JOB
Shape the Future of Our Community Through Thoughtful, Purposeful City Planning
The City is seeking a skilled and dedicated Associate Planner to join our Community Development Department - a professional ready to take on a meaningful and multifaceted role at the intersection of policy, people, and place.
In this position, you will serve as a vital link between project applicants, City departments, and the community we serve. Your work will span the full breadth of professional planning tasks - from technical reviews of land use and permit applications to complex, high-visibility projects requiring independent judgment and careful coordination across multiple stakeholders. Responsibilities may extend to complex development projects, zoning code amendments, general plan amendments, and environmental review, as well as presentations before the various advisory bodies and City Council.
We are looking for a candidate who brings demonstrated experience in development review evaluation, environmental documentation review, and staff report preparation, along with a proven ability to present findings clearly and confidently before advisory bodies and elected officials. Equally important are the professional qualities that define an effective planner: precise attention to detail, strong communication skills, a collaborative approach, and the ability to uphold City policies and regulations with consistency and integrity — even when they may not align with one's own perspectives.
This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the long-term vision and day-to-day function of our City, through work that is both technically rigorous and genuinely impactful. We invite qualified professionals to explore this opportunity further.
If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, so please hold that date.
JOB SUMMARY:
To perform a variety of diverse professional planning assignments; to perform technical reviews and evaluations of land use and permit applications, environmental impact documents, and construction projects; to provide project management over moderate to large long-term City projects with high visibility. Incumbents in this class are assigned a broad range of planning assignments from short-term and moderately sized projects to the most difficult and complex planning projects with great latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Responsibility areas can include advanced planning activities, general plan amendments, project design, and complex as well as routine current planning projects.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:
This is the experienced, journey level of classification in the professional planning series. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:
Employees in this classification receive general supervision within a framework of standard policies and procedures.
Employees in this classification monitor and direct the work of technical, clerical, and professional planning personnel in the accomplishment of specific projects. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor's degree in planning or a related field;
and
Three years of professional planning experience;
or
An equivalent combination of education and experience (a maximum of six months as a Planning Intern for the City of San Luis Obispo may be counted towards the planning experience requirement – the six months shall be counted as actual work hours, not duration of the internship, i.e., six months at full time or 12 months at half-time.)
THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE A FINAL OFFER IS MADE:
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Live Scan Fingerprinting (DOJ)
