Senior Planner (Reissue

Senior Planner

The City of Torrance is recruiting for a Senior Planner to be part of the Community Development Team!

The Community Development Department oversees and initiates plans for: economic growth; commercial, industrial, and residential development and re-development; zoning; code enforcement; permitting; and building inspections. The Department has 70 employees over 10 different divisions:
Administration, Development Services, Environmental & Noise Abatement, Downtown, Housing, GIS, Plan Check, Building Inspection, Engineering, and Permit Center.

The Planning Division is committed to urban planning and design to provide an attractive, safe, and enriching environment that assures a high quality of life. The Planning Division is comprised of two sections:
Development Review is focused on reviewing development plans for conformance with land use policies and standards, and is responsible for processing development applications, conducting environmental review, and responding to inquiries on zoning and land use. Development Review also provides staff support to the Planning Commission and to the City Council. Comprehensive Planning is focused on developing plans, policies and programs to guide development in Torrance, and is responsible for maintaining the General Plan, conducting special studies related to land use, and collaborating with regional and state agencies.

The Senior Planner manages, directs, and participates in highly complex planning projects and activities; plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and reviews the work of professional, technical, and administrative staff in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department; and provides expert and complex support to the Community Development Director, Planning Manager, City Council, Commissions, and other stakeholders. This position represents the department and City to outside agencies, public and private groups, and the general public;

negotiates, administers, and manages contracts for services; and contributes to the management of assigned budgets, ensuring proper oversight and administration. The Senior Planner designs and conducts studies to develop policies, plans, and codes; performs field inspections of planning and development projects to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations; develops and standardizes procedures and methods to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of division services, projects, and activities;

and performs other related work as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:
Bachelor's Degree in regional planning, urban planning, community development, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, business or public administration, engineering, or a closely related field and two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience which includes technical work in at least two (2) of the following areas:
General Plan preparation and maintenance, design review administration, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) administration, redevelopment administration, or housing administration. A Master's Degree in Planning may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Must possess and maintain a valid California Class C Drivers' License.

Ideal Candidate:
Successful candidates will possess the following: extensive experience in land use planning, urban design, and community development; in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including environmental review processes, building codes, and other planning-related ordinances, with the ability to interpret and apply them effectively; proven ability to manage complex planning projects; strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across internal departments, external agencies, developers, and the public;

expert knowledge of municipal planning principles and practices; strong presentation skills and demonstrated experience delivering clear, engaging, and effective presentations to a variety of audiences; and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire ranceCA.Gov/Jobs. First review of applications will be those received by Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Application submission will remain open until the position is filled. If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received by the first review date, there is a possibility that the recruitment may close at that time.

Only those candidates who best meet the City and Department's needs will be invited to participate in the examination process, which will consist of the following components:
Oral Interview:
Weighted 100% (Tentatively scheduled on August 18, 2026) Department Interview:
Tentatively…