The City of Orinda
Director of Planning
The City of Orinda is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin or protected veteran status. Candidates with a
disability which may require special assistance in any phase of the
application or testing process should submit a request for
accommodation with the application. Documentation of the need for
accommodation must accompany the request.
The
City of Orinda is located in southwest Contra Costa County, within 20
minutes of downtown San Francisco. Orinda incorporated as a City in 1985,
after more than 100 years of gradual development, and the City has a reputation
as a well-managed and stable municipal government. One of the primary reasons
for the support by residents of the incorporation effort was the desire for local
decision-making and, in particular, decision-making relative to land use
planning and development application review. As a relatively new city, with a
population of 17,600 and an annual operating budget of $12.1 million, Orinda
employees exemplify the City of Orinda Mission Statement:
“Orinda strives to provide excellent service in a fiscally responsible manner and
to promote a safe, healthy and vibrant community.”
Orinda is a family-oriented community with a semi-rural setting. In contrast to the more urban existence of the
surrounding area, the tree-studded hillsides of the 12.8 square-mile City contribute to Orinda's aesthetic beauty.
Natural beauty, excellent schools, safety, history, culture and close proximity to major San Francisco Bay locations
and activities make Orinda a delightful place in which to work, live, visit and play!
Orinda residents are actively involved in local decisions regarding the quality of life and the future direction of
their city. This passion also extends to the elected at large five member City Council, all who are volunteers.
Orinda staff is divided administratively into five operating departments: Administrative/City Manager’s Office,
Parks and Recreation, Planning, Police Services and Public Works & Engineering Services.
City Hall is a Certified LEED green building, which demonstrates Orinda’s commitment to environmental
stewardship to its citizens and surrounding communities, and is centrally located within the Orinda Village side of
downtown.
The Director is the head of the Planning Department, reporting directly to the City Manager. This position has
full management responsibility for overseeing five FTEs, as well as contract staff. The Director staffs the Planning
Commission and attends City Council meetings, requiring attendance at evening meetings. The Department is
comprised of four primary functions including:
Administration – general duties related to Planning operations including budget preparation and oversight
(approximately $1 million), staffing the Historic Landmark Committee, records management, and public
information requests related to Planning.
Current Planning – activities related to processing of development applications and includes discretionary reviews
by the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, and City Council.
Code Enforcement – enforcement of the Municpal Code specifically related to issues of neighbor relations,
preservation and enhancement of neighborhood appearance, and enforcement of the Tree Management ordinance.
Advanced Planning – addresses planning functions which are long range in nature and address the development
and adoption of the City’s planning goals, regulations, and guidelines.
The Position
Primary duties of the position include:
♦ Assumes full management responsibility for all Planning Department services and activities, including code
enforcement, planning, building permits, and housing; coordinate development activities with the Contra Costa
County Conservation and Development Department;
♦ Manage the development and implementation of Planning Department goals, objectives, policies and priorities
for each assigned area; establish, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; allocate resources
accordingly;
♦ Represent the Planning Department to other City Departments, elected officials and outside
♦ agencies, explain and interpret Planning Department programs, policies, and activities; negotiate and resolve
sensitive significant and controversial issues;
♦ Select, train, motivate and evaluate Planning Department personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work
with employees as a mentor;
♦ Advise, and otherwise provide assistance to the City Council, the Planning Commission, other City personnel,
and the public, prepare and present reports and recommendations relating to the physical and economic
development of the community;
♦ Supervise and perform technical analysis and interpretation of pertinent community, demographic, and physical
data relating to community revitalization;
♦ Confer with developers, architects, traffic engineers, geotechnical engineers, representatives of residential and
commercial interests, property owners, and others in promoting and coordinating the development and use of
property within the City; confer with other City staff on related activities;
♦ Identify opportunities for improving the City’s economic base;
♦ Provide professional advice and assistance to business groups, property owners, and developers on strategies for
planning and zoning.
Challenges/Opportunities facing the Department and position are as follows:
♦ Providing strong leadership to the Planning staff – the Department experienced a complete turnover in staffing
this past year, which consequently provides a unique opportunity for the new Director to mentor and help shape
the direction of Planning services;
♦ Being part of the community conversation regarding a Downtown strategy – it is anticipated that the new
Director will be a resource to the community for discussing a vision for Downtown Orinda;
♦ Processing Design Review Applications and Amending the Development Agreement for the Wilder project –
this project consists of 245 home sites, five community ball fields, a public clubhouse, a private swim and fitness
facility, a public Art and Garden Center, a network of walking, bicycle and equestrian trails; and over 1,300 acres
of open space. Recently there has been a marked increase in the level of design review activity at the Wilder
subdivision and a strong interest in revising the process for review and approval of submittals;
♦ Refining the code enforcement relationship with the Contra Costa County Conservation and Development
Department – the City contracts with Contra Costa County for Building Permit and Code Enforcement
functions. A better understanding and implementation of services is currently under discussions between the
City and the County.
The Ideal Candidate
A high energy, motivated leader with a management style that quickly fosters trust
and respect by demonstrating a collaborative style will be necessary to be a success
in this role. The committed “hands on” individual must be well versed in both
current and advanced planning and be capable of implementing a process that
allows customers to obtain planning/zoning assistance. The selected candidate
must use good judgment and be forward thinking in providing recommendations
and solutions in keeping Orinda a financially sustainable and professional
community.
The ideal background for the new Planning Director will include eight years
management/supervisory experience. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited
college or university with major coursework in urban planning, public
administration, business administration or a related field is required. Possession of
a Master’s degree is desirable.
Compensation and Benefits
The City of Orinda offers an attractive benefit package which includes:
♦ Salary: The annual salary range for this full - time position is $106,456 - $129,898, and is based on qualifications.
♦ Retirement: The City contributes 10% of salary to an ICMA 401(a) defined contribution plan.
Note: The City does not participate in a defined benefit pension plan (i.e. CalPERS), or Social Security.
The City does participate in Medicare.
♦ Deferred Compensation: Employees have an option of participating in a ICMA 457 deferred compensation
plan where contributions are from employee earnings with the City matching up to 3% and with total
contributions not to exceed the IRS limit.
♦ Medical and Dental Insurance: The City offers a choice of medical program benefit plans. The City
contributes up to the cost of the Kaiser coverage for employee and family and contributes the cost of Delta
Dental Plan and Vision Plan for employee and family. An in-lieu medical option is available.
♦ General Leave: In lieu of vacation and sick leave, the City provides General Leave of 19 days during
the first year of employment. Accrual is increased by one day for each subsequent year up to a
maximum of 25 days.
♦ Management Leave: 80 hours will be granted annually.
♦ Holidays: The City observes 12.5 paid holidays. This includes 2 floating holidays.
♦ Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability: The City pays for a life insurance policy for an amount equal to
annual salary, as well as the cost of the monthly premium for Long Term Disability.
♦ Other Benefits: The City offers a Flexible Benefits Plan for health and dependent care expenses.
The Process
To be considered for this exceptional opportunity, please send City of Orinda application and resume to City of
Orinda, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563, ATTN: Human Resources by Monday, October 26, 2015. Obtain
application at www.cityoforinda.org or call (925) 253-4220. Applications faxed or emailed not considered.