Job Description

Under general direction, the 5293 Planner IV plans, administers and directs the activities of a planning group, and/or oversees a major study, and/or supervises a project group engaged in professional city planning work. The Planner IV develops, implements and enforces city planning policies and procedures; gathers, analyzes and interprets planning data and prepares recommendations; prepares difficult and complex technical reports; represents the department in public meetings; acts as technical advisor on all studies and problems relating to planning; and performs related duties as required.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide direction for professional, technical and clerical staff engaged in analyses and preparation of complex and detailed technical data reports or review of planning and development proposals and interpretation of the planning code relating to planning issues of a major metropolitan area, includes the use of technologies to analyze data and develop plans.
• Provide supervision, analysis, evaluation and preparation of reports on complex issues, including details regarding the General Plan, area plans, project plans, land usage, zoning ordinance, housing programs, preservation programs, neighborhood planning, environmental planning, economic and real estate development, urban design issues, transportation planning, review of development proposals, and enforcement monitoring
• Supervises and undertakes research related to planning and city policy issues, prepares policy and plan recommendations and implementation strategies.
• Provide interpretation and explanation of planning-related policies, procedures, programs and problems to the public, project sponsors, communities, businesses, boards and commission and other organizations. Representing Department at the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and other government agencies or boards; interacts, engages and works with community groups; promotes good public relations for the department.
• Provide written communication to the general public, includes letters, memoranda, reports, texts and studies which are clear, concise and understandable by the general public; also includes edits and reviews of same when prepared by subordinates.  
• Provide supervision and evaluation of subordinate personnel in the performance of planning-related work, includes assisting in workload management, performance measures and evaluations, staffing, mentoring and other administrative functions (i.e. budgets, management of work programs).
• Provide core competencies including understanding structural and institutional racism, recognizing power and privilege, and fostering inclusivity and belonging, and the capacity to advance racial and social equity meaningfully through team hiring and culture, community communication, and project structure and outcomes.

Planner IVs may be required to attend meetings or participate in work-related activities outside of normal working hours (evenings and weekends) in various community locations. Some positions may require possession of a valid driver license, or may require specialized experience in order to perform department specific planning duties.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university

          AND

• Six (6) years of experience in city, urban, and/or regional planning, and/or related planning environment (such as transportation planning, environmental planning, architecture or urban design).

SUBSTITUTION Possession of Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in City, Regional or Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies or Environmental Sciences may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT BY THE FINAL FILING DATE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

VERIFICATION Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456

NOTE Falsifying one's education training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Additional Information

NOTE:  DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES (DHR)’S OFFICE (LOCATED AT 1 SOUTH VAN NESS AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103) IS CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL THE HUMAN RESOURCES ANALYST LISTED ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RECRUITMENT PROCESS ARE LISTED BELOW:

SELECTION PROCEDURES

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE (QUALIFYING): Applicants are required to complete a Minimum Qualifications Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) as part of the online application process. The purpose of the MQSQ is to obtain specific information regarding an applicant’s education, experience and training in relation to the Minimum Qualifications for this position. It is essential that an applicant provide complete information in identifying their education, experience and training. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if an applicant meets the minimum qualifications.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE (WEIGHT: 47%): Qualifying candidates will be required to respond to essay type questions on a supplemental questionnaire, which will be provided to applicants via e-mail after the closing of the application filing period. The essay questions are designed to measure the knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas required for the position which may include but are not limited to:  knowledge of the principles, practices, purposes, scope and techniques of various phases of city planning; management/supervisory ability; critical thinking/problem solving ability; knowledge of statistical, research and analytical method; and written communications.

Please note:  A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire to continue in the selection process.

ORAL EXAMINATION (WEIGHT: 53%) Candidates who attain a minimum passing score on the Supplemental Questionnaire component will be invited to the Oral Examination. The Oral Examination is designed to measure knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to: knowledge of land use, policy, land development and design techniques, interpersonal/human relations ability; knowledge of racial and social equity; project/time management ability; and oral communication.

Candidates will be ranked on the eligible list based on their Supplemental Questionnaire and Oral Examination score.

A passing score must be achieved on ALL components of the selection procedures in order to be placed/ranked on the score report. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

ELIGIBLE LIST/SCORE REPORT: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

CERTIFICATION: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be RULE OF SEVEN (7). Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be SIX (6) MONTHS, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. To find other Departments which use this classification, please see:  Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2021-22.pdf (sfdhr.org)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Position Based Testing Information
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

QUESTIONS:  If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Michael Eng, by telephone at 628-652-7522, or by email at Michael.Eng@sfgov.org.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.