Town Planner Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $277,404.00 Annually
Location : Town of Corte Madera, 300 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, CA
Job Type: Corte Madera
Job Number: TCM/26/14CC
Department: Town of Corte Madera
Division: TCM Administration
Opening Date: 08/27/2026
Closing Date: 9/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
The Town of Corte Madera is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking Town Manager to lead a vibrant community known for its natural beauty, engaged residents, and exceptional quality of life. This is a unique opportunity for a collaborative and strategic leader to work alongside the Town Council, staff, and community to build on Corte Madera's strengths and help shape its future. The ideal candidate will bring sound judgment, integrity, and a genuine passion for responsive public service.
About the Town
The Town strives to enhance the community's health, safety, and quality of life by serving its residents and businesses through proactive, responsive, and inclusive leadership. Corte Madera, California, a community of just under 10,000 people, is devoted to preserving its rich history, maintaining today's quality of life, and carefully planning its future. Corte Madera is located in central Marin County and has everything at its doorstep.
To learn more about the Town: The Town of Corte Madera
The Position
The Town Manager serves as Corte Madera's chief administrative officer, leading Town operations, implementing Council policies and priorities, advising the Town Council, and ensuring responsive, effective service to the community.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop, plan, and implement goals and objectives for the Town; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
• Implement directives and policy from the Town Council; provide weekly progress reports and periodic reports on the status of goals and objectives that are established by the Council.
• Meet and coordinate with Department Directors in order to coordinate and direct programs and projects; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; meet with Department Directors to identify and resolve organizational and operational problems both within departments and across departmental lines; ensure the successful completion of programs and projects.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assess and monitor administrative and support systems; identify opportunities for improvement; direct the implementation of changes.
• Provide highly responsible administrative staff assistance to the Town Council; conduct specific and comprehensive analyses on a wide range of municipal policies, procedures, and issues including organizational, administrative, management, funding, policy, or procedural issues; research, analyze, present, and implement recommendations; evaluate recommended changes on organization, policy, and procedures.
• Meet and confer with individual and groups of citizens; explain and interpret Town programs, policies, and activities; review and respond to Town Council member and citizen requests for service and complaints; negotiate and resolve sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.
• Develop, coordinate, administer, and monitor the Town budget; direct the forecast of additional funds; review and control programs and projects to ensure cost effectiveness; prepare mid-year budget modifications; present budget reports to the Town Council.
• Assume line responsibility for specific programs, projects, functions, and departments; select, train, motivate, and evaluate staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements; coordinate with legal staff and representatives of Town departments to determine the Town's needs and requirements for contractual services; administer contracts.
• Prepare materials for and assist in the preparation of Town Council agendas; attend Council meetings and present material; review minutes of meetings.
• Serve as the Town's Personnel Officer; coordinate salary negotiations; serve as final step in grievance appeal process.
• Review claims filed against the Town; approve or recommend Council action.
• Participate on and represent the Town to a variety of Joint Powers Authorities (JPA's), committees, commissions, meetings, hearings, and other functions; conduct and present a variety of research and special project; lobby legislators and other agencies.
• Attend and participate in professional groups and committees; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public administration.

Knowledge of:

• Modern and highly complex principles and practices of public administration.
• Current social, political, and economic trends and operating problems of municipal government.
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a municipal operation.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis, evaluation, development, and implementation of programs, policies and procedures.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Advanced principles and practices of municipal government budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of personnel management including supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Sources of information related to a broad range of municipal programs, services, and administration.
• Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Skill and Ability to:

• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment.

• Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for the Town.
• Effectively administer a variety of Town-wide programs and administrative activities.
• Develop, implement and administer goals, objectives, and procedures for providing effective and efficient municipal services.
• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the work of personnel; delegate authority and responsibility.
• Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff.
• Identify and respond to community and Town Council members issues, concerns, and needs.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Interpret and apply Town policies and procedures as well as Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Effectively and fairly negotiate appropriate solutions and contracts.
• Gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
• Develop, administer, coordinate, and monitor the municipal budget.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including Town and other government officials, community groups, the general public, and media representatives.

Required Conditions

• Must possess and maintain a valid Class C California driver's license with a demonstrated history of responsible driving.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, public administration, or a related field.

Typical Qualifications
Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities of employment is qualifying.
An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:
Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Master's degree is highly desirable.

Experience:
Seven years of increasingly responsible administrative experience in municipal government involving the development, evaluation, and recommendation of services and policies including three to five years of management and supervisory experience.
Supplemental Information
Application and Selection Procedures
Apply On-Line at:
Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:
Attn: Human Resources
Channelle Ceralde, SHRM-SCP
300 Tamalpais Drive
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Email: | Phone:(916) 471-3110
The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• A completed Town of Corte Madera Employment Application
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the final filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The Town of Corte Madera is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The Town is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Human Resources, at: (916) 471-3110 or
This position is not eligible for benefits.
01
Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the given deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Supplemental question responses are an integral part of the selection process; failure to respond or provide a complete supplemental question response or responding "see resume" to a supplemental question, will eliminate you from further consideration.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02
Describe your experience leading a full-service municipal organization and implementing policy direction established by an elected body. Include examples of how you coordinated departments, managed competing priorities, monitored progress, and kept the governing body and community informed.
03
Corte Madera is addressing priorities related to fiscal sustainability, infrastructure and flood resilience, housing, climate action, and community services. Describe your approach to balancing these priorities while maintaining effective day-to-day operations, engaging the community, and developing a financially responsible path forward.
Required Question