Assistant/Associate Planner
The Assistant/Associate Planner position at Confidential Client's Department of Resource Management involves performing professional planning duties including reviewing building permits and planning projects for compliance with zoning and general plans. The role requires preparing reports, responding to public inquiries, conducting research, and presenting findings to commissions and the Board of Supervisors, with increasing responsibility and complexity from Assistant to Associate level. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, customer-focused, and knowledgeable in California land use planning and environmental regulations.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Public sector — county government (planning & resource management).
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Position summary
Confidential Client is hiring for an Assistant/Associate Planner to join its Department of Resource Management. This is a full-time, professional planning role focused on land-use review, permitting, zoning, and environmental analysis. Two appointment levels are available:
- Assistant Planner — entry-level, learning-focused professional planning duties.
- Associate Planner — mid-level, independent assignments and more complex discretionary projects.
This listing is for a position located in Keswick, CA. Responses to supplemental questions are required. Final filing date for applications: October 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
Salary & benefits
This posting includes the following salary ranges (annual):
- Assistant Planner: $55,908 – $71,352 per year (approx. $4,659–$5,946 monthly; $26.88–$34.30 hourly)
- Associate Planner: $64,716 – $82,596 per year (approx. $5,393–$6,883 monthly; $31.11–$39.71 hourly)
Employees are enrolled in applicable public retirement and benefits programs per county policy. Exact starting step and benefits will depend on appointment level, experience, and applicable bargaining agreements.
What you’ll do
Confidential Client’s Planning Division administers zoning and land-use policies, processes development-related applications, and advises the public and decision-making bodies. Typical duties include:
- Review building permits, non-discretionary and discretionary planning projects for consistency with zoning and the General Plan
- Research, gather, analyze, and interpret planning, land-use, and environmental data
- Prepare planning reports, maps, charts, environmental assessments and recommendations
- Respond to public inquiries and provide customer service at public counters
- Prepare and present written and oral reports to staff, the Planning Commission, and Board of Supervisors
- Conduct routine field inspections and site visits as needed
- Assist with ordinance updates, environmental review (CEQA), and other planning projects
Assistant Planner assignments emphasize training and routine tasks; Associate Planner assignments involve greater independence, project complexity, and may include supervising or mentoring junior staff.
Ideal candidate
The ideal candidate will be detail oriented, organized, and service-minded with strong written and oral communication skills. Experience or familiarity with California land-use planning, CEQA environmental review, planning research methods, public presentations, and technical report writing is highly desirable. The role requires the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
Minimum qualifications
It is the applicant’s responsibility to identify how they meet the minimum qualifications in their application materials.
Assistant Planner (choose one):
- A bachelor’s degree in planning or related field from an accredited college or university; OR
- Two (2) years of technical experience in environmental quality and/or planning AND one (1) semester of related college coursework.
Associate Planner:
- A bachelor’s degree in planning or related field from an accredited college or university AND one (1) year of professional-level experience in environmental quality and/or planning fields, including substantive technical report writing.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is preferred but not required.
Special requirements
- Possession of a valid California driver’s license is required for this position.
- Candidates must complete required supplemental questions as part of the application.
- Applicants who receive a conditional offer will be subject to background checks consistent with applicable law.
Supplemental questions (required with application)
Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application (type N/A if not applicable):
- Do you possess a bachelor’s degree in planning or related subject? If yes, list institution and degree.
- Do you possess one (1) semester of related college coursework? If yes, list institution, course titles, and credits.
- Do you possess two (2) years of technical experience in environmental quality and/or planning fields? Provide employers, dates, and duties.
- Do you possess one (1) year of professional-level planning experience including technical report writing? Provide details.
- Do you possess AICP certification? If yes, provide certificate number.
- Do you acknowledge this position requires a valid California driver’s license? Yes / No
Physical demands & work environment
Work typically includes office-based tasks and occasional field work. Employees must be able to communicate effectively, sit or walk frequently, perform fine motor tasks, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific vision requirements include close and distance vision, color vision, and depth perception. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as required by law.
Other considerations
- All new employees are required to enroll in direct deposit for pay.
- Positions may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement; terms will vary.
- Confidential Client participates in lawful employment verification processes. Candidates will be informed about background checks and medical examinations as required by law.
- Confidential Client complies with the California Fair Chance Act and other applicable nondiscrimination laws.
Selection process & timeline
Applications and supplemental responses will be accepted until October 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM. Qualified applicants will be screened and may be invited to written and/or oral examinations, interviews, or other assessment steps. Meeting minimum qualifications does not guarantee participation in the selection process.
Keywords & skills (for search/SEO)
- Assistant Planner Keswick CA
- Associate Planner Keswick CA
- Land use planning
- CEQA environmental review
- Zoning ordinance review
- Planning reports and public presentations
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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