Assistant Planner

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, to perform varied professional planning work; to provide public information and guidance in planning matters, and to conduct review of development proposals; and perform related work as required.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Positions in this class perform journey-level professional planning work. This class is distinguished from the Associate Planner by the assignment of smaller projects with short-term deadlines. Assignments in this class are more likely to be repetitive in nature and require the ability to understand situations at hand and to make insightful decisions on items. Incumbents receive instructions when tasks are assigned and the work is reviewed by the higher level classifications and/or the supervisor. Incumbents are expected to refer to their supervisor for instruction on matters that do not follow a clear established pattern.

Perform duties in planning, zoning, and development; review building permits for residential, commercial, industrial, and other construction, approving or denying permits in accordance with zoning regulations, site plan approvals, and other legal requirements; perform field inspections of new construction for conformance with codes and Planning Division requirements and conduct code enforcement; provide assistance to owners, developers, and the public in-person and by remote customer interactionwith interpretation and information onzoning development standards, state planning law, California Environmental Quality Act, Subdivision Map Act, and City development criteria; review and process business license applications to assure conformance with planning and other regulations, perform preliminary reviews, and prepare environmental assessments; compile research data and conducts investigations; tabulate statistical and other data concerning urban land use, population, housing, business, industry, economic characteristics, and development; assemble information and draft staff reports and studies; prepare maps, charts, and graphs to interpret various phases of planning studies; process plans submitted for building permits; review requests for zone change, conditional use permits, variances, and subdivision maps; assist in the preparation of planning and zoning regulations; provide design and architectural review of projects, schedule planning applications for hearing, and presents information to the Planning Commission; facilitate inner-departmental review of projects; meet with applicants to review site plan review comments; prepare correspondence; operate City vehicles; and performs related work as required.

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License and a good driving record.

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Public Administration, Geography, Architectural Design, Environmental Studies, or a closely related field.

Education Desirable:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Planning, Public Administration, Geography, Architectural Design, Environmental Studies, or a closely related field, and may be substituted for the required work experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of one (1) year of full-time professional planning experience.

• Incumbents in the Assistant Planner classification may be promoted to the Associate Planner classification upon the following qualifications:

  • Meet the minimum qualifications for the position;
  • Completion of two (2) years as an Assistant Planner with the City of Clovis;
  • Recommendation of the appointing authority;
  • A minimum of an exceeds standards rating on the most current performance evaluation.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of planning and zoning;

• Planning and zoning federal, state, and local laws, policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, and codes;

• Principles of effective customer service;

• Plant materials and landscaping concepts;

• Research methods as applied to the collection, tabulation, and analysis of statistics affecting planning;

• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases;

• Record keeping methods;

• Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation;

• Basic math;

• Appropriate safety precautions and procedures.

Ability to:

• Collect, tabulate, and compute planning statistics;
• Organize and conduct various planning research studies;
• Assist in the preparation of comprehensive reports;
• Establish priorities;
• Read, understand, interpret, and explain planning and zoning laws and ordinances;
• Effectively meet and interact with developers, contractors, the public, and employees;
• Deal tactfully and courteously with developers, contractors, the public, and employees;
• Understand pertinent procedures and functions quickly and apply them without immediate supervision;
• Operate a computer and associated software;
• Maintain accurate records;
• Read, understand, and apply moderately difficult materials;
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
• Operate a vehicle observing legal and defensive driving practices.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Environment: Job functions are performed in an office, outdoor, and driving environments; regularly exposed to outdoor cold and hot temperatures, and inclement weather conditions; extensive public contact; and moderate to loud noise levels.
• Strength: Moderate work-lifting, carrying and/or pushing 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Vision: Good color perception; with the ability to view all colors on computer software, site plans, sketches, drawings, illustrations, etc.
• Working conditions: Required to attend occasional evening meetings.

SELECTION PROCESS

Interested applicants must submit a completed City of Clovis online employment application and supplemental questionnaire, no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 21, 2025, to the City of Clovis Personnel Office. Information regarding employment with the City of Clovis, the online employment application, and the supplemental questionnaire are available online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/clovisca. For additional questions, you may contact Personnel at (559) 324-2725. Brief resumes are welcome as a supplement to the City's standard application form; however, the application form and supplemental questionnaire must be filled out completely to be considered. A resume only may not be submitted in lieu of a completed online employment application to be considered. Applicants may attach acceptable application attachments to their online employment application which include a DD Form 214, college/university degree diplomas, resume, and International Degree Accreditation documentation at the time of application submission. In exception of acceptable application attachments and a reasonable accommodation request applicants may not attach any additional documents to their online employment application or submit any other documents by email, mail, fax, or hand delivery. Veterans Preference Points may be provided if a DD Form 214 demonstrating qualifying service is attached to the online employment application at the time of application submission. Reasonable accommodation, when needed, for otherwise qualified candidates with disabilities, must be requested in writing and faxed to (559) 324-2865 at the time of application submission. Applicants will receive notification regarding the status of their application by email or phone once the applications have been processed and reviewed.

Applicants must meet each qualification for the position by the deadline date. All applications will be reviewed based on the necessary employment standards for the position. Those candidates who best meet the needs of the operations may be invited to participate in an oral examination that will be weighted 100%. Candidates receiving a passing score may be placed on an eligibility list for a period of up to one (1) year. Examinations and department interviews for the position will be administered in the City of Clovis. As determined by the City and at the City's expense, successful candidates shall be required to complete and pass a medical examination, a drug/alcohol screen, and a background investigation. Possession of a valid California Driver's License and a good driving record will be required prior to hire. Proof of citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S. will be required at the time of hire.

The examination may consist of questions relative to knowledge of principles and practices of planning and zoning; planning and zoning federal, state, and local laws, policies, procedures, ordinances, regulations, and codes; principles of effective customer service; plant materials and landscaping concepts; research methods as applied to the collection, tabulation, and analysis of statistics affecting planning; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; record keeping methods; proper English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; basic math; appropriate safety precautions and procedures. The examination may also contain questions regarding the ability to collect, tabulate, and compute planning statistics; organize and conduct various planning research studies; assist in the preparation of comprehensive reports; establish priorities; read, understand, interpret, and explain planning and zoning laws and ordinances; effectively meet and interact with developers, contractors, the public, and employees; deal tactfully and courteously with developers, contractors, the public, and employees; understand pertinent procedures and functions quickly and apply them without immediate supervision; operate a computer and associated software; maintain accurate records; read, understand, and apply moderately difficult materials; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; operate a vehicle observing legal and defensive driving practices.

This job flyer does not constitute a contract and its terms and conditions can change without notice.

THE CITY OF CLOVIS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER