PRINCIPAL PLANNER, San Marcos

Salary :

$118,559.71 - $164,064.78 Annually Location :

San Marcos, CA Job Type:

Full Time Job Number:

2026 - 36 Department:

Development Services Opening Date:

05/26/2026 Closing Date:

6/16/2026 4:00 PM Pacific FLSA:

Exempt

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

The City of San Marcos is currently recruiting for a qualified Principal Planner to join the Planning Division of the Development Services Department. Historically one of the fastest growing cities in San Diego County, this is an exciting time to be a part of the City of San Marcos. San Marcos is purposefully shaping its emerging community, and as a Principal Planner, you will help guide that legacy.

Summary Description Under administrative direction, manages, oversees, coordinates, and participates in the most complex and difficult work of staff responsible for providing current and long range planning related services and activities in assigned program areas; manages multiple sensitive and complex projects in the areas of assignment requiring highly independent coordination with other City staff as well as outside agencies and groups; provides direct supervision to professional planning staff; and provides responsible administrative and highly complex technical staff assistance to the Planning Division Director.

Public Service Serving the public is paramount to all that we do at City of San Marcos. We are driven to serve the more than 95,000 residents who count on us every day. Our Principal Planner must be responsive, tactful, collaborative, and accountable to our community and customers. This includes working with our residents and other stakeholder groups to deliver projects that make a positive impact.

The Right Perks

Earn a competitive salary, with a scheduled 5% salary range adjustment effective July 1, 2026. Our 9/80 work week means you'll have every other Friday off. Flexible work arrangement may be accommodated once you've had an opportunity to fully jump into the roles and responsibilities of the position and are working effectively with your team.Generous health benefits for you and your family (all medical premiums employer paid at 90%, including family plans). Benefits effective the first of the month after hire date. Ample time off: 14 paid holidays, 96 hours of sick leave and beginning at 80 hours of vacation leave annually. Family focused benefits - 4 weeks of city paid maternity / paternity leave for new parents welcoming a new family member and 1 week of city paid grandparent leave for employees expanding their extended family.Participate in the CalPERS retirement system (Classic members 2% @ 55, New members 2% @ 62), and Social Security. Enhance your career by taking advantage of our Tuition Reimbursement Program - up to $1,500 per fiscal year which can also be used towards student loan repayment. Recruitment TimelineApplication period closes:

June 16, 2026 - 4:00pm

First Interview: TBD

Second Interview: TBD

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Provides assistance to the Planning Division Director in planning and organizing the activities of the Planning Division; prioritizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and participates in the work of staff responsible for providing planning related services and activities in assigned program areas.Prepares and presents complex and technical staff reports, formal presentations, and recommendations at community meetings, advisory boards, and public hearings including to the City Council, Planning Commission, local committees, and neighborhood groups. Reviews and analyzes civil engineering, architectural, landscaping, and other development plans for conformance with the City's Zoning and General Plan, conditions of approval, and mitigation requirements.Reviews environmental technical and federal studies and evaluates findings with consultants, internal departments, and public agencies. Establishes schedules and methods for providing assigned services; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; participates in developing the department budget by providing input.Participates in the selection of assigned professional and paraprofessional staff; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline procedures. Reviews and evaluates existing programs for overall effectiveness and efficiency in meeting division and department goals, initiating action for operational improvements as necessary.Communicates and conveys complex information to City management, staff and members of the public. Serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees including City commissions, councils, and planning groups; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence. Develops and prepares amendments to the Zoning Code, General Plan, Specific Plans, and Area Plans.Prepares and/or reviews and edits legal documents including resolutions, CCRs, deed restrictions, conservation, open space, access easements, development agreements, and improvement agreements; prepares drafts of official correspondence for department head or elected official signature. Coordinates federal and environmental review and permitting for City Capital Improvement Projects; advises other departments of environmental and permitting requirements and recommends a course of action; prepares environmental documents; coordinates public notice requirements; coordinates with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare appropriate environmental clearances and to secure regulatory permits; coordinates public informational workshops; participates in contractor preconstruction meetings to brief contractors on environmental requirements.As assigned, serves as project manager for multiple current and long range planning projects (including all types of discretionary projects including General Plan Amendments, Specific Plans, etc.) in administration of the City's General Plan, Zoning, and other Municipal Codes, policies, and procedures.Analyzes problems, identifies solutions, and anticipates issues related to proposed actions. Assists in the development, implementation, and ongoing update of planning policies, procedures, and regulatory frameworks, including amendments to the General Plan, Zoning Code, Specific Plans, and related policy documents.Conducts and coordinates long-range planning activities necessary to maintain consistency with adopted state laws, regulatory requirements, and evolving legal mandates, while also identifying opportunities to streamline planning and development review processes. Maintains City website content for the Planning Division; maintains Planning Division page on City's Intranet.Attends and participates in professional associations and group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of urban planning. Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; works with employees on performance issues in coordination with Human Resources; implements discipline in consultation with Human Resources; responds to staff questions and concerns.Performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of: Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program; advanced principles and practices of zoning, community planning, and site planning; development practices and development review procedures and requirements; project management principles and practices; City General Plan policies and implementation and City ordinances; principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; organization and functions of various agencies involved in the planning processes; permitting requirements for state and federal agencies; recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development; methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation including for complex development proposals; methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues; modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting software applications; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including laws underlying general plans, land use planning, zoning, and land divisions including applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Ability to:

Independently perform complex and sensitive planning duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations requiring a high level of technical expertise; recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing assigned services, activities, and operations; prepare and interpret codes and policies and apply to specific situations; coordinate and direct assigned sections and/or functional areas within the City's Planning Division; supervise, organize, and review the work of staff involved in assigned program areas; select, train, and evaluate staff; serve as project manager on multiple complex and sensitive projects involving coordination with other departments and outside groups and organizations; plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines; staff and manage assigned …