Community Development Assistant Jobs in California

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The City of San Bruno Assistant Community Development Director classification’s current maximum salary is $204,853 with approved increases in January 2027 (maximum salary will increase to $214,583) and in January 2028 (maximum salary will increase to $225,849).

Introduction

The City of San Bruno is seeking a visionary and experienced Assistant Community Development Director to help lead and shape the future of our community. This opportunity is ideal for a motivated professional with a passion for providing community development services to the public.  Under the general direction of the Community Development Director, this position plays a key role in advancing strategic initiatives working with the Director to lead building, code compliance, planning and housing services. 

About the Community Development Department

The Community Development Department has nineteen budgeted positions and is responsible for planning the physical development of the community and ensuring that new development and modifications to existing development are completed in compliance with City and State laws. The Department provides technical information to residents, business owners, developers, and commissions regarding local codes, ordinances, and other related issues. We are dedicated to fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking community for residents and businesses alike.

The Department has four divisions:

• Administration: Responsible for department wide management of the budget, personnel, employee engagement, technology, and major initiatives including City Council priorities for Elevate San Bruno, expanding online permitting, and leading the City Hall remodel. The department has a technology fund that provides ample resources to incorporate new technology into our service delivery.
• Building: Managed by the Chief Building Official, this division is responsible for processing building permit applications, managing consultant plan review, performing inspections, and providing customer service at the counter.
• Code Compliance: Managed by the Code Compliance Manager, this division is newly transferred to Community Development after being in the Police Department for several years. This division is responsible for code enforcement efforts to support all applicable departments in the organization.
• Planning (and Housing): Managed by the Planning Manager, this division handles current planning including the Tanforan project, long range planning including Environmental Justice Element, and Housing Element implementation, supports the Planning Commission, and provides customer service at the counter. The General Plan maintenance fund provides ample resources to fund long-range planning efforts for the community.

The Department team has a strong culture of collaboration, teamwork and positive attitudes, and takes pride in seeing the impact our work makes on the community.  This is based on feedback from anonymous polling from department staff in June 2026.

About the Role

As the Assistant Community Development Director, you will support and lead a variety of key functions within the department. This role requires a dynamic leader with extensive professional background in municipal development, land use planning, housing, building and/or code compliance services. You will oversee departmental operations, manage staff, coordinate inter-departmental initiatives, and provide expert guidance on planning projects and policy matters. 

Key responsibilities can include:

• Managing and supervising the daily operations and personnel of the department, including a new citywide program based budget process and ongoing team-building and employee engagement efforts
• Preparing and presenting reports, policies, and long-range planning initiatives to City Council, Planning Commission, and public forums
• Overseeing land use, housing, and development projects in compliance with CEQA and zoning laws, including the major redevelopment of the Tanforan mall site
• Overseeing building permitting, inspection and enforcement functions
• Expanding use of technology including expansions and improvements to online permitting, refresh of the department website, and improving data management
• Supporting the Community Development Director in strategic and operational matters

How to Succeed in this Role

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of best practices for administration and budgeting
• Strong knowledge of urban planning, housing policy, building plan review and inspection programs, and municipal codes
• Proven leadership in managing complex projects, interdisciplinary teams, and staff at different career stages
• Effective communication and collaboration with elected officials, community members, and external agencies
• The ability to interpret laws, analyze data, and recommend innovative solutions
• Commitment to service excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement
  

Minimum Qualifications 

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in land-use planning, urban planning, or a closely related field, or equivalent certifications.
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible municipal government experience, including at least two (2) years in a role similar to Planning Manager, Chief Building Official, or Code Compliance Manager in the City of San Bruno.

Licenses & Requirements

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record
• Willingness to attend evening meetings and travel for conferences and workshops

Other Desirable Skills

• Track record of strategic thinking and problem solving
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change
• Familiarity with General Plan implementation, Housing Element implementation, CEQA, development permitting and inspections
• Advanced project and budget management skills

Total Compensation

The City is proud to offer a competitive total compensation package with the following highlights:

• Wellness-focused schedule and paid time off (PTO) program
  • 4-day workweek (Monday through Thursday, 9-hours per day) with a 3-day weekend every week.
  • Approximately 80 to 184 hours of vacation per year, dependent on years of service.
  • 96 hours of sick leave per year and over 10 paid holidays.
  • 80 hours of management leave.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plan with choice of HMO or PPO program for employee and eligible dependents.
• Defined benefit retirement program through CalPERS (Classic-2.7%@55 or New/PEPRA-2.0%@62). More information is available at CalPERS.
• Deferred Compensation Section 457b plan and City match
• Education assistance including tuition reimbursement
• Employee home loan assistance program

For a listing of employee benefits, please see the Mid-Management column in our benefits summary linked here.  This position is a represented position.

How to Apply

Applications will be submitted online at BambooHR. Applications must be received by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible before the recruitment is closed. In-person panel interviews are tentatively scheduled for Thursday September 24, 2026.

The City of San Bruno utilizes a merit-based selection system. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to take part in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the position.

Equal Opportunity Statement
 The City of San Bruno is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and as such does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, gender, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin in its employment actions, decisions, policies and practices.  If you require special accommodations, please contact us to discuss your needs.