Planning Technician

Job Description:

Planning Technician

Description

Job Characteristics

***OPEN & PROMOTIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITY***
Planning Technician

The City of Concord is currently seeking to fill one Planning Technician vacancy in the Community Development Department. Ideal candidates for this assignment are bilingual in English and Spanish.

The Community Development Department:

The City of Concord’s Community Development Department, or CDD, is home to the Planning, Building, Housing, and Engineering divisions, which work together to maintain and improve the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors.

The Planning Division implements and administers the policy direction of the City Council and addresses the community’s needs regarding its built environment, development and growth. To this end, the Planning Division provides the public with information about development and use regulations, develops long-range planning policies and plans, evaluates development projects, implements housing programs, and assists with the Concord Reuse Project to develop the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

What you will be doing:

This position's primary responsibility will be to respond to public inquiries in person, as well as via email and telephone, regarding the Development Code, Subdivision Ordinance, and related regulations, processes, and activities. In addition, this position will review and process a variety of less complex development applications and permits, including but not limited to:

• Building Permits for commercial and residential structures such as additions, tenant improvements, accessory structures, and accessory dwelling units, including reviewing architectural and construction plans
• Business Licenses, including review of applicable use restrictions
• Administrative Permits for new commercial uses, temporary uses/events, and wireless telecommunications facilities
• Design and Site Review for building and site upgrades
• Minor Use Permits
• Variances and Minor Exceptions
• Sign Plans and Master Sign Programs
• Minor subdivisions and lot line adjustments

We are looking for someone who:

• Provides premium customer service to the public
• Is fluent in both written and spoken Spanish
• Maintains a positive, can-do attitude under pressure
• Has demonstrated interest and/or work experience in land use planning, real estate development, construction, architecture, environmental protection, or a related field
• Possesses excellent oral and written communication skills (conveys complex information clearly, concisely, and persuasively)
• Handles multiple tasks simultaneously while prioritizing their work effectively in a dynamic environment
• Possesses a strong work ethic
• Is easily adaptable to sudden and unexpected changes in work assignments
• Effectively represents the Community Development Department in responding to inquiries and providing assistance regarding planning, land use, and zoning matters
• Works well under pressure, meeting multiple and possibly conflicting deadlines
• Focuses on teamwork and collaboration with colleagues and supervisors
• Is someone who will embody and personify the City's Mission, Vision, and Values .

What we offer:
The City of Concord offers the opportunity to take part in a collaborative and exciting work experience, where you can grow in your career while working alongside the community to make Concord a city of the highest quality. The City is an employer that invests in its employees’ professional and personal development, values work-life balance, is dedicated to employee wellness and provides numerous benefit and retirement options, to include the following:

• Participation in CalPERS pension, tiered based on date of hire
• A variety of health care plans or a cash-in-lieu benefit of $200 if waiving coverage
• City-paid dental insurance; employee-paid vision insurance
• Vacation accruals starting at 10 days per year, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Tuition reimbursement
• Both 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthcare, dependent care and commuting costs
• Life and disability insurance
• A wellness program that offers fitness classes, annual health expos, health and nutrition education, as well as a variety of mental health resources

*Salary is negotiable within the advertised range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found at www.cityofconcord.org .

SELECTION PROCESS

1. Submit a completed City of Concord application and the required supplemental question responses online at www.cityofconcord.org. Only application materials submitted online during the filing period will be accepted.

2. All qualified applications and supplemental responses will be competitively evaluated, and those candidates demonstrating the strongest desired qualifications for the position will be invited to participate in a panel interview. If you are selected to participate in the panel interview and are unavailable, we regret that we will not be able to reschedule you.

3. Candidates that pass the panel interview will be placed on the hiring list, based on rank, for further consideration to fill the current regular vacancy, as well as others occurring over the next 12 months.

Conviction History:
If you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with the City of Concord.

Helpful tips when applying:

• It is important to carefully read the complete job bulletin before submitting your application, so you are aware of all requirements of both the position and the process.
• When preparing your application, consider reviewing the job announcement and classification specification so that you may emphasize work experience relevant to the position for which you are applying.
• Job duties should be an accurate reflection of the work you completed. Copying and pasting from your job description is not recommended as there may be duties listed that you did not perform.
• Answer all required supplemental questions completely and honestly. The information you put in the supplemental questionnaire must also be verified in your work history. If you check that you have certain experience in the questionnaire, make sure it is listed in your job history as well, so we know where you performed those functions and for how long.
• Carefully review your application prior to submittal to ensure its content is accurate and all required documents are attached and submit it before the closing date.

