Job Description

Salary : $68,910.40 - $83,137.60 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: SI-T11733-202511
Business Area: N/A - Multiple Departments
Opening Date: 11/14/2025
Closing Date: 11/24/2025 11:59 PM Pacific


JOB INFORMATION


APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENTS:

• Assistant Planner
• Associate Planner

Junior Planner positions perform planning and environmental research and analysis; prepare community, general, and land use plans and related studies; perform development permit review and plan checks; assist in the administration of historic preservation, landscape, rezoning, and subdivision ordinances; engage community members in the planning process; prepare preliminary reports and recommendations; draft land use ordinances; conduct field investigations; collect data; develop graphic materials; assist community planning groups; and perform other duties as assigned.
NOTES:

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS


You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.


EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter) which MUST include a minimum of 18 semester/27 quarter college-level units in Archeology, History, Urban Planning, Urban Studies or Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Economics, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Public Administration, Life Science (e.g., Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany), Environmental Studies, or a closely related field.

NOTES:

• Additional qualifying professional-level planning experience may be substituted for education lacked on a year-for-year basis. One year of full-time experience = 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units. Qualifying full-time professional-level planning experience MUST include be in at least ONE of the following areas:
  1. Prehistoric or historic archeology.
  2. Historic preservation.
  3. Environmental review or analysis.
  4. Resource management.
  5. Landscape planning or landscape architecture.
  6. Environmental, general, and community planning.
  7. Transportation planning.
  8. Design, redevelopment, and capital improvement projects.
  9. Zoning administration and enforcement.
  10. Architecture and urban design.
  11. Site planning.
  12. Discretionary permit review and processing.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.


HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Certified Planner Certification issued from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
• College-level course work in Archeology, History, Urban Planning, Urban Studies or Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Economics, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Public Administration, Life Science (e.g., Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany), Environmental Studies, or a closely related field.
• Conservation biology and/or Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) experience.
• Experience supporting equitable public engagement for planning initiatives.
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental documentation and compliance experience.
• Watershed or environmental plans.
• American Society of Landscape Architects membership.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of degree/transcripts, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

SCREENING PROCESS


Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 6 - November 14, 2025 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.


Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).


Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01


I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03


If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04


The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05


Are you meeting the education requirement with a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed units = 120 semester/180 quarter)? NOTE: Attach copy of transcripts to your application.

• Yes
• No

06


Do you possess 18 semester/27 quarter college-level units in Archeology, History, Urban Planning, Urban Studies or Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Economics, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Public Administration, Life Science (e.g., Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany), Environmental Studies, or a closely related field? NOTE: Attach proof of degree/transcripts to your application.

• Yes
• No

07


Specify the college-level course work you have completed in Archeology, History, Urban Planning, Urban Studies or Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Economics, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Public Administration, Life Science (e.g., Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany), Environmental Studies, or a closely related field. Indicate the course title, number of units, school name, and date the course was completed. If you do not have any course work in these fields, write "None."
08


If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, which of the following best describes your level of education?

• 0 to 29 semester/44 quarter units
• 30 semester/45 quarter units to 59 semester/89 quarter units
• 60 semester/90 quarter units to 89 semester/134 quarter units
• 90 semester/135 quarter units to 119 semester/179 quarter units
• 120 semester/180 quarter units or more

09


How many years of full-time professional-level planning experience do you have?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

10


In which of the following areas do you have full-time professional-level planning experience?

• Prehistoric or historic archeology.
• Historic preservation.
• Environmental review or analysis.
• Resource management.
• Landscape planning or landscape architecture.
• Environmental, general, and community planning.
• Transportation planning.
• Design, redevelopment, and capital improvement projects.
• Zoning administration and enforcement.
• Architecture and urban design.
• Site planning.
• Discretionary permit review and processing.
• None of the above.

11


Describe your full-time professional-level planning experience in the areas you indicated in question #10. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area, and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
Required Question

Job Tags

Full time, Contract work, Work at office, Immediate start,

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