Associate Planner

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Associate Planner

City of Sunnyvale Sunnyvale, California, United States

Job Description:

Associate Planner

Description

Description

ASSOCIATE PLANNER
 Regular, Full-Time Employment Opportunity

Work for the City of Sunnyvale: The Heart of the Silicon Valley!

Visitors and residents enjoy Sunnyvale’s beautiful and clean setting with a mix of suburban and urban land uses, efficient, high-quality city services, low crime rate, quality schools and 18 prize-winning parks.

We are looking for an Associate Planner with strong current and/or policy planning experience to join the Planning team in Sunnyvale. Under direction of a Principal Planner or Planning Officer, the Associate Planner performs professional work including project review, public assistance at the One Stop counter, environmental review, general plan updates, plan preparation and review, long-range and land use policy studies, and plan adoption; and performs related work as required. Teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of the Planning Division. A candidate with great interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and challenging work environment is desired.

Working for the City of Sunnyvale as an Associate Planner is an opportunity to develop and grow in a collaborative, supportive and forward-thinking team environment.

Under direction of a Principal Planner or Planning Officer, performs professional work in current and long-range planning including zoning, environmental review, general plan updates, and plan preparation and review; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Associate Planner is the experienced journey-level classification in the professional Planner series in which incumbents are expected to independently perform the full scope of planning activities under direction. Associate Planner is distinguished from the higher-level classification of Senior Planner in that Senior Planner is responsible for performing more complex duties. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the Assistant level once the incumbent meets the qualification standards of the Associate level, demonstrates an ability to perform the full scope of the work, and meets performance expectations. Incumbents are not automatically promoted to the higher level; the needs of the department determine the level of assignment.

Essential Job Functions

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard.Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading reports and work related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal customer service. The need to lift, drag and push files, paper, books and documents weighing up to 25 poundsis also required. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following ways:

Associate Planner

(1) a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in urban planning, architecture or a related field; AND

Three years of city planning experience; OR

(2) a Master's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, architecture or a related field; AND

Two years of city planning experience

Assistant Planner
Knowledge of:

Ability to:

Associate Planner
Knowledge of:

The above, plus:

Ability to:

Willingness to:

Attend weekend and evening meetings.

Licenses/Certificates:

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternative transportation as approved by the appointing authority and a safe driving record.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS


Application and Selection Process

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS & PROCESS

The application submitted must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job description in order to move forward in the recruitment process with the City of Sunnyvale. The information provided in the Work Experience, Education, and Certificates/Licenses sections of the application will be used to determine if the application meets the minimum qualifications. A resume, employment history provided elsewhere in the application, or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application.

Note: The minimum qualifications for experience are based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Experience included in the Work Experience section of the application is calculated to the full-time equivalent (hours are pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Volunteer experience is not considered qualifying experience.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources by Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 5:00pm or after receiving 75 qualified applications, whichever is first.

Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience, or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the City's employment page at Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click on JOBS. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS

Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position.Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the oral examination process scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026 . (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources.)

SELECTION PROCESS

Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in an in-person selection interview with the department tentatively scheduled for the week of February 9, 2026.

Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check, as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION

Any successful candidate, selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e. original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts). A candidate with education obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidate's expense to determine its equivalency in the United States. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search ‘education equivalency verification’ or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Employees Association (SEA).

For assistance on how to fill out your job application, watch the following video:
The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The City of Sunnyvale is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state, or local laws. The City of Sunnyvale is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 730-7490 or recruitments@sunnyvale.ca.gov .

Summary of Sunnyvale's Employees AssociationSEA

Notice of CFRA (California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations

Closing Date/Time: 1/22/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$54.98 - $70.17 Hourly
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