Junior Land Use​/Environmental Planner

Overview

The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services invites your interest for this exciting career opportunity:
Junior Land Use/Environmental Planner.

Interviews will take place the week of July 20, 2026.

This position is eligible for appointment at step 1, $64,958.40 annually. County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

This recruitment will be used to fill current vacant positions within the Project Planning division of Planning & Development Services (PDS); however, the list may be used by other PDS divisions.

This is the entry level professional class in the Land Use/Environmental Planner class series responsible for performing professional environmental and land use planning studies/projects, research, and data analysis to develop goals and policy recommendations for adoption by decision-making bodies. Read all about the Junior Land Use/Environmental Planner classification including essential functions and minimum qualifications.

The County of San Diego is committed to helping communities thrive while protecting the region’s unique and diverse natural resources. PDS is responsible for current land use planning, including the review of privately initiated discretionary projects, including those for affordable housing, renewable energy and other residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial uses. PDS also reviews ministerial building permits for consistency with the Zoning Ordinance, General Plan, and other State and local land use policies.

The department evaluates land use projects for regulatory compliance and conducts environmental reviews in accordance with CEQA. PDS then advises the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission on land items, including privately initiated discretionary projects, in the unincorporated county. PDS has seven major divisions:
Sustainability, Long Range Planning, Building Services, Code Compliance, Land Development, Project Planning, and Support Services.

Read more about Planning & Development Services.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency, with at least 30 semester units in the following fields of study: life science, physical science, city and regional planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture, geography, archaeology, biology, wildlife and/or botany; geology, conservation of environmental quality, natural resources, physical geography, ecology, zoology, or engineering with an emphasis in acoustics or environmental management, public administration or a closely-related field.

Professional level land use/environmental planning experience in a public or private agency may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, for up to two (2) years of the education requirement.

Applicants must submit or attach copies of their complete official or unofficial transcripts, diplomas, and/or proof of completion letters, or other documentation originated by a United States accredited college or university; or a certified foreign studies equivalency for colleges or universities outside of the United States. Any one or more of these documents must be submitted or attached to the online application in a timely manner, preferably at the time of application submittal.

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair…