Principal Planner

Salary : $127,965.55 - $155,559.66 Annually
Location : San Clemente, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2627-08
Department: PLANNING
Opening Date: 10/02/2026
Closing Date: 10/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The City of San Clemente
is excited to announce we are currently accepting applications
for the position of:
Principal Planner

Community Development/Planning
This recruitment is being held to establish an eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Principal Planner position(s) and may be used to fill positions in the Senior Planner classification, as well.
The City of San Clemente is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and solutions-oriented planning professional to join our Community Development team as Principal Planner.
This position plays a key leadership role in the Planning Division and supports complex current and advanced planning projects, development review, environmental review, land use policy, public hearings, staff supervision, and coordination with applicants, residents, consultants, City departments, the Planning Commission, and City Council.
This is a great opportunity for a seasoned planning professional who is ready to lead complex projects, mentor staff, provide high-quality technical analysis, and help guide thoughtful development and long-range planning efforts in one of Southern California's most beautiful coastal communities.

Essential Functions

1. Oversee, coordinate and perform current and advanced professional planning functions, including preparing environmental impact reports, conducting planning studies on complex development projects, and coordinating capital improvement projects.
2. Serve as project manager for large and complex current and advanced planning projects involving city land use policy; manage multiple contracts.
3. Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of staff responsible for planning and development projects.
4. Oversee and participate in assisting the public at the front counter; receive, review and process development applications and proposals; confer with and advise contractors, developers, architects, engineers and the general public; prepare reports on recommendations.
5. Oversee and conduct field inspections; review development sites to ensure code compliance related to sign, landscape, screening, irrigation and parking; recommend improvement and rehabilitation programs; follow-up to ensure compliance.
6. Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; implement approved policies and procedures.
7. Assist in administering the City's General Plan; recommend historical preservation and archaeological goals, policies and standards; prepare General Plan Amendments for the Council.
8. Establish schedules and methods for providing planning and development services; identify resource needs; review needs with appropriate management staff; allocate resources accordingly.
9. Participate in the selection of planning staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
10. Participate in contract bidding process; assist in preparing requests for proposals, evaluating bids and conducting interviews; negotiate and monitor contract agreements.
11. Draft new city ordinances governing land use and development.
12. Provide staff assistance on the Planning Commission; prepare reports and recommendations on planning and development projects.
13. Participate in the preparation and administration of the Planning Division budget; submit budget recommendations; monitor expenditures.

Typical Qualifications
IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The ideal candidate is a seasoned planning professional with strong experience in municipal planning, development review, land use policy, environmental review, public hearings, and staff supervision. They are comfortable managing complex and sensitive projects, interpreting planning and zoning regulations, preparing clear and defensive recommendations, and communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences.
The successful candidate will be someone who can balance technical planning requirements, community expectations, customer service, legal defensibility, and San Clemente's unique coastal character. They should be able to lead with sound judgment, professionalism, and a steady, solutions-focused approach.
The ideal candidate will also:

• Have strong knowledge of current planning, advanced planning, zoning, land use, environmental review, design review, and municipal development processes;
• Prepare clear, well-organized staff reports, findings, conditions of approval, ordinances, resolutions, and public hearing materials;
• Effectively present complex planning information to the Planning Commission, City Council, community groups, applicants, and the public;
• Manage complex development applications, planning studies, consultant contracts, schedules, and competing priorities;
• Supervise, mentor, train, and review the work of professional, technical, and support staff
• Communicate professionally with applicants, residents, developers, architects, engineers, consultants, staff, commissioners, and elected officials;
• Exercise good judgment when responding to difficult, sensitive, or high--visibility planning issues;
• Support consistency, fairness, transparency, and defensible decision-making in the development review process; and
• Bring a collaborative and thoughtful approach to supporting the City's planning goals, community character, and long-term vision.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience:

Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in urban planning, regional planning or urban design.
Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, geography, architecture, public administration, business management or a related field.
License or Certificate:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California Class C driver's license, by date of appointment.
For more information about the position, you can review the full Classification Specification:

Supplemental Information
All applicants must submit a completed City of San Clemente application form and supplemental questionnaire in order to be considered. Applications will not be accepted by fax or email.

Applications must be submitted via the City's web site at

Prior to employment, the prospective candidate must successfully complete a background review, medical examination, including drug screen, and be fingerprinted, all at City expense. If selected, acceptable identification showing entitlement to legally work in the United States will be required.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Applications and Supplemental Questions will be reviewed and evaluated for relevant education and experience.
• Candidates considered to have the best qualifications will be invited to participate in the selection process.
• The selection process will consist of an Oral Interview weighted at 100%.
• An eligibility list will be established and may be used to fill future vacancies for Principal Planner, as well as, Senior Planner classifications.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Cara Morin at (949) 361-8203 or

The City of San Clemente provides excellent benefits which include:

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE - Most positions work a 9/80 work schedule.

HOLIDAYS - The City presently recognizes 12 regular holidays, plus two 8 hour floating holidays.

VACATION - Employees accumulate vacation at the rate of 120 hours per year increasing to a maximum of 180 hours based on years of service.

ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE - Employees in this position are granted 64 hours per year.

SICK LEAVE - Accrual of 8 hours per month.

INSURANCE - The City provides a comprehensive benefit package including employee medical, dental, vision, short-term, and long-term disability insurance.

LIFE INSURANCE - Value equal to two times annual earnings up to a maximum of $200,000.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION - Employees may defer up to a maximum of $24,500 annually. Individuals aged 50 and older can contribute up to $8,000 in catch-up contributions to these plans.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT - Employees may participate in either or both of the Health Care or Dependent Care programs.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - The City offers full-time employees and their dependents an EAP program which provides a variety of professional services.
RETIREMENT - The City of San Clemente is a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), and is subject to the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA). The retirement formula for new employees is based on the category below that the new employee falls under. Employee contribution rates will be determined by the employee's classification and requirements under PEPRA.
NOTE:The City is also a member of the Social Security system. As such, Full Time employees make contributions to Social Security in addition to their CalPERS contributions.

Classic Member:

Retirement Formula: 2% @ 55

Definition:

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the PEPRA definition of a "new member" as "classic members" who are subject to the Public Employees' Retirement Law (PERL). PEPRA allows a member after January 1, 2013, to retain his/her classic member retirement benefit status if the member continues his/her membership in all previous California Public Retirement System(s) by leaving his/her service credit and contributions (if any) on deposit, and the member enters into employment that results in CalPERS membership within six months of separating from the most recent California Public Retirement System. Classic member status also requires the membership date to be on or before December 31, 2012, in a California Public Retirement System in which reciprocity is established.
New Member:

Retirement Formula: 2% @ 62

Definition: A new member is defined in PEPRA as any of the following:
• A new hire who is brought into CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
• A new hire who is brought into CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, who has a break in service of greater than six months with another California Public Retirement System that is subject to Reciprocity.
• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, who is rehired by a different CalPERS employer after a break in service of greater than six months.
01

Please describe your professional planning experience, including your experience with current planning, advanced planning, development review, zoning interpretation, environmental review, or land use policy.
02

Describe your experience preparing staff reports, findings, conditions of approval, ordinances, resolutions, or other public hearing materials.
03

Please describe your experience supervising, mentoring, training, or reviewing the work of planning staff.
04

The eligible list established during this recruitment may also be used to fill positions at the Senior Planner level. The Senior Planner position pays $53.15-$64.60 and the job description can be found here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sanclemente/classspecs/1096524?keywords=senior%20planner&pagetype=classSpecifications. Are you interested in being considered for the Senior Planner position, as well?

• Yes
• No

Required Question