Principal Planner

About the Department

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Principal Planner! In this role, you will manage team members and tasks related to zoning, environmental review and historical preservation (Planning Department) or transportation planning (Public Works Department). You'll handle policy development, community planning, and environmental initiatives while coordinating planning efforts within your department alongside other City divisions, local/regional agencies, and the public. 

The current vacancy is in the Planning Department, where Principal Planners oversee complex projects and policy recommendations related to housing, equity, economic development, urban design, and other aspects of Zoning Ordinance amendments and General Plan requirements. This may include State and regional grant funded projects, long range planning efforts, updates to and implementation of the Housing Element, and development of objective development standards. 

In the Public Works Department, the Principal Planner oversees staff working on transportation planning efforts like the Berkeley Strategic Transportation Plan, Vision Zero Plan, Transit Plan, Bicycle Plan, and Pedestrian Plan. This position supervises staff assigned to lead periodic updates to each of these plans, conducts public outreach, develops conceptual plans and secures grant funding for implementation of elements of the various transportation plans.

See the full job class specification here:

Position Duties

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this classification is:
Equivalent to graduation from a four year college or university with major course work in city or regional planning, urban planning, or a closely related field and five (5) years of responsible and complex planning experience. Experience in dealing with citizen participation-based planning efforts and citizen boards and commissions is desirable.

Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Berkeley to meet the program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, maintenance of a valid California driver's license and satisfactory driving record is required.

Minimum Qualifications

Applications must be received by January 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM Pacific and must include a completed application. Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application. 

Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to . Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format. 

Other Qualifications

The exam process will include, but may not be limited to: 

• Application review for minimum qualifications
• Written exercise (in-person, week of February 17, 2025)

Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.

Selection interviews for the current vacant position are tentatively scheduled for the week of March 10, 2025.

Reasonable Accommodations: The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to at the time of application.