Planning Services Division Manager

Under general direction performs administrative duties and policy interpretation related to the management in the Planning Services Division of the Community Development Department; develops division goals and objectives; manages staff directly or through subordinate managers/supervisors; develops policies and procedures related to division activities; develops and administers division budgets; manages current and long range and long-range planning activities and serves as staff for the Planning Commission and related committees as assigned; and performs related work as required.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This is a management classification that manages the Planning Services Division. It is distinguished from the next lower level of Senior Planner by either its oversight of multiple areas as well as management of complex current and Long range projects and programs The Division Manager is distinguished from the Director class by the full managerial responsibility for a City department as opposed to the Division.

The Planning Services Division Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Planning Services Division. Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Implementation
• Response to public inquiries
• Monitoring of new legislation
• Processing Residential and Commercial Development Projects.
• Planning Review of Building and Engineering Permits
• Housing Element/Housing Program implementation
• Business License Program implementation
• Staffing and facilitation of the Planning Commission
• Staffing and facilitation of the for the Architectural Review Board

Current Challenges and Priorities

• Meeting current streamlining requirements for new project approvals.
• Monitoring changing State housing legislation and the impact on local planning processes.
• Increased State reporting requirements.
• Ongoing Code updates to reflect new legislation and local priorities.
• Succession planning for Division workforce and staffing needs.

• Develops and directs the implementation of goals objectives policies procedures and work standards for assigned division; interprets and complies with all applicable federal and state regulations.
• Monitors and directs daily operations to ensure that policies and procedures are being followed that goals and objectives are met and that services are being provided efficiently and effectively; takes corrective action as necessary; personally handles the most difficult sensitive or controversial projects for the division.
• Develops and monitors the divisions budget; oversees financial well-being of the division by analyzing cost effectiveness and directing cost control activities; prepares submits and justifies budget enhancement requests to the Director.
• Plans organizes administers reviews and evaluates the work of subordinate professional technical office support and operational staff through subordinate levels of supervision.
• Provides for the selection training professional development and work evaluation of subordinate staff; makes recommendations on hiring termination promotion and discipline as required.
• Confers with and represents the division and the department in meetings with other City departments and divisions; serves as the City representative with a variety of public business and community organizations; fosters collaborative relationships to the benefit of the division department and the City.
• Prioritizes and allocates available division resources; reviews and evaluates program and service delivery makes recommendations for improvement and ensures maximum effective service provision.
• Develops systems and maintains records that provide for the proper evaluation control and documentation of assigned activities; prepares and directs the preparation of a variety of written correspondence reports procedures directives and other materials.
• May act for and serve as the Department Director as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Current and long-range Land Use Planning principles environmental review and administrative principles and practices including goal setting program development implementation and evaluation project management and supervision of staff either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision.
• Principles and practices of budget administration and employee supervision including work planning assignment review and evaluation and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Organization and management practices as applied to the development analysis and evaluation of programs and operational needs of the assigned programs.
• Applicable Federal State and local laws regulatory codes ordinances and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Business letter writing and the standard format for reports and correspondence.
• Business arithmetic and basic statistical techniques.
• Research and reporting methods techniques and procedures.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping technical report writing and preparation of correspondence and presentations.
• Modern office practices methods and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage grammar spelling vocabulary and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies community groups and various business professional educational regulatory and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public vendors contractors and City staff.

• Recommend and implement goals objectives and practices for providing effective and efficient services.
• Manage and monitor complex projects on-time and within budget.
• Plan organize schedule assign review and evaluate the work of staff; train staff in work procedures.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations procedures policies or methods.
• Research analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods procedures and techniques.
• Prepare clear and concise reports correspondence policies procedures and other written materials.
• Analyze interpret summarize and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Interpret apply explain and ensure compliance with Federal State and local policies procedures laws and regulations.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies contractors vendors and various businesses professional regulatory and legislative organizations.
• Make accurate arithmetic financial and statistical computations.
• Establish and maintain a variety of manual and computerized record keeping systems.
• Make sound independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work set priorities and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person over the telephone and in writing.
• Use tact initiative prudence and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish maintain and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

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

Education
Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework (in Land Use Planning) related to the area of assignment.

AND

Experience
Four (4) years of supervisory experience within or related to the area of assignment.

Or
An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid California Drivers License by time of appointment. A valid California Drivers License is not a requirement for this position. However persons hired into this class who intend to drive their personal vehicle and/or a City vehicle as part of their job duties will be required to possess a valid California Drivers License; alternatively persons hired into this class could use alternative means of transportation as part of their job duties.
  
• At the option of the appointing authority or the City persons hired into this class may be required to either possess at entry or obtain within specified time limits designated licenses professional registration certification or specialized education and training relevant to the area of assignment.

• American Planning Association (APA) Membership is recommended but not required.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is certification is recommended but not required.

Resumes cannot be substituted for a completed application.

The recruitment process is as follows:
The most qualified candidates as determined by initial screening of applications will be invited to participate in an oral and/or department panel interview.
The first round of interviews is tentatively scheduled for mid-October 2025. The eligibility list will be established from the interview process. Individuals on the eligibility list may be asked to participate in a second round of interviews based on specific individual qualifications and the Citys needs. The eligibility list will remain in effect for one (1) year for potential future vacancies.

The City of San Ramon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race color religion national origin age sex origin sexual orientation or accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process please contact the Human Resources Division at.

Information contained herein including the recruitment process is subject to change without notice.