Assistant Planner

The City of Turlock is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant Planner. The Assistant Planner classification is the entry level position in the professional planning series. Since this is an entry level classification, incumbents in the Assistant Planner position may only have limited work-related experience and are expected to carryout assignments with a greater degree of supervision.

This classification is assigned to the Turlock City Employees Association bargaining unit for labor relations purposes and is subject to overtime, call back, and standby assignments.

An eligibility list will be established from this recruitment that will be valid for six (6) months. All employees serve a one (1) year probationary period.

Essential Functions:

Under direct supervision, Assistant Planners perform a broad range of professional planning and technical assignments supporting the development review, long-range, and special project programs for the City of Turlock. Essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provides information to the public via telephone, front counter assistance, and/or email and Internet.
• Conducts research on projects concerning land use, transportation, zoning, population, and the economy.
• Assists in the compilation, analysis, and presentation of data.
• Assists in the drafting and administration of ordinances and policies related to the city's planning program.
• Prepares and presents reports to the Planning Commission, and other governing bodies, as needed.
• Presents and explains projects, programs, and planning related issues at public meetings.
• Prepares graphics, charts, and other illustrative materials.
• Works as part of a team assigned to various projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to:

• Review, collect, analyze, and interpret data pertaining to planning.
• Understand governmental structures and current policy issues affecting the city.
• Prepare clear and concise verbal and written reports.
• Complete work assignments in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the public.
• Use personal computers generally and word processing programs (MS Word) specifically.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices applying to city planning.
• Basic statistical measurements and methods of analysis.
• Engineering/architectural drawings and site plans.

Experience and Education:

Any combination of experience and education/training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the listed knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Two (2) years of experience working for a governmental or quasi governmental or private agency related to land use issues.  A Mater's Degree in Planning, Public Administration, or a related field may be substituted for some work experience.

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Economics, Geography, or a related field  or  Completion of an accredited certificate program in land use planning approved by the City of Turlock may be substituted for the Bachelor's Degree requirement.

LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATES 

License:

Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California Driver's License at the time of appointment, to be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Desirable Qualifications:

Bilingual (Spanish)

Physical Requirements:

Vision adequate to operate vehicles and office equipment, read instructions and follow directions; hearing adequate to converse on the telephone and in person; body mobility adequate to drive and perform required office duties including reaching and bending for files and related office items; use of hands and fingers adequate for operating vehicles, writing, typing, computer, copier, and fax machine and related functions; ability to lift office files, binders and small office equipment, as needed.

Selection Process:

1. All applicants must complete a standard City of Turlock Application for Employment form, supplemental questionnaire and submit the following documentation:

• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree and/or
• Certificate of Completion for accredited program in land use.

2. You may submit your required documentation using the following options:

• Attach a scanned copy in the “Add Attachment” option (of the Neo Gov online application) or
• Fax a copy to (209) 668-5529 or
• Email a copy toagodinez@turlock.ca.us or
• Hand deliver copies of your attachment to 156 S. Broadway, Suite 235, Turlock, CA 

Applications will be rejected if they are incomplete or required documentation is not attached.  If you are applying online and attaching documentation to your application, you may contact Human Resources to assure all of your documentation was received.

3.  Applications will be reviewed for possession of the minimum qualifications. In the event that a large number of applicants possess the minimum qualifications, applicants who appear to be the most qualified based on their breadth and recency of experience will be invited to compete in the testing process.

4. Candidates invited to compete in the testing process may be required to take a written examination, which will be based on a pass/fail basis. If a written examination is conducted and a large number of candidates receive a passing score, the City reserves the right to invite a percentage of the top scoring candidates to compete in the next phase of the testing process, the oral examination. The oral examination is tentatively scheduled the week of  December 8, 2025.  

 5. Candidates who are invited to participate in the oral examination and receive a score of 70% or more will be placed on an eligibility list. Ranking on the eligibility list will be based solely on the results from the oral exam.

