The Port of San Diego is an innovative, global seaport courageously supporting commerce, fisheries, recreation, navigation, community, and the environment. We are excited to offer an opportunity if you are interested in enriching the relationship people and business have with the dynamic waterfront of San Diego Bay, providing prosperity and a more remarkable way of life.
We are seeking a self-motivated Senior Planner to join the Planning Department, to help advance long-range planning initiatives that create and support a well-planned and integrated waterfront and help guide the development and management of the lands in and around San Diego Bay. Qualified candidates must be able to demonstrate excellence in customer service, transparency, and humility, while balancing development and protection of the environment. The Senior Planner position will be assigned long-range planning functions of moderate to high complexity/controversy, and must be able to adapt and remain versatile in a dynamic work environment. The candidate must have familiarity with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be able to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders and the public. Familiarity with the California Coastal Act, as well as experience working directly with or for a public agency is a plus.
If this describes your talents and interests, and you are looking for a positive, innovative, and creative teamwork environment, this could be the job for you.
Hiring Range Negotiable Between: $91,062 - $111,096 DOE/DOQ*
DEFINITION
Under general direction, serves as a team leader or project manager over specialized current planning or long-range planning projects or programs of significant District importance, visibility, and impact in a variety of disciplines; conducts research and performs a variety of specialized and complex planning studies, projects, programs, and assignments; develops and updates comprehensive and long-range plans and associated policies and programs; plans, organizes, oversees, and evaluates the work of professional and technical staff; provides policy advice and represents the department and the Port with federal, state, and local agencies; and performs related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises direct supervision over professional-level staff.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is the advanced journey-level classification in the Planner series responsible for performing the most complex work assigned to the series. Incumbents regularly work on tasks which are varied and complex, requiring considerable discretion and independent judgment. Positions in the classification rely on experience and judgment to perform assigned duties. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to complete assignments. Work is typically reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements.
Hiring Range Negotiable Between: $91,062 - $111,096 DOE/DOQ*
The application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training, and experience relative to the required knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.
Only qualified applicants who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the assessment process which may be administered by a written examination, panel interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of Human Resources to be appropriate. The Department of Human Resources will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application.
Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.
THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT (40%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 29, 2026, AND THE APPRAISAL PANEL (60%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JULY 9, 2026.
To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/portofsd If applicable, please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded) to your application or your application may be considered incomplete and you will not move forward in the process. Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.
Placement on Eligible List:
The Department of Human Resources may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the assessment process. Candidates who are successful in all phases of the assessment process will be placed on an eligible list. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of ninety (90) days or up to one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to Rule 8, Section 4.
- Depends on experience/Depends on qualifications.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The District firmly believes in, and is committed to, the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. It is the policy of the District to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to age (40 and above), ancestry, color, disability (mental or physical), gender (including identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth), marital status, medical condition, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
When assigned to an office environment, must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone; ability to stand and walk between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
When assigned to field inspection, must possess mobility to work in changing site conditions; possess the strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light to medium physical work; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, and bend, to climb and descend ladders; and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various Port sites; vision to inspect site conditions and work in progress. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards, with exposure to hazardous materials in some site locations. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects averaging a weight of 20 pounds, or heavier weights, in all cases with the use of proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees also work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
