Planning Aide​/Assistant Planner

Position: Planning Aide / Assistant Planner
The City of Garden Grove is now accepting applications for:

PLANNING AIDE / ASSISTANT PLANNER

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

to apply online:
Join Our Team

Join our award-winning Planning team! The Planning team at the City of Garden Grove received the 2024 Award of Merit from the California Chapter of the American Planning Association for a Public Agency.

We are currently accepting applications for the positions of  Planning Aide (official classification: Administrative Aide) and Assistant Planner in the Planning Services Division of the Community Development Department. Under general supervision, these roles perform technical work for current and advance planning sections in the Planning Services Division. The ideal candidate will: possess strong oral and written communication skills; be customer service oriented;

possess excellent researching skills; and have experience with the latest industry software.

We are looking to fill one full-time vacancy with an energetic, customer service oriented professional. The vacancy may be filled at either the Planning Aide or Associate Planner level. We anticipate creating an eligibility list from this recruitment that may be used to fill current and future vacancies for these classifications. Apply now!

PLANNING AIDE (ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE): $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.

ASSISTANT PLANNER: $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.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

PLANNING AIDE (ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE):
An 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.

ASSISTANT PLANNER: A 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.

KNOWLEDGE OF

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 Environment Quality Act; customer service techniques and principles, and computer software, including Microsoft Word and Excel programs.

ABILITY TO

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…