Associate Planner

Salary : $82,572.00 - $110,724.00 Annually
Location : Oceanside, CA, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2627-23
Department: Development Services
Opening Date: 09/17/2026
Closing Date: 10/16/2026 4:00 PM Pacific

The City of Oceanside is accepting applications for the position of Associate Planner. There is currently one vacancy in the Planning Division within the Development Services Department. This position offers the ability to work on a variety of complex development projects ranging in complexity form single entitlement to multi-entitlement with environmental review ranging from categorically exempt to EIR review, in a high pace, supportive environment. The City of Oceanside offers excellent benefits and plenty of time off to rest, and relax. Please click on the benefits tab to see a detailed benefits breakdown.
Examples of Duties
The Associate Planner assists in both the overall coordination of the City's long-range planning and its implementation of guiding policies and current development efforts in project review; evaluation of application proposals and understanding of technical information; prepares written correspondence and detailed technical reports; develops and conducts research and investigations on planning problems; compiles and analyzes land use, economic, social, and environmental data; prepares written recommendations and supervises the preparation of graphic displays; processes use permits, development plans and coastal permits; provides assistance to citizen regarding zoning and land use issues; serves as staff to various City and citizen committees as assigned; presents items to Planning Commission and City Council; may coordinate and assign duties to others in the department.
Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Modern principles, practices and techniques of City planning, zoning and community development.
• Research methods as applied to the collection and analysis of data pertinent to planning, zoning and community development.
• The legal background of zoning and community development.
• Principles and practices of site design and review, geography, basic architecture and statistics.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.

Ability to:

• Analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information and prepare reports.
• Meet and deal effectively with other public officials, developers, landowners, contractors, the public and staff.
• Interpret land use, topographic, population distribution, physical and natural features maps.
• Negotiate solutions to complex development problems.
• Work with and serve as a City liaison with outside consultants.
• Prepare clear, concise and logical verbal and written reports.
• Effectively lead the work of other Planners.
• Maintain and update accurate records and files.
• Perform basic arithmetic calculations accurately.
• Work independently and efficiently to carry out assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience and Training
Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience. One (1) year of professional experience in a related field (e.g, environmental, geologic, or GIS) may be substituted for one year of planning experience.
Training: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, geography or a related field.

Note: Master's degree in planning is desirable. Full membership in American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.
Working Conditions and Selection Process
Environmental Conditions: Office environment; exposure to computer screens; extensive public contact.
Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time; speaking and hearing to exchange information; visual acuity to read and interpret specifications and drawings.
Selection Process: All properly completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Failure to provide all required application material will result in disqualification from the selection process. The process may include any combination of a written exam, oral exam, application appraisal based on training and experience, and/or skills assessment to further evaluate job related experience and skills. Candidates who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on an eligibility list and will remain eligible for employment consideration for a minimum of six months.
RESUMES ARE NOT ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS, BUT MAY BE ATTACHED.
CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A RESONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIR NEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTINIG AN APPLICATION.
THE PROVISIONS IN THIS BULLETIN DO NOT CONSITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT. ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.

Western Council of Engineers
Benefit Summary

The following is a highlight of benefits
Retirement
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)

• Employees hired after January 1, 2013 are subject to the State laws of the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) in regard to retirement benefits. Each individual's benefits may differ. Consult with Employee Benefits for further details.
• Third Level 1959 Survivor Credit
• Survivor Continuation option

Additional Retirement Credit Purchase Options

• Buy additional Service Retirement Credit
• Service Credit for unused Sick Leave
• Buy additional Military Service Credit

Health Insurance

Medical:

• Kaiser HMO
• Blue Shield HMO
• Blue Shield PPO

Dental:

• Delta Preferred Option (DPO)
• Delta Care USA (DHMO)

Vision:

• Vision Service Plan (VSP)

Pre-Tax Benefits

Health benefits are offered on a pre-tax basis and employees cannot add or delete coverage or benefits unless a qualifying event has occurred.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Anthem EAP is paid for by the City.

