JOB
This recruitment will remain open until filled. The first review of applications is scheduled to occur for applications received before 5:00 PM on March 3, 2026, and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. This recruitment may close at any time after that date, once a sufficiently strong candidate pool has been established.Note: The job descriptions are currently being updated and are under review for final approval.This posting is a job series in which applications will be accepted, reviewed, and considered based on the qualifications listed on the application. The candidates that meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to test at the appropriate job level within the series. Only ONE APPLICATION needs to be submitted to be considered for this job series.SALARY RANGE: Planning Aide: $60,777.60 - $85,508.80 AnnuallyAssistant Planner: $75,649.60 - $106,433.60 Annually Associate Planner: $90,480.00 - $127,316.80 AnnuallyIn Huntington Beach, we believe passionately that the key to becoming the best beach City in the world starts and ends with finding the right people to join our team. At this time, we have an outstanding career opportunity available, as we're looking for the "right person" to serve as Planning Aide, Assistant Planner or Associate Planner in our Community Development Department's Permit Center Division. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and customer-focused professional with a solid foundation in planning and zoning regulations. They thrive in a public-facing environment, providing direct assistance at the Permit Center counter by answering zoning and land use inquiries, guiding applicants through submittal requirements, and ensuring a smooth permit intake process. They are motivated to learn and strengthen their skills, and gain much experience in an energetic and productive setting. In addition to strong customer service skills, the ideal candidate has hands-on experience conducting zoning plan checks for a variety of residential and commercial projects. They are proficient in reviewing plans for residential remodels, additions, custom homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and commercial tenant improvements, ensuring compliance with development standards such as setbacks, building height, lot coverage, floor area ratio, and use classifications. Experience with land management software and digital plan reviews is desired.Community Development DepartmentThe Community Development Department is comprised of two primary areas: Development Services and Community Enhancement. Development Services is comprised of the following divisions: Planning, Building, and the Permit Center. Community Enhancement is comprised of the Housing, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, and Real Estate divisions. The Planning Division is responsible for Advance (or Long Range) and Current Planning activities. Advance Planning involves updating the City’s General Plan, Local Coastal Program and Specific Plans. These documents contain goals and policies to manage long-term growth of the City and Coastal Zone. Current Planning is responsible for coordinating the review of development proposals to ensure compliance with the City’s General Plan, Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, as well as applicable Federal and State regulations. This includes processing applications for entitlements such as permits, subdivisions, and variances conducting environmental reviews, and providing plan check services. Current Planning also staffs the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and Design Review Board. The Permit Center Division is responsible for assisting residents, businesses, and developers at the front counter. Permit Center Planning staff works directly with the public, handling general processing and plan checking of ministerial permits, coordinating plan reviews, and resolving zoning-related issues in collaboration with internal departments such as Building, Public Works, and Fire.The Position The Planner series consists of five levels. The distinction amongst levels is determined according to the complexity of the work assigned, the range of supervision received and exercised, and the expertise required to perform the work at the designated level.Planning Aide – This is the entry-level classification in the Planning series. Employees assigned to this class receive explicit direction and training, develop practical experience by performing routine and standardized duties and must possess functional knowledge of the basic principles and theories required to perform the work.Assistant Planner – This is the intermediate-level classification in the Planning series. Employees assigned to this class receive general direction in performing routine work with minimal complexity in accordance with established priorities and procedures and possess knowledge of the generally accepted principles, theories, and best practices required to perform the work. Associate Planner – This is the fully trained journey-level classification in the Planning Series. Incumbents are expected to perform the full range of planning work in accordance with established priorities and procedures and possess knowledge of the generally accepted principles, theories, and best practices required to perform the work.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Participates in a variety of planning projectsResearches and investigates designated aspects of the general plan, special projects or code amendments and makes recommendations based on findingsResearches, collects and analyzes dataWrites special project reports or assigned portions of the general planPrepares environmental impact studies related to public projects including the research and analysis of pertinent informationAssists the public over the phone or at the counterResponds to incoming correspondence and assists individuals in completing various applicationsPerforms routine plan checks at the counter as they relate to zoning and subdivision requirementsPerforms plan checks, including occasional field checks, in order to ensure that plans meet zoning and ordinance requirements before submission to the City Council, Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and/or other boards or appropriate committeesCoordinates site, parking, and landscape plans as may be required and follows up on conditions of approval; checks preliminary subdivision mapsProcesses planning entitlement applications to the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, or City Council such as but not limited to Conditional Use Permits, variances and zoning text amendmentsReports to work as scheduled and works various hours, including nights and weekends as deemed necessary by manager/supervisor, to conform with changing priorities and meet deadlinesIn addition, the Assistant Planner & Associate PlannerResearches and prepares planning related reports, documents and agenda for City officials and other agencies and organizationsReviews major and minor planned development amendments, rezoning requests, land use plan amendments, entitlements and other proposalsConveys all aspects of processing entitlements for development, including environmental statusParticipates in community meetings; prepares and delivers presentations at public meetingsProvides technical assistance to project participantsCoordinates review of projects with other departments and agenciesInterprets and applies the provisions of the Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, state planning and zoning laws, California Environmental Quality Act, Subdivision Map Act, local coastal program, Huntington Beach General Plan, Design Guidelines and various specific plans, ordinances and policiesConducts special studies to draft ordinances and updates to the General PlanAssists in the development of policies and proceduresPerforms technical work related to environmental impact reportsDrafts written staff reports and recommendations with findings and conditions of approvalPrepares maps and graphics presentations for the departmentIn addition, the Associate PlannerServes as staff liaison to various committees/boardsReviews written work of other staff plannersProvides guidance to junior level staffClick here to view the full job description for Planning AideClick here to view the full job description for Assistant PlannerClick here to view the full job description for Associate Planner
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS: An online application must be fully completed.Applicants must clearly demonstrate that they meet the minimum education, experience, license and/or certification requirements to be considered. Applicants whose qualifications best meet the City’s needs will be invited to participate in a virtual oral examination (weighted 100%), which will be scheduled once a sufficiently strong candidate pool has been established.Selection InterviewBackground Investigation Appointment
