Senior Planner

Salary

The anticipated hiring range for the Senior Planner position is $108,390 - $135,488 with a full salary range up to $162,586. The City typically makes offers within the hiring range based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The City of Thousand Oaks is seeking a high-performing Senior Planner to lead complex development and long-range planning initiatives in one of Southern California’s most desirable communities. This position plays a key role in sharing residential, mixed-use, commercial, and downtown revitalization projects while advancing the City’s General Plan and environmental review efforts.

We are seeking an innovative, collaborative individual to conduct a variety of planning duties with competence and professionalism. The Senior Planner must be an excellent team player with a track record of excellent judgement who has demonstrated initiative and been successful in improving processes.

The Senior Planner will assume a lead role in complex planning and development projects, including residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, and institutional proposals, and may assist in the preparation of environmental documents (both internally and through planning consultants). The Senior Planner may also process legislative applications, such as zone changes and General Plan amendments, and occasionally assist with open space planning/natural resource management projects.

• Serve as project manager for complex development applications, exercising independent judgment in interpreting policies, coordinating multi‑departmental review, and guiding projects through entitlement and public hearing processes. Lead and contribute to long‑range planning initiatives, including implementation of the General Plan and participation in comprehensive updates.
• Manage consultant preparation of environmental documents in compliance with CEQA requirements, including Mitigated Negative Declarations and Environmental Impact Reports; review technical studies, coordinate interdepartmental input, and prepare environmental documentation as needed. Interpret and apply federal, state, and local land‑use regulations, including evolving California housing law, to ensure legally defensible and consistent project review. Prepare and present clear, well‑supported staff reports and policy analysis for City Council, Planning Commission, and community stakeholders.
• Process legislative applications, including Municipal Code Amendments, zone changes, and General Plan amendments.
• Support implementation of downtown revitalization initiatives and Specific Plan updates/initiatives.

• Strong knowledge of land use law, CEQA, and California housing legislation.
• Communicates clearly in politically sensitive settings.
• Experience applying urban design principles and/or architectural design guidelines.
• Thinks strategically about long‑range planning and downtown revitalization.
• A participative management style focused on excellent customer service.
• A passion for City planning with demonstrated experience in process improvement.
• Skilled project manager capable of independently managing complex development projects.
• Excellent time management, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving, decision‑making, planning, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work very effectively and collaboratively with people inside and outside the City organization.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior planning staff.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning or a closely related field.

Five or more years of responsible professional‑level planning experience, including two years at a level comparable to an Associate Planner with the City of Thousand Oaks.

• Strategic Thinker
• Politically Astute
• Results Oriented
• Team Builder
• Technically Knowledgeable

The City of Thousand Oaks offers excellent benefits including:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Pension Retirement Plan, 401(a), Retirement Health Savings Plan, Tuition Reimbursement, and more.

Review of…