• Available to all members of your household
• 6 free confidential counseling visits per incident
• Self-service support online or by phone

Disability and Life Insurances

The STD/LTD/LIFE and AD&D Lincoln Financial premiums are paid for by City.
Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance:

• First 90 days - benefits paid at 55% of weekly salary to a maximum weekly benefit of $700 for non-work related disability only
• Seven day waiting period unless hospitalized
• All sick leave must be exhausted before STD is used

Long-Term Disability Insurance:

• After 90 days - benefits paid at 66.7% of monthly salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $6,000 for any disability

Life and AD&D Insurance:

• 1 times annual base salary; minimum of $30,000 and maximum of $200,000 of Basic Life & AD&D

Voluntary Benefits

Benefits are employee paid.
Supplemental Life Insurance through Lincoln:

• Premiums are determined by age
• Purchased up to a maximum $500,000 for employees
• Spousal coverage up to half the employee amount
• Dependent coverage up to $10,000

Flexible Spending Accounts through BCC:

• Utilizes a debit card as a form of payment
• Health Care Spending Account - maximum annual deferral is $3,400
• Dependent Care Spending Account - maximum annual deferral is $7,500

Deferred Compensation - 457 through Empower:

• 457 - Maximum annual pre/post-taxed amount is $24,500 for 2026; over age 50 may contribute an additional $8,000

Metlife Legal

• Telephone and office consultations are available for an unlimited number for personal legal matters with an attorney of your choice.

GotZoom Student Loan Relief

• Provides a no-obligation benefit analysis for federal student loans to identify, maximize and enroll employees into Federal Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Programs.

ScholarShare 529

• An easy to manage plan that helps make the most of your or a designated beneficiary's college savings with tax benefits.

Leave Benefits

Vacation:
All accruals are based on 80 hours in a paid status
1 - 5 years: 3.58 hours

6 - 10 years: 5.12 hours
11 - 15 years: 6.65 hours

16 + years: 8.19 hours
Maximum accrual:

• 360 hours for those hired before 7/1/95
• 300 hours for those hired 7/1/95 or after

Holidays:

• New Years' Day
• Martin Luther King Jr Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans' Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• 48 hours Floating Holidays per fiscal year

Sick Leave:

• 12 days per year

Max accrual: Unlimited
Annual Sick Leave Pay Off:

Each calendar year an employee may elect to receive a 50% payment in lieu of sick leave provided such employee has used 32 hours or less of sick leave during the calendar year.
Sick Leave pay off at separation:

Sick leave paid out depends on years of service and whether an employee retires or terminates
Bereavement Leave:

• Three days for death of employee's immediate family member
• Two additional days may be charged to sick leave upon approval

Tuition Reimbursement
$2,000 per fiscal year

Certification Pay

Provides certification pay of $2.00 per hour for employees utilizing designated certifications in the performance of their duties.
Professional Association Membership:

The City will pay for one professional association membership per employee if it provides a benefit to the member and the City.

Professional License or Registration

Upon obtaining a AICP or PTP certification, the City will reimburse employees for the cost of the certification or renewal of the certification.

Safety Shoes

The City will provide reimbursement up to $200 towards the purchase price of safety shoes to employees who are required to wear such shoes on the job.
Bilingual and Notary Pay
$1.73 per hour bilingual pay for eligible employees

$.58 per hour notary pay for eligible employees

Term of Memorandum of Understanding

Effective July 1 2024 - June 30, 2026
This is a summary of available benefits. It is not intended to provide full details of all programs. The appropriate Memorandum of Understanding, Compensation Plan and/or Benefit Plan Documents will govern any discrepancies and provide program specifics.
01

How many years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience do you have?

• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 or more years

02

How many years of experience do you have in a related field involving environmental, geologic or GIS work? You are able to substitute one (1) year of the three year Planning experience requirement with work in a related field.

• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• None of the above/Not applicable

03

What is the highest level of education have you attained?

• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• None of the above

04

In regards to the education question above, please specify what concentration your degree is in and what college/university it was received from.
05

Please describe your experience in reviewing development applications and conditional use permits. Include the number of years of experience and the employer(s) where this experience was obtained.
06

Please describe your experience in long-range planning and ordinance adoption. Include the number of years of experience and the employer(s) where this experience was gained.
07

Describe your experience preparing written correspondence, recommendations and detailed technical reports.
08

Describe your experience in compiling and analyzing land use, economic, social, and environmental data. Include the number of years of experience and the employer(s) where this experience was gained.
09

Describe your experience in making presentations to community interest groups, the Planning Commission, City Council, or similar bodies.
10

Describe your experience with CEQA, the California Coastal Commission and state agencies such as Department of Fish & Wildlife and Caltrans.
11

Please list related certification(s) or additional education and experience related to this position.
12

CERTIFICATE OF APPLICANT: I certify that all statements and information provided in this application and any attachments are true, and I understand that any false or misleading statements or omissions of material facts may forfeit right to employment considerations by the City of Oceanside.

• Yes
• No

Required Question