 6.  Completion of a practical exercise may be conducted in order to further evaluate skills relating to essential job functions

 7.   Top candidates on the eligibility list will be referred to the Development Services Director for final appointment consideration.

  8.  Final appointment will be contingent upon passing the following: reference review, medical examination which includes a drug/alcohol screening,   hearing exam and vision exam.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE SYSTEM

The City of Turlock has adopted a veteran's preference system (effective January 1, 2002). The percentage score achieved through an entrance (non-promotional) examination which ranks applicants on an eligibility list shall be adjusted to provide: (a) one (1) percentage point added to the final test score for each six (6) months of active service during a time of armed conflict, up to a maximum of five (5) points, and (b) five (5) percentage points added to the final test score for veterans who are disabled as a result of active military service during a time of armed conflict, regardless of length of service. To receive preference points, applicants must provide supporting documentation and proof of honorable discharge. In no event shall an applicant receive more than a five (5) point adjustment. This request should be made in section #12 of the employment application form. A copy of your DD214 must be attached for this request to be considered.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Turlock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are sincerely interested in receiving applications from qualified minorities, women and the disabled. Qualified applicants receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, political affiliation or belief except where indicated by requirements of the job. The City of Turlock will make every effort to accommodate applicants that have disabilities that would not allow them to compete in the announced process. Applicants are asked to indicate their request for accommodation in the application form.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND FINGERPRINTING:

The incumbent will be required to take a medical examination including a drug/alcohol screening and be fingerprinted.

CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICY:

The City of Turlock is committed to quality service to our customers. Our goal is to create a positive, productive and courteous atmosphere for our employees and customers. Employees are evaluated on the quality of customer service they provide.

BENEFITS

• Holidays:  Eleven (11) paid holidays and three (3) floating holidays.
• Vacation:  Paid vacation that increases with years of service.
• Sick Leave:  Accrual of one day (eight (8) hours) for each month worked.
• Retirement:  Qualified candidates who are currently a Cal PERS member or have been a Cal PERS member within the last six (6) months or are subject to reciprocity with another eligible retirement plan, may be a "classic member" and may be enrolled in the City's 2.7% @ 55 plan.  Employee pays employee contribution rate of 9% on a pre-tax basis. Cal PERS "final compensation" may be based on the highest twelve (12) continuous months of qualifying employment. Non-classic or "new members" will be enrolled in the 2% @ 62 plan and Cal PERS "final compensation" will be based on the highest thirty-six (36) continuous months of qualifying employment.
• Deferred Compensation:  The City will match employee's contribution up to one half of one percent (0.5%) of the employee's base salary for each pay period in which employee contributes to the program.
• Retiree Health Savings (RHS) Vantage Care:  Two (2) percent of the employee's base payroll will be deposited in each individual's RHS Vantage Care account.
• Health:  The City offers a generous health, prescription, vision, and dental insurance plans for employees and dependents.
• Continuous Service Pay:
   Beginning with the tenth (10th) year and every year thereafter, 1.5% of base salary.
   Beginning with the fifteenth (15th) year and every year thereafter, 1.5% of base salary.
   Beginning with the twentieth (20th) year and every year thereafter, 1.5% of base salary.
• Additional Benefits:  
   Associate/Bachelor/Master's Degree Incentive Pay (If not listed as a minimum qualification)*
   Educational Reimbursement Program*
   Computer Loan Program*
   *Upon completion of probation.

NOTES:  
Information contained herein does not constitute an expressed or implied contract as it is subject to change.

WHERE TO APPLY
City of Turlock
Human Resources Division
156 S. Broadway, Suite 235
Turlock, CA 95380

OR

Visit our website at www.cityofturlock.org to apply.

All applications must be returned to the Human Relations Department no later than Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

POSTMARKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627.

recblid tjfy4qxa9fv4tyumbrlvv12fhvhlrf