Deputy Director of Planning

Position Information

Permit Sonoma seeks a Deputy Director in Planning to join their team!

Starting salary up to $93.85/hour ($195,876/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

The Position

As the new Deputy Director of Planning, you bring your extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal land use planning and environmental review regulations, including your outstanding breadth and depth of technical familiarity with California's general plan, housing, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) legislation. As a successful candidate, you also have a thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of land use and environmental planning; socioeconomic and environmental principles that apply to urban and rural development and conservation; state, federal, and local laws, regulations, programs, and court decisions pertaining to environmental protections; and effective public personnel administration. Considerable knowledge of citizen and public interest groups dealing with environmental matters, governmental agencies that coordinate the work of county governments engaged in land use planning, and the techniques of effective staff supervision are expected. In addition, the Deputy Director of Planning sits with the Planning Commission and gives presentations to the Board of Supervisors on a weekly basis.

The Deputy Director of Planning oversees the Project Review Manager, Comprehensive Planning Manager, and one administrative assistant. Each division manager oversees at least one supervising planner and an administrative assistant. This position performs primarily office work during normal business hours but occasionally requires field or evening meetings for public outreach and engagement.
The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for the Deputy Director of Planning position will have extensive experience in public hearings and working with elected or appointed officials, and exceptional leadership skills that will establish, build, and strengthen effective working relationships. They will also possess many of the following:

• Several years of experience in complex land-use planning projects
• E xtensive knowledge on CEQA, the Brown Act, and General Plan, or Local Coastal Program updates
• The ability to work collaboratively, gain consensus, and possess strong decision-making skills regarding policy, permitting authority, and project management
• The ability to facilitate and present information clearly and confidently to multiple stakeholders, including the public
• Project management skills, including effectively managing work priorities and meeting overlapping deadlines in a fast-paced work environment
• Advanced Microsoft Office, Adobe skills, and familiarity with GIS tools
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired, but not required

The County of Sonoma is interested in finding the best candidate for this position and will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, and training to meet the minimum qualifications, as described below. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and transferable skill set and how they set you up to be the best candidate for this position

Permit Sonoma

Permit Sonoma is the County's "one-stop shop" for all land use planning and development activities. Virtually any land development or construction that takes place in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County (outside the city limits of the nine cities) is reviewed, permitted, and inspected by Permit Sonoma. Our mission is to serve the people of Sonoma County by providing a customer-focused process to balance environmental protection and sustainable development. We balance our mission with effective resource stewardship and the development and maintenance of standards and practices that protect the public's health and safety.

Sonoma County offers an exceptional quality of life with its stunning landscapes, outdoor recreational opportunities, and proximity to San Francisco and Oakland. Known for its vibrant community, excellent schools, and affordable living, it is a perfect place to raise a family. Professionals will find career growth opportunities within a collaborative environment and benefit from generous perks, including a pension program. The County provides a unique chance to impact community health positively while enjoying a balanced and enriching lifestyle.
What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Deputy Director of Planning position in the Permit Sonoma Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, four years of professional land-use planning experience with complex planning projects, including project leadership and the preparation of environmental reports. Experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity is required.

Education: Any combination of education and/or training which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with academic course work in planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, economics, environmental studies, technical writing, physical and biological sciences, physical-biological-social and human environmental relationships, or closely related courses, would provide such opportunity. Graduate course work in planning-related and management subjects is highly desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Please note: The position advertised on this announcement does require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Probationary Period: All administrative management employees serve a one-year probationary period.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of: the principles, methods and techniques of land-use and environmental planning; socio-economic and environmental principles and of their applications to urban and rural development and conservation; research methodology, and of standard statistical methods and procedures as they apply to the use of socio-economic and environmental data; state, federal, and local laws, regulations, current programs and court decisions pertaining to environmental protection; public personnel administration.

Considerable knowledge of: county government, and of other governmental agencies which must coordinate work with county government; the principles, practices and techniques of drafting and other graphic arts; effective supervisory practices and techniques; citizen and public interest groups dealing with environmental matters.

Working knowledge of: environmental considerations in the design, location, and construction of public works and other public projects.

Ability to: determine work priorities and effectively coordinate and schedule the necessary personnel and other resources; deal tactfully, convincingly and effectively with department personnel, government officials, representation of specific interest groups, and the general public; effectively assemble, organize and present in written and/or oral form, reports containing alternative solutions and recommendations regarding specific resources, plans and policies pertaining to land use planning; present or direct the presentation of planning studies in oral, written and graphic form; advise citizen groups and various boards and commissions orally and in writing concerning specific programs and projects; plan, organize, coordinate, supervise, train, and evaluate professional and technical planning employees engaged in planning services activities; assist in developing and implementing effective training and performance evaluation programs; establish and maintain effective working relationships with county employees, other public agencies and the general public; determine appropriate research methodology for project studies and insure that analysis is complete and accurate; supervise the preparation of, or perform, difficult, complex and specialized planning studies and projects; present or supervise the presentation of planning studies in oral, written and graphic form; speak effectively before groups and audiences; effectively synthesize data into the final format; prepare clear and concise written reports; analyze administrative problems and a variety of programs, systems and procedures.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CA

HR Technician: RR

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 7/28/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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