Senior Principal Planner

Harris & Associates is seeking a passionate and motivated Senior/Principal Planner to support our Environmental Planning + Consulting team. This position is for an approximate six-month assignment at a public agency location. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing programs, planning and processing tasks, managing complex long-range and current planning issues, writing staff reports, and preparing/presenting presentations to decision makers (Design Review Board, Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission and/or Board of Supervisors/City Council).

Successful candidates will have a background in land use planning, understanding of environmental review, and project management and a demonstrated ability to communicate verbally and in writing. This position requires work at the client office and would also report to the Harris San Diego office.  

•    Work closely with Director, Planning Manager and/or Senior Project Managers, and other planners on a wide range of planning and development projects including discretionary permits, ministerial permits, development code and General Plan analysis/consistency determinations, conditional use permits, General Plan and zoning amendments, and reviewing technical reports.•    Conduct site analysis and project research and prepare well-written reports.•    Prepare project summary briefing reports and presentations to internal public agency executive teams.•    Brief executive leadership, appointed, and elected officials.•    Prepare and participate in virtual community and stakeholder engagement activities, such as stakeholder meetings and workshops. •    Analyze workflow and create systems improvements for public agency clients.•    Manage projects/case load on behalf of public agency clients.•    Manage multiple planning and development applications and projects through the entitlement process.•   Mentor and manage the work of planners. •    Work on long-range planning projects, such as general plan elements, master plans, and adaptation and resilience plans.Qualifications and Skills: •    Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Planning, Environmental, Architecture, or related field.•    10-plus years of experience in planning, development review, and project management.•    Must be a team-player with a positive attitude.•    Ability to work in person at a client office with a 9/80 schedule (9 hour days with every other Friday off).•    Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.•    Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex ideas into simplified concepts and graphical representation.•    Eager to learn and values the opportunity for professional development through collaboration on multi-disciplinary teams.•    Comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously is a must.•    Ability to apply technology and software applications to effectively manage projects.•    Understanding of environmental compliance and the California Environmental Quality Act process.•    Strong computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

The starting salary range for this position is $135,000 - $155,000. This will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate.We offer competitive salaries and benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k match, and Employee Stock Ownership program. Harris & Associates is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an EEO/AA employer.  We invite resumes from all interested and qualified candidates including women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities.Harris & Associates is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital status, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.