Principal Planner

about the city

nestled in the heart of ventura county, just minutes from california's scenic coastline, camarillo offers a unique blend of small-town charm, a vibrant community spirit, and an exceptional quality of life as a forward-thinking and innovative local government. We are dedicated to delivering outstanding service while fostering a dynamic, empowered workforce that reflects the high standard to the community we serve.

discover more about us and our organizational culture here.
learn more about the community development department here.

to view our benefits page .

the city of camarillo is seeking a highly skilled and forward-thinking principal planner to lead complex current and long-range planning initiatives while supporting efficient, customer-focused planning operations. The ideal candidate is an experienced planning professional who brings sound judgment, strategic insight, and a collaborative leadership style to a dynamic municipal environment.

this individual has demonstrated success managing complex and often high-profile development projects, including those that may be politically sensitive or of significant community interest. They are recognized for delivering exceptional customer service, communicating clearly and effectively, and building strong, productive relationships with internal departments, elected officials, developers, and community stakeholders.

a successful principal planner is a confident and supportive leader who fosters a positive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment. They are skilled at supervising professional planning staff, guiding teams through competing priorities, and navigating diverse perspectives to achieve practical and balanced outcomes that align with the city’s goals and values.

equivalent to the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, environmental science, architecture or related field or equivalent related professional experience; and
at least five (5) years of experience of progressively responsible professional planning experience that includes management of complex development projects and long-range planning, with a minimum of two years of supervisory experience.

a master’s degree in planning, public administration or a related field and professional certification by the american institute of certified planners (aicp) are highly desirable.

• operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program.
• theory, principles and practices of urban planning, community development, and revitalization.
• principles and practices of program development and administration.
• project management principles and practices.
• principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• principles and practices of management, supervision, and training.
• advanced principles, practices, and techniques of current and advance planning including land use, environmental policy analysis, municipal service delivery, physical design, landscape architecture, demographics, and economic and social concepts as applied to municipal planning.
• organization and functions of various agencies involved in the planning processes.
• principles and practices used in building, architecture, and engineering.
• development review procedures and requirements.
• site planning and architectural design principles.
• pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions, and applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• application, modification, and inter-relationships among codes, ordinances, policies, standards, procedures, and practices associated with the planning function.
• 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.
• statistical methods and research techniques applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies.
• methods and…