Principal Planner

Salary : $139,526.40 - $169,624.00 Annually
Location : Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-016
Department: Community Planning & Building
Opening Date: 11/06/2026
Closing Date: 12/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Principal Planner

Salary:$67.08 - $81.55 per hour DOE + excellent benefits

Application Deadline:

DATE: December 6, 2026
As the Principal Planner, you will play a defining role in maintaining the unique charm and character of this square-mile jewel while navigating modern planning challenges. Managing high-level urban planning initiatives, environmental reviews, and policy development, you will serve as a key advisor to the Community Planning & Building Director, the Planning Commission, and the City Council.
If you are a seasoned urban planning professional looking to apply your expertise in a place where history, architecture, and natural beauty intersect, your next chapter starts here.
What You Will Do

• Lead Complex Projects: Oversee the review and processing of major discretionary permits, environmental impact reports (CEQA), and complex development designs.

• Shape Long-Range Policy: Drive updates to the General Plan, Local Coastal Program (LCP), and municipal zoning ordinances to meet modern housing and environmental mandates while protecting local history.

• Champion Historic Preservation: Serve as a core guardian of the City's unique architectural heritage, ensuring new designs honor the village's historic character.

• Engage the Community: Act as a primary liaison to the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Committee, delivering clear, objective, and legally sound presentations.

• Mentor Future Leaders: Provide guidance, technical expertise, and mentorship to assistant and associate planning staff.

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Who You Are

• An Expert Navigator: You have a deep understanding of California Planning Law, CEQA guidelines, and the California Coastal Act.
• A Master Communicator: You can break down complex zoning codes into accessible language for residents, architects, and elected officials alike.

• An Analytical Thinker: You balance a sharp eye for design and historic preservation with strict adherence to regulatory standards.

• A Collaborative Partner: You thrive in an environment that values public input, active listening, and creative problem-solving.

Examples of Duties

• Plan and direct professional, administrative, technical and/or consultant staff engaged in various planning and environmental review and assessment activities.
• Develop policies, plans, programs, and procedures to meet mandated state and federal guidelines.
• Represent the department and deliver presentations at public hearings before the City Council, Planning Commission, the community, the county, and state and federal agency meetings, workshops and/or conferences.
• Oversee highly complex studies and initiatives, exceptionally large and potentially controversial projects or long-term projects with significant economic consequences to include preparation of required documents.
• Interpret planning programs, environmental law, regulatory requirements and related ordinances to the department head, City Council, and the public.
• Participate in the development of program and project budgets; participate in forecasting funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitor and approve expenditures; recommend adjustments when necessary.
• Oversee and participate in planning studies in the community to gather data for evaluating current and advance planning projects and issues including environmental assessments, the general plan, regional or local area planning issues, or other related topics; interpret social, economic, population, and land use data and trends.
• Oversee revisions and updates to the General Plan and various ordinances for review and action by the Planning Commission and the City Council.
• Perform extensive research regarding implementation of policies established by the general plan, zoning ordinance, or other land use and development ordinances; interpret and apply laws and regulations to ensure the compliance of City development projects with municipal code amendments.
• Oversee the review and analysis of development plans, site plans, building plans, tract maps, and other subdivision proposals for compliance with the general plan, zoning and City regulations, requirements, and policies.
• Confer with engineers, developers, architects, a variety of agencies and the general public in acquiring information and coordinating planning and zoning matters.
• Perform public relations and outreach work related to planning activities; organize and conduct committee meetings and community workshops on planning matters; assist the public in understanding local ordinances and guidelines related to land use, zoning, and design.
• Oversee the review of proposed subdivisions for conformance with the Subdivision Map Act.
• Develop and issue Requests for Proposals of consultant bids for planning studies and environmental impact reports; negotiate and monitor consultant contracts, including budget conformance and delivery of consulting services.
• Coordinate planning activities with other City departments and divisions and with outside agencies; represent the City at various regional and government agency meetings; serve on regional technical advisory committees; coordinate with staff representing regional agencies and special districts on issues related to the City.
• Select, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Act in the absence of the Community Planning and Building Director.
• Other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

Experience: Five years of responsible professional urban planning experience.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, environmental planning, public administration, or a related field. A Master's degree is desirable.

