Planning Assistant Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $66,588.00 - $80,880.00 Annually
Location : City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave, Pomona, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-PT/1
Department: Development Services Department
Division: Planning
Opening Date: 06/30/2026
Closing Date: 7/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
VACANCY
The City of Pomona invites qualified candidates to apply for the Planning Technician position in the Development Services Department. This position serves as an important member of the Planning Division, providing technical support for current planning activities and serving as a primary point of contact at the public planning counter. Under general supervision, the incumbent reviews development applications and plans for completeness, interprets zoning and land use regulations, assists customers with permit and planning inquiries, coordinates with internal departments and outside agencies, and supports a variety of planning, zoning, historic preservation, and environmental review activities.
The Planning Technician plays a vital role in delivering responsive customer service while helping ensure development projects comply with the City's planning regulations and community development goals.
The City is currently seeking to fill one (1) vacancy for Planning Technician. An eligibility list will be established and may be used to fill future vacancies in this classification that occur during the twelve (12) months following the list's establishment.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is customer-focused, organized, and detail-oriented, with excellent communication and problem-solving skills. They thrive in a fast-paced public service environment, enjoy assisting customers with complex planning and permitting questions, and can effectively interpret regulations while maintaining professionalism and accuracy. Successful candidates are adaptable, collaborative, and committed to providing exceptional service to developers, businesses, residents, and fellow City staff.
Why Pomona
The City of Pomona offers a rewarding opportunity to help shape the future of a vibrant and diverse community by supporting responsible growth and development. As a Planning Technician, you'll gain valuable experience in current planning, zoning administration, plan review, permit processing, and customer service while working alongside experienced planning professionals on a variety of development projects.
The City offers an excellent benefits package featuring a 4/10 work schedule with Fridays off, medical, dental, and vision coverage, CalPERS retirement, deferred compensation options, tuition reimbursement, and optional participation in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). This position also includes a 5% scheduled salary increase effective October 1, 2026.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY
Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Education and Experience

• Equivalent to a high school diploma supplemented by college level courses in in a related field.
• Some prior work experience in planning is desirable.

License or Certificate

• Possession of, or must obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.

To excel in this position, one must possess a set of core competencies. These competencies include, but are not limited to the following: Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectation of customers.
Professional Impact: Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization.
Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires.
Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.
Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Check plans submitted by developers and the public for completeness and accuracy.
• Interpret planning and zoning regulations for the public in-person, via phone, and through written communication.
• Review and issue administrative permits, including Temporary Use Permits and Minor Certificates of Appropriateness.
• Participate in professional and technical tasks such as data collection, analysis, planning formulation, and implementation across planning, zoning, historic preservation, and environmental review activities.
• Maintain detailed records of land use, socio-economic data, and other relevant statistics.
• Assist in developing counter processes and procedures.
• Serve as an information resource, directing the public to various sources, including other divisions and departments.
• Coordinate permits and planning activities with other City departments and external agencies.
• Prepare procedural reports as needed.
• Conduct plan checks for smaller projects, including accessory structures, fence/wall permits, single-family room additions, and telecommunication tower proposals.
• Manage data entry, storage, and retrieval on computer systems.
• Assist in conducting inspections to ensure project compliance with Planning/Historic Conditions of Approval, and other City ordinances and codes.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment: Ability to work in a standard office environment; ability to travel to different sites and locations.
Click to view all of the essential duties and full job description.
SELECTION PROCESS
This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies. Screening of qualifications and "most qualified" is based on the information provided on the official City Application. A resume may be attached to your application, but will not substitute for the completion of your application. Applications that are not entirely completed may be rejected.
To complete your application for this position you may be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application. The information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.
Final candidates are required to submit authorization for the City to run a report from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and must successfully pass a background investigation conducted by Human Resources.
City Mission Statement
The City of Pomona is dedicated to improving the quality of life for our diverse community.
The City of Pomona offers the following generous benefit package. Employees in this group serve a 12-month probationary period. The Salary Scale Plan is composed of five steps. Merit step increases are based on meets standards performance.
WORK SCHEDULE:
Most employees including certain Police Department employees work a 4/10 work schedule.
24-hour operations personnel may be assigned to a 12-hour (12/80) schedule.
City Hall Employees work Monday through Thursday, with City Hall being closed every Friday.
In order to maintain service to the public, departmental effectiveness, productivity and/or efficiency, a Department Director may assign an employee a different work schedule that is in compliance with the requirements of FLSA with Human Resources approval.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS: Provided by the California Public Employee's Retirement System. Every regular employee becomes a member immediately upon employment. New employees who become a "new" member of CalPERS for the first time on or after January 1, 2013 will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 62, FAS 3 Plan. New members will be required to pay at least 50% of the normal cost (Govt. Code Section. 7522030(c)). However, a new employee who is a "classic" member of CalPERS or a current member of another California public retirement system will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 60, FAS 3 Plan. Currently, all new PCEA employees shall pay the CalPERS member's retirement contribution of 7.5%. City of Pomona employees do not contribute into Social Security.
PAID HOLIDAYS: 13 paid holidays & 1 floating holiday is provided per year.
VACATION LEAVE:

