Job Description

Under general supervision, the Planner II performs difficult city planning work and participates in all phases of city planning; assists in the preparation of planning, research, surveys and projects; conducts investigations, collects and analyzes data on zoning, subdivision design, housing, transportation, and other land use problems; assists in the conduct of environmental impact reviews; prepares CEQA environmental review documents; assists in the preparation of written and graphic reports; may supervise subordinate clerical and office personnel; and performs related duties as required. Requires responsibility for: carrying out and interpreting city planning policies and procedures; making continuing personal contacts with representatives of government, civic, non-profit, and business organizations, and the general public in the explanation and interpretation of laws, ordinances, policies, rules and regulations relating to city planning activities; preparing, checking and reviewing important technical records involving the General Plan, capital improvement program, zoning and other technical city planning records. Examples of essential functions of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Perform complex review of applications, permits, entitlements, and other planning or design documents referred from other departments or the public by checking plans and reviewing applications for conformity to all applicable Local, State and/or Federal laws and regulations, codes, ordinances, policies, and/or guidelines; records appropriate data and prepares recommendations for department, board, or commission action.  Perform complex review of applications, permits, entitlements, and other planning or design documents referred from other departments or the public by checking plans and reviewing applications for conformity to all applicable Local, State and/or Federal laws and regulations, codes, ordinances, policies, and/or guidelines; records appropriate data and prepares recommendations for department, board, or commission action. 

• Review permit requirements and prepare permit applications of local, state and/or federal laws and regulations, ordinance and or guidelines (such as the USFWS, US Army Corps of Engineers, CDFW, RWQCB, SLC, CCC, BCDC, etc.); may investigate, review and/or refer alleged violations of Local, State and/or Federal laws and regulations, codes, ordinances, policies, and/or guidelines to the appropriate authority and/or jurisdiction. Review permit requirements and prepare permit applications of local, state and/or federal laws and regulations, ordinance and or guidelines (such as the USFWS, US Army Corps of Engineers, CDFW, RWQCB, SLC, CCC, BCDC, etc.); may investigate, review and/or refer alleged violations of Local, State and/or Federal laws and regulations, codes, ordinances, policies, and/or guidelines to the appropriate authority and/or jurisdiction. .

• Communicate information orally, in writing, and/or graphically to City agencies, Commissions, Board of Supervisors, property owners, developers, community organizations, the public and/or relevant stakeholders; and facilitate stakeholder engagement, answering questions, providing assistance, responding to complaints, and public information requests, presenting reports and plans, and explaining policies in an accessible manner.  Communicate information orally, in writing, and/or graphically to City agencies, Commissions, Board of Supervisors, property owners, developers, community organizations, the public and/or relevant stakeholders; and facilitate stakeholder engagement, answering questions, providing assistance, responding to complaints, and public information requests, presenting reports and plans, and explaining policies in an accessible manner. 

• Conduct site and/or surveys, field inspections of land, type of use, economic activities, transportation, buildings and streets; conduct surveys, focus groups, interviews, or other engagement activities as necessary to obtain data required for planning, zoning and environmental review.

• Prepare computer based and hard copy graphic materials: drawings, maps, diagrams, graphs, charts, photographs, videos and other display materials related to technical analyses and reports.

• Conduct complex research and assists in formulating recommendations by collecting, recording, organizing and analyzing technical, physical, environmental, economic, social and statistical data.

• Review local regulations, codes, ordinances, policies, and/or guidelines applicable to projects; this may include assisting in the preparation, revision and update of local regulations, codes, ordinances, policies, and/or guidelines.

• Designs, prepares, and/or reviews citywide, neighborhood and other program and project plans for implementation and/or applicability to projects including transportation, land use, environmental, open space, and multi-modal streetscape plans using principles of racial and social equity, urban design, storm water management, sustainability, natural resource management, cultural resource management, water and wastewater management, climate change adaptation, economic development and placemaking.

• Perform environmental review for small projects up to moderate complexity, assist other planners with environmental review and research tasks, monitor the implementation of mitigation measures, review consultant-prepared technical documents, prepare responses to administrative appeals of environmental determinations, and maintain administrative records consistent with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and/or Federal, State or local regulations and procedures.

• Prepare and coordinate requests for proposals; negotiate consultant contracts and review consultant reports; perform other project management duties such as preparing public notices, scheduling meetings with participants from multiple agencies, and maintaining administrative records for projects.

Planner II’s 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, and 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 two (2) years (4,000 hours) verifiable full-time-equivalent experience in city, Regional, urban or transportation planning, urban design, historic preservation, architectural or environmental Review or other related field; OR  
• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in city, regional, or urban planning, or a closely related field such as architecture, landscape architecture, geography, urban studies, public administration, physical sciences, historic preservation, or environmental studies AND one (1) year (2,000 hours) verifiable full-time-equivalent experience in city, regional, urban or transportation planning, urban design, historic preservation, architectural or environmental review or other related field; OR  
• Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in city, regional, or urban planning, or a closely related field such as architecture, landscape architecture, geography, urban studies, or environmental studies.

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.

PLANNER CORE EXAM (WEIGHT: 40%): Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in the online Planner Core Exam. Candidates will be sent a web link via email that will allow them to take the online Planner Core Exam that is designed to measure basic knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with a Planner II position, which may include but not be limited to: knowledge of basic planning principles including land use, zoning, municipal regulation, environmental review, community development, transportation as they relate to planning programs; interpersonal relations ability; and knowledge of graphic presentation methods, systems and techniques required for preparation of maps, charts, illustrations and other complex graphics. This computer-administered test can be taken at home or at a time and location of one’s convenience, but only within a 4-day time period specified on the test notification. Candidates must have access to a computer and reliable internet connection to participate in this exam. Candidates must achieve a passing score on the Planner Core Exam in order to continue further in the selection process. The Planner Core Exam will account for 40% of the total weight of the final score. This is a standardized written multiple-choice examination. In accordance with Civil Service Rule 111.11.4, inspection privileges do not apply to the questions and answers in these examinations. The score you achieve on the Planner Core Examination shall be valid and 'banked' for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, you will not be required to take these tests again should you apply and be found eligible for a future announcement for which these particular tests are used. If the test for this future announcement is held within one year of the date of this examination, your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, you have the option to either (a) apply your test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the test. Re-testing is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the examination and only in association with your eligibility for another announcement for which this test is used. Please note that, should you re-test, your re-test score would become your official score since it is the most recent. Qualified applicants will be notified by email of the exact time period of the examination.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE (WEIGHT: 60%): Candidates who pass the Planner Core Exam will be sent a Supplemental Questionnaire via email to complete and return. The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to determine relative knowledge, skills and ability levels in job related areas which may include, but not be limited to: knowledge of the objectives, principles, practices procedures and trends of land use, zoning, community development and urban design associated with the preparation, interpretation and implementation of an planning program; includes knowledge of federal, state and local laws as they relate to planning; oral communication skills; problem solving skills; written communication skills; and project and time management skills. All relevant experience, education and/or training must be on the supplemental questionnaire in order to be reviewed in the rating process. The Supplemental Questionnaire will account for 60% of the total weight of the final 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.