Understanding that people are the foundation for success, the City of Irvine offers a workplace culture that embraces Humility, Innovation, Empathy, Passion, and Integrity. Apply your passion for public service in the City of Irvine, nationally ranked for safety, educational institutions, business enterprises, and quality of life, by joining our One Irvine team!

The City of Irvine seeks a Principal Planner to manage multiple complex current and long-range projects while guiding a knowledgeable team of professional planners. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and excel at multitasking, this is a great opportunity for you!

Your Impact

• Manage complex projects and ensure City compliance with state and federal laws, guidelines, and standards governing planning activities.
• Identify potential problems and recommend viable options and solutions on planning matters to policymakers, management, and interested parties.
• Develop and create pragmatic solutions to problems.
• Support staff's professional growth in various ways, including, but not limited to, annual performance reviews, staff meeting topics, and review and comment on project deliverables such as comment letters and staff reports.
• Present to community stakeholders, City Council, elected officials, or other professionals.
• Find additional information within the Principal Planner job description.

Best Fit

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is desirable.
• At least one year of supervisory experience is ideal.
• Strong background in general plan/zoning policy development and implementation.
• Experience with managing municipal budgets.
• Ability to think strategically and make independent decisions to meet the City's goals and objectives.
• Ability to provide a high level of expertise to complex and politically sensitive planning projects.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to foster and develop a high-performing team and a positive work environment.
• Have a proven track record of outstanding customer service, situational awareness, communication, and relationship building.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Economics, Geography, Public Administration, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Six years of professional planning experience.
• A valid California driver's license.

Your Team

The Community Development Department plans, implements, and enforces construction development standards and performance criteria that facilitate the creation and maintenance of a built environment that is safe, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing. The department consists of two primary divisions - Planning & Development Services and Building & Safety – with support functions for each provided through the Community Development Assistance Center.

The Community Development Assistance Center (CDAC) acts as a one-stop shop for businesses, developers, and anyone interested in development projects in Irvine. They provide information and resources to help people make informed decisions about building, expanding, or altering structures in the City. The CDAC also facilitates the submittal and processing of planning and permit applications, as well as the processing and issuance of business licenses.

Planning & Development Services oversees current and long-range development planning for the City. The division develops, maintains, and implements the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance policies and standards, including the adopted Traffic Study Guidelines and other planning documents. The division is responsible for reviewing and processing all development applications and permits, reviewing and analyzing all transportation-related issues for development projects, assisting residents, businesses and developers on all land use and transportation-related planning and zoning inquiries, and coordinating regional and interagency planning efforts.

Building & Safety (including the Water Quality and Code Enforcement sections) ensures that development in the City of Irvine is designed, constructed, used, and maintained in accordance with the Irvine Municipal Code, California Building Codes, and federal water quality standards. The division is responsible for reviewing and approving grading and building permit applications and associated construction documents, and for inspecting the permitted construction for conformance with the approved plans. The Code Enforcement section responds to and investigates concerns from the public regarding potential code violations, including unpermitted construction, property maintenance, unpermitted signs, and more.

The Mission of the Employees of the City of Irvine is to create and maintain a community where people can live, work, and play in an environment that is safe, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing. We are one team that exists to serve our community in the continual pursuit of a City that offers an exceptional quality of life.

The City of Irvine's five values of Humility, Innovation, Empathy, Passion, and Integrity reflect the interests and needs of the community, and the level of service they expect and desire. We are One Irvine through the embrace of a team-oriented approach by living our values every day.

The Process

The selection process will include an examination and conduct a background investigation prior to appointment. This recruitment may establish an eligibility list to fill future positions in similar and/or lower classifications within the organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We encourage you to inform Human Resources at least two business days prior to the first phase of the selection process if you have a disability that may require an accommodation.