• 1-4 years = 80 hours
• 5-9 years = 160 hours
• 10-14 years = 184 hours
• 15 years = 200 hours
• Extending through the 20th year, employee shall accrue 8 hours of additional vacation leave per year with a maximum accrual of 240 hours per year.

SICK LEAVE: 12 days per year (prorated if on any leave without pay).
GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAMS are available to eligible City employees. These programs include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurances.

• HEALTH INSURANCE: $700 per month; cash-in-lieu program available
• DENTAL: $75 per month
• VISION: Voluntary participation by the employee
• 125 BENEFIT PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS: City paid contributions that goes towards medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. They are applied in addition to the other contributions listed above.
  • Waiving coverage = $45 per month
  • Single coverage = $205 per month
  • Two-party coverage = $1,075 per month
  • Family coverage = $1,775 per month
• LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE: 66 2/3 of base salary for a maximum of 2 years after 60 days
• LIFE INSURANCE: $30,000 policy plus AD&D

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PLAN available for eligible employees to develop their knowledge and abilities.

• TUITION REIMBURSEMENT: $3,500 per year

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: A voluntary deferred compensation 457 plan is available.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS are available where employees use pre-tax salary to pay for regular child care, adult dependent care and/or medical expenses.
LEGAL PROTECTION AND IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION: Offered by LegalShield under two separate plans, provides the protection and peace of mind your family needs and deserves. LegalShield provides a variety of legal services, while IDShield is focused on identity theft protection. These offerings may be purchased individually or bundled together.
PET INSURANCE: Offered by Nationwide, allows you to select from two pre-made plans, or create a customizable plan that addresses the specific needs of your beloved pets.
CREDIT UNION membership is available to all City employees and provides access to low interest loans.
NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract expressed or implied, and any provisions contained herein may be modified or revoked without notice.
FIVE-YEAR VISION STATEMENT: Pomona will be recognized as a vibrant, safe, beautiful community that is a fun and exciting destination and the home of arts and artists, students, and scholars, business and industry.
CORE VALUES: The City of Pomona values Cultural Diversity; Fiscal Responsibility; Focusing on the Future; Excellent Customer Service; Leadership; Quality of Life; and Clear and Open Communication.
01
Do you possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

02
Please indicate your highest level of education.

• Some High School
• High School Diploma
• Some College
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or above

03
How many years of work experience do you have in Planning?

• No experience, but willing to learn.
• Less than 1 year of experience.
• 1 year of experience, but less than 2.
• 2 years of experience, but less than 3.
• 3 years or more of experience.

04
The minimum qualifications for this position include a high school diploma or equivalent supplemented by college-level coursework in a related field. Please identify the related college courses and/or training you have completed and explain how they are relevant to the duties of a Planning Technician.If none, please write "None." Limit your response to 100 words.
05
Describe any experience you have performing duties related to planning, zoning, development services, customer service at a public counter, permit processing, plan review, or interpreting municipal codes and regulations. Include where you gained this experience, your specific responsibilities, and approximately how long you performed these duties. Do not refer to your resume, as resumes will not be reviewed to determine qualifications. If you have no related experience, please type "N/A." Limit your response to 200 words.
Required Question