Planning Aide​/Assistant Planner

PLANNING AIDE / ASSISTANT PLANNER

The City of Garden Grove is now accepting applications for the positions of Planning Aide (Administrative Aide) and Assistant Planner in the Planning Services Division of the Community Development Department. The Planning team received the 2024 Award of Merit from the California Chapter of the American Planning Association for a Public Agency.

Final date to receive applications: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST.

Salary: $4,900 – $7,240 monthly.

• Assists members of management and technical staff by performing basic administrative assignments;
• Prepares a wide variety of written materials, including correspondence, reports, procedure guides, and instructions;
• Reviews and summarizes publications and documents;
• Performs preliminary analyses of administrative procedures and budgets;
• Answers requests for information;
• Prepares forms and other administrative devices;
• Gathers and tabulates data and prepares reports;
• May work overtime;
• May attend various commission and staff meetings;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Salary: $5,686 – $8,401 monthly.

• Perform general research;
• Review, analyze and assist in the acceptance and processing of development applications and permits;
• Prepare planning reports and make staff presentations to the Planning Commission and Zoning Administration;
• Assist with the development of planning strategies;
• Assist with implementing the City's General Plan and zoning ordinances;
• Perform environmental analysis studies; and
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Associate’s degree or equivalent units (at least 60 semester units) with major coursework in public administration, business administration, political science or a related field from an accredited university is required. No experience required. Planning experience is highly desirable.

Bachelor’s degree with major course work in planning, public or business administration, social sciences, economics, or a related field and six (6) months of experience in urban planning, land use or zoning administration and enforcement is required.

Principles and practices of land use and municipal planning; local, state, and federal laws and regulations pertaining to planning, land subdivision and zoning; statistical and research methods relating to physical, social and economic effects on communities; the Subdivision Map Act and California Environmental Quality Act; customer service techniques and principles, and computer software including Microsoft Word and Excel programs.

Communicate effectively and cooperatively with property owners, developers, their agents or professional representatives, other public and private agencies, and other City departments; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; effectively convey planning studies and recommendations to a wide variety of audiences; conduct research and make appropriate recommendations; understand and administer complex laws and regulations; use initiative and creativity in solving problems;

use a personal computer; read and interpret construction drawings, grading plans, and flood maps; and provide quality customer service.

Assistant Planners must possess a valid class C California driver license and an acceptable driving record in order to operate a City vehicle. An acceptable driving record is one that has three (3) or fewer DMV points issued within the past five (5) years, and no more than one (1) DUI within the past ten (10) years. A valid class C California driver license is highly desirable for the Planning Aide position.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Incumbents in this classification stand, walk, sit, push, pull, use fingers repetitively, speak clearly, hear normal voice conversation, distinguish shades and colors, see long distances, see small details, use a telephone, type, work on a personal computer and drive a vehicle.