.
• The ability to learn and use software programs such as: Microsoft Office Suite, GIS, Accela, DigEplan, database management programs and other comparable programs.

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews plans of new single-family homes and remodels for zoning compliance.
• Explains ordinances and procedures to builders, contractors, developers, and the general public in person, in virtual meetings, over email, and on the telephone.
• Assists in the processing of planning and building permit applications by reviewing for completeness and inclusion of required information.
• Processes Temporary Use Permits and Over the Counter Architectural Review applications.
• May compile and prepare information for staff reports to the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), Architectural Review Board (ARB), and City Council.
• Responds to telephone and email inquiries.
• Establishes and maintains files and records for development proposals and enters application data onto the department’s database.
• May perform site visits and final inspections to make field observations of specific parcels and records data relevant to analysis of specific development or construction proposals.
• Processes revenue transactions by e-check and credit card.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Skills in eliciting and organizing information, analyzing information, and providing appropriate responses.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and effectively explain City ordinances, regulations, and procedures; learn new subject areas and effectively perform a wide variety of assignments simultaneously; adapt to a changeable and fast paced working environment; review documents for accuracy and completeness.
• Ability to use computers and computer software efficiently and with minimal instruction.
• Knowledge of general office procedures, and technical record-keeping systems.
• Ability to communicate with others in a cordial and diplomatic manner in stressful situations, and to assimilate and understand information in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
• Ability to make sound decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.

The full position description can be found here.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Two years of college coursework; OR
• Two years of increasingly responsible office experience. Experience in an environment dealing with planning, zoning, land subdivision, or construction concepts is desirable but not required.

All applicants are required to have a valid California Driver's License.

Supplemental Information

Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more, click here (download PDF reader).

Benefits: For information on the City of Palo Alto's generous employee benefits, click here.

*More than one position may be filled from this posting.*

If you encounter problems applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.