The City of Corona has an exciting opportunity to join our Planning and Development Department as a Senior Planner. The Planning and Development Department is a high-functioning department that includes the Planning Division, Development Services Division, and Plan Check and Inspections Division. The Department uses advanced technology to perform daily operations in order to meet the services demands from the public regarding processes and procedures related to development permit applications. The Department also uses data to measure its performance to ensure turnaround times on permit applications are meeting the Department’s established goals. If you are an individual who loves taking on challenges, making a difference, leading a team and thrives in a fun, fast paced environment, then please don’t hesitate - apply today!

Education/Training/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, architecture, environmental design, public administration, or a related field.
• Five years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience, including one year experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Skills/Abilities:

• Serves as project manager for complex planning projects, including analyzing and evaluating site and architectural plans, performing technical review for project plans and applications, and making recommendations.
• Interprets and applies federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations to ensure public and private projects are in compliance, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Subdivision Map Act, Public Resource Code, General Plan, Specific Plans, Design Specifications, and Local Guidelines.
• Prepare annual reports for state agencies including but not limited to Annual Progress Reports (APR), Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) Reports, and Housing Unit Surveys.
• Coordinate with city consultant to oversee annual surface mining inspections for compliance with local regulations and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA).
• Monitor and manage the city’s Commercial Cannabis Program under the direction of the Planning Manager.
• Makes recommendations on development permits, special use permits, variances, tentative tract maps, planned development permits, and other zoning applications; identifies appropriate land use policy, design issues, and environmental requirements; makes recommendations for action. .
• Gathers, analyzes, and presents data on a varied range of urban planning matters in the form of written, graphic, or oral reports for use by the Director, Planning Commission, City Council, or special committees.
• Provides technical and functional direction and training to assigned staff; reviews and controls quality of work; inspects and evaluates work in progress and upon completion to ensure work is performed in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and City policies and procedures.
• Represents the Planning and Development Department at public meetings and presents planning and zoning matters to the Planning Commission and citizen committees; advises and assists Planning regarding community planning issues and problems, pending cases, and the application of established City policies and ordinances.

Characteristics:

• An upbeat attitude, eager to participate.
• A passion for producing outstanding quality of work.
• A high performing, genuine, authentic individual with a good sense of humor.
• Ability to build and maintain the trust of coworkers, subordinates, and city staff.
• A genuine interest in supporting the employees.

This position is FLSA Non-Exempt, eligible for overtime compensation.

Application Process:

Applications will be accepted until Sunday, May 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as the recruitment may close at any time without notice. The selection process will consist of a review and evaluation of all applicants' qualifications. Those applicants deemed to possess the qualifications will be invited to participate in the oral interview. The top scoring candidates from the oral interview will be placed on an eligibility list from which the department may hire. The eligibility list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill the current and/or additional vacancies throughout the City. The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference / background check including livescan and pass a pre-employment medical examination (which will include a drug/alcohol screening).

THE COMMUNITY:

A City whose heritage spans more than a century, the City of Corona, located in Riverside County, California, encompasses around 40 square miles and has a vibrant, culturally diverse population of approximately 168,100 residents. Residents of Corona enjoy a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities that provide a first-rate quality of life for its residents and visitors. Within an hour's travel time, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy such winter activities as snowboarding and skiing and such summer activities as surfing, boating, or simply relaxing on a beach. Corona's economy is strong and getting stronger; more than 84,000 people work here. Our retail, commercial, and housing areas are expanding, and office development continues to be strong.

THE ORGANIZATION:

The City of Corona is a General Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. Policymaking and legislative authority is vested in the City Council, consisting of a Mayor and four Council Members. Members of the City Council are elected by District to a four-year term. The Mayor is selected by the Council and serves as the presiding officer for one year.

The City is organized into the following departments/organizational units: Community Services, City Manager’s Office, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Risk Management, Police, Planning & Development, Public Works and Utilities. Oversight of these departments is divided between the City Manager and two Assistant City Managers.

The City's total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is $ 399.1 million with a General Fund operating budget of $ 209.6 million. Corona enjoys a workforce of 922 dedicated employees who provide high quality services to its residents and visitors each day.

To view the essential duties and responsibilities, please click here.

To view the qualification guidelines, please click here.

To view the physical/mental demands and work environment, please click here.