Entry Level City Planner Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description PLEASE NOTE: The City of Cudahy is currently recruiting for both Assistant Planner and Associate Planner. The recruitments will be conducted concurrently, and qualified candidates from both recruitments may be considered as part of the same selection process. The City anticipates filling one vacancy at either the Assistant Planner or Associate Planner level, depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: The first review of applications is scheduled for September 23, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by this date for first consideration. The anticipated closing date is October 5, 2026; however, the City reserves the right to close or extend the recruitment based on the needs of the City.

DEFINITION: Under close supervision, performs a variety of entry level professional duties and responsibilities in support of the city's current and advanced planning functions, processes planning applications in accordance with the city's zoning code, prepares and presents reports and recommendations, provides information and assistance to applicants, developers, consultants, the general public, and outside agencies and organizations regarding city codes, policies, standards, and processes related to planning matters, and performs other related duties as required. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This is the entry level professional classification in the planning series. Positions in this class may be filled by advancement from the less skilled class of planning technician or from the outside.

Typical work responsibilities include case writing, analysis, and public information, requiring the application of fundamental planning principles. Assignments are of moderate difficulty and within the design and procedural framework established by higher level management staff; however, as experience is acquired, the employee performs with substantial independence. As assigned responsibilities and breadth of knowledge increase with experience, assistant planners may reasonably expect their positions to be reassigned to the next higher class of associate planner upon recommendation by the community development manager.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to provide a representative list of the various types of work that may be performed. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job class, and incumbents may expect to perform other related, similar duties. Performs a variety of planning related functions, including advanced and current planning; administers and implements the zoning and Municipal Codes; reviews and processes various plans and applications for residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

Collects and evaluates information related to the application process and determines conformity with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; recommends approval or alternative approaches. Conducts project site checks and field inspections. Provides front counter and phone support.

Provides information and assistance to developers, property owners, the general public, other staff, and outside agencies regarding laws, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures related to the submission of plans, the processing of applications, and implementation requirements. Investigates and responds to complaints of zoning code violations. Serves as project manager for use permits and other public hearing cases, including receiving and filing applications, analyzing and evaluating site and architectural plans, reviewing for completeness of the application, conferring with the developer or applicant for issues, preparing staff reports and conducting environmental assessments, and determining the overall content and format of reports.

Administers the city's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, including overseeing consultant services, assisting Finance with submitting funding requests, and assisting parks and recreation with submitting quarterly information. Conducts field inspections, business license reviews, environmental assessments and provides assistance in the area of code enforcement; develops graphics, maps, and charts; collects, analyzes, and tabulates data. Prepares written correspondence, detailed reports, and other documents, such as general plan elements, specific plans, annexation studies, and demographic and census reports.

Conducts specialized surveys, studies, and plans as necessary to address a wide variety of planning and development issues. Schedules and attends formal and informal meetings relative to various planning projects or activities. Develops and maintains good working relationships with other city staff, other jurisdictions, and the public.

May act on behalf of the community development manager in his/her absence. Participates in cross training and provides back up to other staff; assists other office personnel in performing related administrative support functions; serves as a backup to other finance and/or city functions. Establishes positive working relationships with city staff and the general public.

Assumes responsibility for ensuring the duties of the position are performed in a safe and efficient manner. Performs other duties as assigned. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge of: Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program; modern principles, practices, and techniques of current and advance planning; principles and practices used in building, architecture, and engineering; development review procedures and requirements; site planning and architectural design principles; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions, and applicable environmental laws and regulations; recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development; methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation; statistical methods and research techniques applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies; methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues; customer service techniques, practices, and principles; modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications; computer related programs for mapping and data sources including Geographic Information Systems.

Ability to: Perform entry level professional planning duties of moderate difficulty in the development, implementation, and modification of city plans and regulations; apply policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process; interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including city codes and policies; and administrative directives; interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public; read, interpret, and prepare maps, graphs, charts, site plans, legal descriptions, and other descriptive material; analyze and compile statistical and technical information; develop recommendations regarding the use of property; process development applications and coordinate necessary communication between staff, developers, and other agencies; analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality; prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence; present technical data in verbal, written, graphic, and map form; effectively present information and respond to questions; work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person; deal constructively with conflict and develop effective solutions; operate modern office equipment and computers including specialized computer applications; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that may provide the required knowledge, abilities, and skills is qualifying. A typical way is graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in planning, architecture, geography, or a related field; and at least two (2) years of technical or paraprofessional planning experience in local government.

The ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable, but not required. Necessary Special Requirements: Possession of a valid Class C motor vehicle operator's license from the State of California. Supplemental Information OTHER QUALIFICATIONS: The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions on a case-by-case basis. While performing the duties of this classification, an incumbent is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to talk, hear, sit and reach with hands and arms.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.