Senior Planner

SENIOR PLANNER

Community Development Department, Planning Division

$10,495.08 - $14,415.83 Monthly Plus Excellent Benefits

The salary range listed above reflects the full compensation potential for this position. Initial placement in the salary range is typically within the first half of the range; however, in certain circumstances (i.e. an experienced lateral candidate) placement at or above the midpoint may be considered. The last 3% of the salary range requires five years of City of Gilroy service and strong work performance – see MOU for specific requirements.

Opportunity to work a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.

The City of Gilroy is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Join our team!

In this exciting opportunity, the Senior Planner is poised to make a significant impact towards building a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive city for all. The Senior Planner will be assigned full responsibility for a variety of complex planning projects and entitlement permits, performing high-level professional planning duties using independent judgement in analyzing work and making recommendations and important decisions. Additional tasks include aiding applicants and the general public.

Related duties and functions include project initiation, preparation, analysis, stakeholder coordination, environmental review, presentations, and enforcement. The role offers the opportunity to influence policy, champion sustainability, create spaces that promote equity and accessibility, and ensure that all initiatives align with our community’s long‑term vision.

The Senior Planner is a mid-management position and may mentor junior level staff and supervise technical, professional, and administrative staff.

The City of Gilroy’s Community Development Department Planning Division is committed to developing and implementing programs to support the City’s General Plan. We promote sustainable development and encourage quality design and livability of resident neighborhoods, commercial areas, and industrial zones within the City’s urban sphere. We pride ourselves on providing superior customer service. Our team is dedicated, energetic, collaborative, solution oriented, and we support innovative strategies that enhance quality of life and foster economic growth.

Continuous goals of this department are to provide current and long‑range community planning services in conformance with the Gilroy 2040 General Plan and consistent with City Council direction. The Planning team is responsible for implementation of Gilroy’s General Plan / Housing Element, Zoning Ordinance, adopted specific plans and other associated policies and ordinances.

• Responding to public inquiries related to land‑use and property development regulations.
• Providing solution‑oriented customer service to support economic development opportunities whenever possible.
• Reviewing land‑use entitlement applications (e.g. tentative map, conditional use permit, annexation, general plan amendment, architectural & site review permits) for conformance with adopted policies and regulations.
• Administering the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for environmental review related to planning and development proposals.
• Implementing and updating the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
• Providing staff support for the Planning Commission, as needed
• Resolving land‑use related violations through Code Enforcement.

• Have a strong understanding of concepts, principles and techniques of city and regional planning and zoning administration.
• Be well‑versed in processing planning entitlements, with considerable environmental analysis experience and compliance with CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), Subdivision Map Act, California housing legislation, and various other land use laws.
• Have experience using GIS and/or Ener Gov Land Management Software.
• Be detail oriented and possess good time‑management skills to handle a variety of assignments and deadlines in a fast‑paced work environment.
• Conduct thorough analysis on complex issues and distill…