Planner (Principal)

Job Description:

Planner (Principal)

Description

The Department of Resource Management is a comprehensive agency comprised of the Public Works, Building and Safety, Planning Services, Environmental Health Services, Parks, and Administrative Services Divisions. The department provides for the well-being of Solano County's present and future residents and the public at-large through administration and enforcement of Federal, State, and Local laws and policies pertaining to transportation, building construction, land use planning environmental health, and recreation.
The Planning Division works to enhance the quality of life by protecting agriculture and the natural and built environment while ensuring orderly growth, balancing conservation and development, involving the public in decision-making, and providing exceptional customer service.

Click here to learn more about the Resource Management Department

THE POSITION :

The Planning (Principal) is responsible to supervise the work of subordinate personnel involved with the preparation of current planning and/or long-range planning projects. The incumbent manages a major unit in the Department of Environmental Management; and serves as a member of the department's management/supervisory team.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE :

The Principal Planner supervises and participates in the most advanced, highly complex and controversial planning projects that the Division oversees. The ideal candidate will be a proactive, vibrant, and a solutions/detail-oriented leader who demonstrates knowledge of both current and advanced planning procedures and practices, current software, state and federal environmental review requirements, and the function of a planning division at an expert level. The individual will have a depth of experience preparing and presenting reports and recommendations to Airport Land Use Commissions, Planning Commissions, Boards of Supervisors and other outside agencies.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable with managing concurrent complex current and advanced planning assignments, administrative responsibilities, providing leadership to junior planning staff and have a depth of knowledge in overseeing the preparation of environmental documents in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The individual will possess established public presentation skills and the ability to produce professional quality staff reports. Strong writing and verbal communication skills are required as the Principal Planner will regularly make presentations, respond to inquiries, and synthesize/translate complex technical planning information for less technical decision makers and the public-at-large. The ideal candidate will be passionate about providing professional planning services, will have a sense of urgency, will be committed to providing quality service for the community, and possess a desire to support and help build a strong and efficient planning division. The individual will be a self-motivated and independent worker with excellent interpersonal skills to liaise with the County Board of Supervisors, Planning Commissioners outside agencies/other stakeholders, and organize / facilitate public meetings.

The Solano County Planning Services Division is a vibrant, team-oriented work environment offering an intriguing opportunity to guide the current and future development of Solano County. Principal Planners will gain a broad range of experience and the satisfaction of guiding projects from inception to completion. Persons with a high level of integrity, ability to keep composed in all settings, and who work well with colleagues, junior staff and clients of all types, are desired.

The ideal Principal Planner candidate is collaborative, inclusive, possesses excellent time management/problem solving skills, and is committed to exceptional customer service, to both internal and external customers. The individual will bring a positive attitude, a sense of humor, exercise thoughtful decision-making and provide defensible recommendations to the Planning Manager and Senior Management.

With your extensive background in complex planning and leadership, we are confident you will be a crucial asset to Solano County. We look forward to your proactive, collaborative approach in guiding the County’s Current Planning projects and developing effective solutions for our community. The County is excited to welcome a new Principal Planner to our team and the valuable contributions you will make in this key position.. Come join the Solano County Planning Division!
POSITION REQUIREMENTS :
Experience: Five years of progressively responsible public planning experience which includes extensive public contact associated with long range planning and/or current planning and policy development.

Education/Training: A Bachelor’s degree is required from an accredited college or university, in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Economics, or Geography or a related field.

A Master’s degree in urban planning can be substituted for one year of experience.

The eligible list created as a result of this recruitment will be used to fill full-time and part-time regular, limited-term or extra-help positions as vacancies occur throughout the County.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS :

Possession of or ability to obtain a valid California Class C driver's license is required.

Incumbents must as a condition of employment comply with Section 81000 et seq the California Government Code relating to conflict of interest reporting.

Click here for the Planning (Principal) job description

SELECTION PROCESS :
04/16/26 5:00pm - Deadline to submit application and required documents for first application review.

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the qualified applicants may be invited for further examination and will either be pre-scheduled by the Department of Human Resources or be invited to self-schedule. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination . Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a supplemental questionnaire assessment, a written and/or practical exam, an oral board exam, or any combination listed. Responses to supplemental questions may be used as screening and testing mechanisms and will be used to assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the process; as such, responses to supplemental questions should be treated as test examination responses. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

A minimum score of 70% is required to continue in the selection process, unless otherwise announced.

All potential new hires and employees considered for promotion to management, confidential positions or unrepresented positions will be subject to a background and reference check after contingent job offer is accepted. These provisions are subject to change.

RETIREES - Solano County invites all qualified candidates to apply for positions; however pursuant to Government Code Section 21221(h) and 21224, hiring restrictions may apply to California Public Sector Pension Plan Retirees.

HOW TO APPLY :
Applications must be submitted through the NeoGOV system. Paper copies of applications are not accepted. All additional application materials as requested in the job announcement (e.g.: degree/transcripts, certificates, licenses, DD-214, ADA Accommodation Request, etc.) must be submitted by the date indicated above. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of completing the application. You will be evaluated based on the information provided on the application. Please ensure any experience you believe qualifies you for the job is reflected in your application’s employment history. When completing employment details and/or responding to supplemental questions, do not write “see resume,” as resumes will not be reviewed and this will be considered an incomplete application.

Previously submitted application materials (e.g., copies of diploma and/or transcripts, etc.) for prior recruitments will not be applied for this recruitment but must be re-submitted for this recruitment.

Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources at (707) 784-1113, business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EOE/AA

Please note that all dates/times listed in the job announcement are Pacific Time.

DOCUMENT SUBMITTAL
A Bachelor’s degree is required for this position. All candidates are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of their college diploma (verifying the degree, date earned and area of specialization) or official/unofficial transcripts (verifying institution, student, date, degree and area of specialization conferred) by the application review deadline. Candidates who fail to submit their diploma or transcripts by the application review deadline may be disqualified from the recruitment.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: Candidates who attended a college or university that is accredited by a foreign or non-U.S. accrediting agency must have their educational units evaluated by an educational evaluation service. The result must be submitted to the Human Resources Department no later than the close of the recruitment. Please contact the local college or university to learn where this service can be obtained.

How to Submit Your Documents

In addition to uploading attachments when applying online, candidates may submit documents by fax to (707) 784-3424, or by email to [email protected]. Be sure to include the recruitment title: Planner (Principal) and the recruitment number (26-355010-01) in the subject line of your email or fax.

Veteran’s Preference Points :
To be eligible, applicant must have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. A COPY OF THE DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE (GENERALLY COPY 4), MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BY THE APPLICATION REVIEW DEADLINE.

Applicants who have a service connected disability must also submit a recent award letter from the VA stating they are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons.

Veteran applicants for initial County employment with an honorable or general under conditions discharge shall receive five (5) points added to their combined score. Disabled veterans rated at not less than 30% disability shall have ten (10) points added to their combined score. Veteran’s preference points will only be added to passing scores in competitive open examinations.

We offer a benefits package to employees which includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, holidays, vacation, and sick leave

To learn more, view our benefits summary .

Salary:

$5,150.32 - $6,260.25 Biweekly