Examples of duties include, but are not limited to

Functions as the initial contact at the Permit Center counter with the public and applicants, both in person, on the telephone, and via email for Planning-related permits; advises and assists the public on routine matters related to regulations and permit procedures.Responds to inquiries and confers with property owners and developers regarding the feasibility of applications; reviews plans and supporting documents and determines application acceptability for less complex permits; determines the type of permit process being sought; and enters required information into electronic permit tracking systems.Prepares new project files and coordinates the assembly and distribution of received application materials in preparation of the development review process.Reviews routine, less complicated building and engineering permits, and determines compliance with all appropriate zoning regulations; reviews and issues planning permits; and calculates planning fees according to the City's Fees and Charges Resolution. Building permits may include but are not limited to: spas, swimming pools, HVAC equipment, tenant improvements, and building remodels and additions. Planning permits may include: accessory structures, fencing and retaining walls, home occupations, lot line adjustments, tenant occupancies, accessory dwelling units, administrative permits, wireless facilities, and signs. Engineering related-permits may include: grading plans, public utility easements, and encroachments.Reviews and approves business licenses for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance.Provides research for other departments, divisions, outside agencies, and the public via electronic records retention systems, plans or other related files.Codes and maintains map books, history files and other reference materials.Performs field inspection work including site review for applications and entitled development sites to verify compliance with conditions of approval.Review application submittals to verify completeness under both state and local requirements.Prepares correspondence in response to inquiries regarding zoning and permit information; and prepares less complex permit approval documentation.Compiles zoning and planning related data as directed by professional planners, which may include the preparation of graphics and mapped data.Assists professional planners with research or the review of projects, as necessary.Prepares draft reports and correspondence for professional planners, as necessary.Promotes the City's Mission to make Concord a city of the highest quality by providing responsive, cost-effective, and innovative government services; understands and subscribes to the vision and values adopted by the City in its Mission Statement.Performs other duties as assigned. To view the full class specification for Planning Technician, please visit: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/concord/classspecs

Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of local government planning, zoning and related laws, nomenclature, symbols and techniques used in community planning work; and the operations, procedures, and rules of the City's Planning Division; of the functions and practices of City work units with which coordination is required and the interrelationships between responsibilities of coworkers to effectively facilitate workflow.

Ability to perform varied assignments under appropriate degrees of supervision; to learn and apply those aspects of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards pertinent to assigned areas of responsibility; to read, interpret and explain technical information such as architectural and engineering plans; perform necessary mathematical computations as they relate to site plan layout; compute application fees; work on multiple projects and effectively set priorities; to participate as a team member in assigned work; use excellent customer service skills, including the ability to listen to and understand customer needs and courteously and completely respond to those needs; to use word processing, spreadsheet, computer-based mapping/GIS, and presentation and graphics software applications; to communicate effectively orally and in writing; to explain ordinances and related planning requirements; to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; and to establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education/Experience

Education: Completion of two years college coursework in urban or regional planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental design, public administration or related college curriculum.

Experience: Two years responsible experience providing zoning, development services, or administration in a municipal planning department or related experience. A Bachelor's degree in one of the above curriculum may substitute for experience.

Other

A California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record are conditions of initial and continued employment.

EEO/ADA: The City of Concord is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants.

If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, please contact Human Resources at 925-671-3308 or [email protected] prior to the final filing date.

The City of Concord takes pride in offering a generous benefits program that provides flexibility for the diverse and changing needs of our qualifying employees.

For a complete overview, click here .
Below is a brief listing of what the City offers:

• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Insurance
• Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Pre-tax Savings Benefits
• Retiree Medical (3 levels based on date of hire)
• Retirement Program
• Short-term Disability*and Long-term Disability
• Social Security/Medicare
• Vacation & Sick Leave

*Not available for sworn personnel.

Closing Date/Time: 3/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$78,436.80 - $100,110.40 Annually