Principal Planner

Principal Planner (Finance)

The County of Riverside's Transportation and Land Management Agency (TLMA) Planning Department has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Planner.

Under general direction, assists in planning, organizing and managing a group of professional and support personnel in a specialized planning section or district office; performs other related duties as required.

The Principal Planner classification is allocated and characterized by the responsibility of managing and coordinating the activities of a major section within a planning division, a combination of smaller planning sections, a district office, or an outreach program. Incumbents direct these activities through subordinate personnel and report to the Planning Director or other management level position. The Principal Planner is distinguished from the Planning Director in that the latter manages the Planning Department.

• Manage and review complex and sensitive entitlement proposals and planning applications.
• Conduct research, analysis, and oversight of concept plans, feasibility studies, environmental documents, and other planning-related reports.
• Provide land use interpretations and decisions consistent with the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, while establishing clear processes for implementation.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate planning staff, ensuring balanced workloads and high-quality performance.
• Serve as a planning liaison to appointed and elected officials, providing expertise to resolve complex planning matters.
• Prepare and deliver reports and presentations to decision-making bodies, community groups, and stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be a knowledgeable and resourceful planning professional with the ability to navigate high-profile and technically complex projects. Competitive candidates will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of State laws, guidelines, and local ordinances pertaining to planning and development.
• Knowledge of environmental protection regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher).
• A working understanding of thematic mapping tools such as ArcGIS or Sketch Up.
• Strong writing and editing skills to prepare reports, studies, and presentations.
• The ability to conduct independent research, perform analysis, and evaluate complex technical documentation related to planning.
• Professional planning experience in California is highly desired, especially experience applying California land use laws, managing entitlement applications, ensuring CEQA compliance, and coordinating with California public agencies and stakeholders.

• Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate, directly or through subordinate lead personnel, the activities of a major section within a planning division, a combination of smaller planning sections, a district office, or participate in the development and review of division policies and goals, particularly as they affect the assigned section.
• Review and evaluate existing programs for overall effectiveness and efficiency in meeting division and section goals, initiating action for operational improvements as necessary.
• Review studies of ordinance amendments, policies and staff reports to ensure thoroughness of analyses, consistency with County requirements and legal compliance.
• Represent the department on committees and before civic and community groups, other County Departments, governmental agencies, environmental regulatory and permitting agencies, stakeholders, and the public; confer with property owners, developers and their representatives regarding the applicability and impact of County policies, ordinances and other regulations related to property development.
• Confer with staff regarding problems and progress in their functional areas and provide technical and administrative direction; interview and recommend the selection of prospective employees.
• Coordinate and assign personnel within the section; plan and conduct staff development and in-service training programs in operational procedures, and policy; review and evaluate the performance of…