Manager - Planning
Company: City of Lancaster
Location: Lancaster
Posted on: February 19, 2026
|
|
|
Job Description:
Job Description Job Description Close Date extended thru:
Wednesday February 25th ,2026, at 9:00 PM (PST) Position: Manager –
Planning Department: Community Development Annual Salary Range:
$127,563.54 - $162,806.80 FLSA: Exempt EEO Category: 1.2
First/Mid-Level Officials and Manager s Job Summary: The Planning
Manager supervises and participates in advanced, highly-complex
professional planning activities under the supervision of the
Assistant Director of Planning and Permitting. The position
provides highly responsible management support in the planning,
analysis, coordination, and operation of programs and activities;
and supervises assigned staff. Responsibilities include, but are
not limited to: Assists in the development and implementation of
goals, objectives, policies, and priorities of the Community
Development department of the City to ensure maximum effectiveness
and efficiency. Performs and manages complex and sensitive
professional planning projects, research and analysis Monitors and
ensures compliance with local, state and federal laws including the
Subdivision Act and the California Environmental Quality Act.
Oversees specialized planning functions such as large-scale new
development proposals and environmental studies Provides overall
management of division-related planning issues. Plans, organizes,
directs, and evaluates the performance of staff; establishes
performance requirements and personal development targets;
regularly monitors performance and provides. coaching for
performance improvement and development; makes decisions to
recognize performance; takes disciplinary action, up to and
including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in
accordance with the City’s personnel rules and policies. Recommend
staffing levels, select, train supervise, and establish performance
requirements for permanent and part-time staff. Provides day-to-day
leadership and works with staff to ensure a high-performance,
customer service-oriented work environment that supports achieving
City and departmental mission, objectives, and service standards.
Serves as liaison and performs all necessary functions in support
of the City’s Planning Commission Applies best practices and
quality assurance processes to assigned areas of responsibility.
Enforces the maintenance of safe working conditions and ensures
safe work practices are followed by staff. Provides leadership to
ensure a fair and open work environment in accordance with the
City's commitment to equal employment opportunity. The duties
listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may
also perform other related duties as assigned by their immediate
supervisor. This position is considered exempt. Typical Knowledge:
The Planning Manager will be a seasoned professional with an
expansive background and knowledge of the following: Urban planning
and development and local government policies and procedures.
Thorough knowledge of land use planning/zoning, transportation
planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, and
economic development. Research methods and statistical principles
related to urban growth and development. Methods and techniques of
effective technical report preparation and presentation. Pertinent
federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including
the Subdivision Map Act and the California Environment Quality Act
(CEQA). Principles and practices of supervision, training, and
personnel management. Recent developments, current literature, and
sources of information related to municipal planning and
administration. Knowledge of local government procedures and
practices. GIS programs and applications such as Acela. Minimum
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or
university with major coursework in urban studies, planning, public
administration, or related fields Master’s degree highly preferred
Five (5) years of experience with three (3) years supervisory
experience Equivalent combination of education and work experience
may be considered Core Competencies: Problem Solving – Analytically
and logically evaluating information. Learning Agility – Seeking
learning opportunities and applying the lessons to work. Handling
Stress – Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under
pressure, challenge, or adversity. Professional Integrity & Ethics
– Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal
accountability. Safety Focus – Showing Vigilance and care in
identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards.
Customer Focus – Attending to the Needs and expectations of
customers. Informing – Proactively obtaining and sharing
information. Teamwork – Collaborating with others to achieve shared
goals. Valuing Diversity – Appreciating the benefits of varied
backgrounds and cultures in the workplace. Allocating Resources –
Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize
organizational effectiveness. Guiding Principles Put people first
Be visionary Be an ambassador for Lancaster Be Fiscally Responsible
Be Creative Always Improving Be Adaptable and Resilient Essential
Physical Requirements: Ascend/Descend stairs/ladders/balance
(moderate) Position self to bend or twist (frequent) To move,
transport, position items up to 15 lbs. (frequent) Exposed to
outdoor weather conditions (infrequent) Operate Equipment (none)
Stationary or squatting position (frequent) Environmental Factors:
Work under time pressure (moderate to frequent) Interruptions
(frequent) Essential Cognitive Functions: Analyze (continuous)
Computations (frequent) Generate Written Work Product (moderate)
Independent Problem Solving (continuous) Interruptions (frequent)
Maintain Positive Public Relations (continuous) Organize (frequent)
Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to California Government Code
Section 3100-3109, all public employees are declared disaster
service workers subject to disaster service activities as may be
assigned to them in the event of fire, flood, earthquake, or other
natural or man-made disaster. Reasonable accommodations will be
made, when possible, to enable qualified individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Nothing
in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or
reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The
City of Lancaster will consider qualified applicants with a
criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do
not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a
background check until a conditional job offer is made to you.
After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if
the City of Lancaster is concerned about convictions that are
directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to
explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide
mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background
report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting
www.dfeh.ca.gov/fair -chance-act/.
Keywords: City of Lancaster, South Gate , Manager - Planning, Engineering , Lancaster, California
