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Zoning Specialist
Department: Community Planning
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Oakland, CA
Compensation: $90,000 - $125,000 / year
Description
Alta Planning + Design is seeking an experienced Zoning Specialist to join our team in Oakland. In this role, you will write development and design regulations for zoning codes, specific plans, and design manuals as part of our expanding community planning practice. The ideal candidate is an independent self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced consulting environment.
About Alta
Alta Planning + Design is a climate-friendly community planning and design firm that prioritizes people, advances equity, and creates a safer, more resilient future. Alta acquired Raimi+Associates in 2026. As an Alta company, the R+A team offers expanded services to plan futures, shape places, and design movement. We are dedicated to creating active, healthy communities through planning, landscape architecture, engineering, and education/encouragement programs.
Since its founding in 2006, R+A has served dozens of communities in California and across the nation as trusted advisors, skilled practitioners, imaginative problem solvers, and effective communicators. The R+A team now comprises Alta's Community Planning business line, specializing in helping communities achieve their long-term visions by listening to and learning from ordinary people, partnering closely with our clients, and relying on our keen eye for place.
Alta's core values and work bring about positive change by creating places geared toward moving people rather than cars, connecting community, and empowering every person to live an active healthy life. As a national leader in creating healthy communities for 30 years, we are dedicated to connecting people to places by working across disciplines and scale to address social justice, safety, sustainability, and environmental resilience.
Day to Day

• Preparing zoning codes and ordinances.
• Preparing development and design regulations either as stand-alone documents or within area plans.
• Supporting planning projects including general plans, specific plans, and design review
• Managing projects (may vary depending on level of experience).
• Assisting with public outreach and participation, including workshops and social media.
• Preparing proposals and supporting advanced marketing.

Qualifications
Required
This position requires a combination of skills, experience and education including, but not limited to:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in planning, urban design, architecture, or similar field.
• Minimum of 8+ years of relevant work experience in the urban planning and design field in the private or public sector. Private sector experience preferred.
• Proven experience working on zoning codes and development and design standards in a variety of contexts (urban, suburban, rural). The ideal candidate will have written major sections of zoning codes and development and design regulations, and not just individual ordinances.
• Understanding of current best practices and regulations relative to general plans, specific plans, zoning, objective design standards, and other planning documents in California, as well as other State of California housing mandates and laws.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to visually communicate development and design regulations is a plus.

What We Offer
Flexible Schedule
Alta offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule where most employees work from home three days per week. In-office days support our collaborative culture, one of our core values.
Compensation
The pay range for this job in Oakland is $90,000-$125,000 annually. Placement within the range is based upon experience, skill-sets, and qualifications.
Benefits
Alta offers comprehensive benefits to all full-time employees:

• Medical: PPO or HSA medical plans, Alta pays 75% of the cost
• Dental/Vision: PPO, Alta pays 90% of the cost
• Life Insurance: Alta pays 100% of the premium for life and AD&D, equal to your base compensation
• 401(k): Alta provides a match up to 3%
• PTO: 21 days accrued annually to start
• Holidays: 11 total company paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave/Short-Term Disability
• Additional Benefits: Wellness reimbursement up to $800 annually, Alta Gets Around benefit of up to $900 annually, 5-year travel award, and professional development opportunities

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