Junior Planner

City of Sacramento • Full-time • Sacramento, CA, US • 2w ago

THE POSITION

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The Community Development Department is seeking a Junior Planner to join the Environmental Planning Section. The position will assist in the environmental evaluation of development projects, both public and private, for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The position will include, under general supervision, document preparation and processing for consistent with the provisions of CEQA.

IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will be an inquisitive and motivated individual who works successfully in a team-oriented environment; values providing quality customer service; can apply critical thinking skills to unique and/or unfamiliar situations; has strong interpersonal skills and communicates effectively with others; and can effectively work with staff in other City departments, appointed and elected officials, community leaders, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders. Experience and/or understanding of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is desired.

DEFINITION

In a training capacity, to perform beginning professional duties in the compilation, analysis, and reporting of data for planning purposes.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Junior Planner is the trainee level in the professional Planner series. The class provides on-the-job training for incumbents with no previous professional planning experience. Incumbents are expected to assume progressively more responsible duties. Upon completion of a twelve-month training period, incumbents will be advanced to the next level of Assistant Planner if their training period is successful or dismissed (terminated) if performance is unacceptable.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Immediate supervision is provided by higher level departmental personnel.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Collect and compile data on a varied range of urban planning matters.
Present data in the form of written or graphic reports.
Assist in the review and analysis of proposed development projects for conformance with adopted City plans, applicable codes and ordinances, and other regulations.
Perform research on the environmental effects of proposed projects and assist in the preparation of environmental documents.
Prepare drafts of reports necessary for Federal and State grants.
Conduct on-site investigations of proposed development projects or community areas.
Respond to inquiries by the general public.
Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

Basic research of statistical methods.
Basic principles of urban planning.

Ability To

Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
Collect, compile, analyze, and report data.
Understand legislation that relates to planning.
Prepare graphic material.

Experience And Education

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning or a closely related field.

OR

Two years of paraprofessional planning experience as a Planning Technician II with the City of Sacramento.

OR

Four years of paraprofessional planning experience.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

Employees must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.

Application: (Pass/Fail) – All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline;
Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
If applicants do not list current and/or past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.
Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.
Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
If you’re requesting Veteran’s credit, a copy of your DD214 must be submitted online with your application or emailed to the Employment Office by the final filing deadline. Information regarding the use of Veteran’s credit can be found in the Civil Service Board rules under rule 4.9C.
Applicants are responsible for attaching a copy of their DD214 to each position for which they apply.
Training and Experience Exam: (Weighted 100%) – The questions located at the end of the application are the Training and Experience (T&E) Exam. Responses to the T&E questions will be rated and scored. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. The exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. When completing the T&E questions, please note:
Responses to the T&E questions must be submitted online; paper questionnaires will not be accepted.
A resume will not substitute for the information required in the T&E questions.
Eligibility: Candidates who pass the Training and Experience Test will be placed on the eligible list. The hiring department may contact candidates for interview at any time during the life of the one-year list. Candidate’s eligibility expires one year from the date of notification of a passing score for the Junior Planner examination.
Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail)– All candidates that pass the examination and are in one of the top three ranks will have their application forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.

Questions

For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:

Please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/Home/ApplicationGuide for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.
For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627.
Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website athttps://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment;
Send an email to employment@cityofsacramento.org; or
Call the Human Resources Department at (916) 808-5726

Bilingual Pay

Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? That's right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.

Pension Reform Act

The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employee's Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicant's eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Additional Information

Civil Service Rules: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/CivilServiceBoardRules62012.pdf

Union Contracts:https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/labor-agreements.html

Salary Schedule: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/SalarySchedule.pdf

01

APPLICATION: I understand my application must meet the minimum qualifications for consideration of employment with the City of Sacramento. The experience I list in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section of the employment application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum qualifications as stated on the job announcement. A resume, responses to the supplemental questions requiring a narrative response, employment history listed elsewhere in the application or attachments will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Applicant Resources Page for Screening Instructions: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment

02

PROOF OF EDUCATION: To qualify for this classification you may use any combination of education and/or experience as listed to provide required knowledge, skills, and abilities. I understand proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment if I am using education to qualify for this position. Please refer to the City of Sacramento's Proof of Education Requirements (https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment) for information on accepted documentation.

03

EDUCATION CONFIRMATION: If I am using education to qualify for this position, I attest I possess or will possess the following level of education by time of appointment if I am selected for this position.

No units from an accredited college or university
Less than 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university
60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university
Associates Degree
90 semester or 135 quarter units from an accredited college or university
Bachelors Degree
Masters Degree
Doctorate

04

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE: The answers to the questions below will be reviewed by the hiring department along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of completing this Supplemental Questionnaire. Lack of clarity, incomplete or inconsistent information, and/or disorganized presentation may negatively affect the hiring department's review of your Supplemental Questionnaire. I understand and agree to the above instructions.

05

Describe any experience, including job duties, intern duties, volunteer opportunities, and schoolwork that you have had that demonstrate your knowledge of urban planning and environmental review.

06

Describe your experience with customer service and working with the public.

07

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION: The following questions are the Training and Experience (T&E) Examination. In addition to the City of Sacramento employment application, applicants must complete and submit online responses to the T&E questions. This exam will evaluate the relevance, level, and progression of a candidate's education, training and experience. Therefore, your responses to the T&E Exam questions should be thorough and complete because the exam score will determine your ranking on the eligible list for this job. In accordance with the City of Sacramento's Racial and Gender Equity Action Plan (RGEAP), this examination contains non-binary names and pronouns. For additional information regarding the City's RGEAP, please copy and paste the following link into a web browser: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/Divisions/ode/workforce-equity-documents/Full-RGEAP.pdf I understand and agree to the above instructions.

08

Select the one option that best describes your education and/or experience collecting and compiling data for a planning project or assignment.

Four years or more
At least three years, but less than four years
At least two years, but less than three years
At least one year, but less than two years
Less than one year

09

Select the one option that best describes your experience and/or education communicating technical information to the public, classmates, or colleagues via phone, email, or in person.

Four years or more
At least three years, but less than four years
At least two years, but less than three years
At least one year, but less than two years
Less than one year

10

Select the one option that best describes your experience and/or education presenting urban planning and/or environmental data to a supervisor, teacher, class, or group.

Four years or more
At least three years, but less than four years
At least two years, but less than three years
At least one year, but less than two years
Less than one year

11

Select all the boxes that best describes the legislation, regulations, ordinances and/or guidelines you have experience applying to planning projects.