License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Special Requirements:
Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

Ability to work in a standard office environment and to operate computer and other office equipment; ability to attend some evening and/or weekend meetings; ability to travel to different sites; some exposure to the outdoors.

Job Related and Essential Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, policies, and procedures related to urban planning, environmental regulations, and community development.
• Principles and practices of governmental planning in urban and urbanizing areas.
• The State Planning, Zoning, and Land Use laws, Subdivision Map Act, California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and pertinent City and County ordinances.
• General provisions of State and Federal regulatory requirements pertaining to the environment, including but not limited to the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, State and Federal Endangered Species Acts, the State and Federal Clean Water Acts, and State and Federal Clean Air Acts.
• Operations, services, and activities of a municipal planning program.
• Current principles and practices, technical legal issues, and research methods related to municipal planning, zoning, urban economics, demographics, and environmental management.
• Effective technical report preparation and presentation including graphic communication, illustration, and presentation techniques.
• Recent developments, current literature and sources of information related to municipal planning and administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Budgeting development and monitoring procedures.
• Computer hardware and software used for word processing, graphic presentation, mapping and database management.
• Safe driving principles and practices.
• General principles of construction as they apply to design review and developing alternative approaches to comply with local standards and guidelines.

Skill to:

• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.

Ability to:

• Exercise independent judgment and initiative to determine methods and procedures within broadly defined practices.
• Oversee, review, and evaluate the work of planning staff and review the work of consultants.
• Oversee and prepare comprehensive planning reports.
• Oversee the collection, analysis and interpretation of data pertaining to planning, environmental, land use, and zoning issues in a complex urban area.
• Analyze site design, terrain constraints, circulation, land use compatibility, utilities and other urban services.
• Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public.
• Effectively oversee and administer a variety of land use and development programs and activities.
• Initiate and develop policies related to land use and community development.
• Identify and respond to public, Planning Commission, and City Council issues and concerns.
• Effectively present complex policy questions, alternatives and recommended solutions to elected officials, commissions, and community groups.
• Interpret and apply pertinent laws, rules and regulations and ensure project compliance with Federal, State and local rules, laws, and regulations.
• Oversee the analysis and compilation of technical and statistical information, reports, statements, and correspondence.
• Select, train, oversee, and evaluate professional and/or technical staff; resolve disciplinary issues.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Supplemental Information
To be considered for this career opportunity, you must submit a complete online application through NEOGOV. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a complete online application. Incomplete applications will be rejected. Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria in this job announcement. Applicants with the most relevant qualification will be invited to interview.
City of Carmel-by-the-Sea offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including: health care, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), dental and vision care, life insurance, long-term disability insurance (optional, employee paid), CalPERS pension, holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plans, and more!

To learn more about the benefits, please review the
01

The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the supplemental questions. The information you provide will be verified and documentation may be required. Please be as honest and accurate as possible. You may be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a work sample or during an interview. By completing this supplemental questionnaire you are attesting that the information you have provided is accurate. Any misstatements, omissions, or falsification of information may eliminate you from consideration or result in dismissal.

• Yes, I understand and agree
• No, I do not agree

02

This position requires possession and continued maintenance of a valid California driver's license. Please select your current license status:

• I have a valid California driver's license.
• I have a valid driver's license issued by another state. I understand that I will be required to obtain a California driver's license prior to appointment, as a condition of employment, if selected for this position.
• I do not currently possess a valid driver's license. I understand that I do not meet the requirements for this position and that this response will eliminate my application from consideration.

03

Do you have experience managing or supervising staff?

• Yes
• No

04

Please describe your knowledge and/or experience of applicable agencies, laws, codes, and regulations related to Advanced and/or Current Planning. Please be thorough with your response as answers to this question may make you more competitive against other candidates in this recruitment. If you do not possess this knowledge or experience, please write "N/A."
05

Based on the salary range for this position and your qualifications and experience, what is your salary expectation?
Required Question