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JOB. From the City of Half Moon Bay on October 16th, 2025.
Close Date: 11/7/2025 at 5pm or until 200 applicants.
Location: 501 Main Street Half Moon Bay, 94019
Salary: $123,228.00-$149,772.00 Annually.
DESCRIPTION
The City of Half Moon Bay Community Development Department invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Senior Planner. The Department is seeking an attentive and well-qualified Senior Planner Supervisor to join the Planning Division.The Senior Planner reviews and manages complex development projects through the entitlement process, oversees professional planning assignments, manages long-range planning studies, and incorporates meaningful community engagement into planning initiatives. At any given time, the Senior Planner may be interpreting zoning regulations, managing consultant work, preparing detailed project analyses, or advising the public on planning matters.
The Senior Planner reports to the Community Development Director and supervises more junior planners. Senior Planners may also serve as project manager for major private development proposals and City planning projects, serve as Deputy Zoning Administrator, and act as staff liaison to the Planning Commission.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Manage a variety of complex planning projects, including residential, commercial, and mixed-use development.
- Apply policies and procedures of the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP), General Plan, and zoning regulations.
- Direct consultant services for CEQA and technical reviews.
- Conduct and present analyses of planning proposals; prepare staff reports and recommendations.
- Facilitate public engagement and represent the City at meetings, workshops, and hearings.
- Provide guidance to architects, contractors, developers, and the general public regarding development standards.
- Supervise and mentor planning staff in best practices and project review.
- Coordinate interdepartmental project review and collaborate with external agencies.
- Attend evening and weekend meetings as required.
Job PDF:Â 
 HMB – Senior Planner Classification.pdf
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, team-oriented planning professional who thrives in a small-town coastal community setting. They will have:
- Strong knowledge of CEQA, the California Coastal Act, Subdivision Map Act, and other state/federal planning regulations.
- Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Skills in project management, public engagement, and staff supervision.
- Ability to balance current and long-range planning work while providing excellent customer service.
- Clear and effective communication skills, both written and oral.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban/regional planning, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or a closely related field.
Experience: Five (5) years of professional planning experience. A master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience.
Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a valid California Class “C” Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record.
BENEFITS
Retirement:Â PERS Classic employee receives 2% at 55; single highest year and PEPRA employee receives 2% at 62, with highest 3 years. Classic employees pay 7% employee contribution and PEPRA employees pay half the normal costs (currently 6.5%). The City of Half Moon Bay does not participate in Social Security, except the required Medicare.
Health Insurance: Employee can choose from medical plans provided through CalPERS. Dental Insurance is available through Delta Dental and Vision coverage is available through VSP. The City provides an allowance of $1,900 per month, which can be used for medical premiums. Any unused portion may be taken as additional compensation.
Dental and Vision premiums are paid by the employer up to family coverage.
Other Insurance: The City provides long-term disability coverage equal to 2/3 of monthly salary to a maximum of $6,000/mo.
Life Insurance: City provides coverage equal to 1 X annual base salary.
Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year.
Vacation: Accrual of 12 days annually for the first four years; increasingly periodically thereafter to 23 days annually after 21 years.
Administrative Leave: 12 days per year. Sick Leave: Accrual at the rate of 12 days per year.
Education Incentive: $1,500 annually for eligible expenses upon approval.
Deferred Compensation: Voluntary participation in ICMA or CalPERS 457 plans are available.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Filing Deadline: Friday, November 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
To be considered, submit a complete online application and current resume CalOpps. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all documents are received. SELECTION PROCESS Applicants’ qualifications will be evaluated based on information provided on th employment application. the exam process may consist of an application appraisal, oral interview, and written exam. The City reserves the right to use alternative testing procedures if deemed necessary. CITY COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE SELECTION WILL BE VIA-E-MAIL. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE E-MAIL ON YOUR APPLICATION. Finalist interview/assessment will be held at the City of Half Moon Bay.Â
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EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City of Half Moon Bay is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, or sexual orientation. Candidates needing accommodation in the recruitment process should advise Human Resources when submitting their application.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Public Employee Disaster Service Worker:Â In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all City of Half Moon Bay employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.
Employee must complete SB 1343 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.
For questions, please contact Ernest Azevedo, Management Analyst, at eazevedo@halfmoonbay.gov or Contact phone: (650)726-8783
About Half Moon Bay
In keeping with its motto “Vivir, Trabajar, Jugar” (Live, Work, Play), the City of Half Moon Bay offers a variety of attractions, stylish eateries, hotels, diverse neighborhoods and a variety of recreational activities-all set among the world-class natural wonders of the California coastline. Incorporated in 1959, the City is on the Pacific coast, approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco in the westernmost portion of San Mateo County.
The historic downtown is home to numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other businesses. Local beaches and parks can be accessed by pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians. The City and coastside are home to numerous nurseries and farms, many of which sell their products at roadside stands. The City’s Pumpkin Festival hosts hundreds of thousands of people interested in enjoying the panoramic vistas, fine cuisine, arts, crafts and genuine hospitality. With its charming community, caring neighbors and enjoyable activities, Half Moon Bay is definitely a great place to live, work and play.
More on the Half Moon Bay City Council on Coastside Buzz
Half Moon Bay City Council Meetings ~ 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7:00pm
The City Council of Half Moon Bay is the City’s governing body, and consists of five elected members. The Council sets priorities and policies, makes final decisions on all major City matters, adopts ordinances and resolutions, appoints the City Manager and City Attorney, and approves the annual budget.
The Half Moon Bay City Council typically meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month starting at 7:00pm at the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue.
HMB City Council Agendas and Zoom Links
Regular meeting agendas are posted 72 hours in advance.
Special meeting agendas are posted 24 hours in advance.
– Streamed live on Comcast Channel 27 and Pacific Coast TV website
– Facebook Live in English: City of Half Moon Bay FB Page
– Facebook Live in Spanish: City of Half Moon Bay Recreation FB Page
Comments in accordance with the three-minute per speaker limit. The City Clerk will read all comments into the record. Please visit our “Commenting at a City Council Meeting” information page.
– Email Maggie Rodriguez, Assistant City Clerk, at MRodriguez@hmbcity.com prior to or during the meeting
– Facebook live during the meeting
– Phone during the meeting: (650) 477-4963 (English) and (650) 445-3090 (Spanish)
Archived HMB City Council meeting videos on PCTv
Subscribe to HMB’s Agendas, Weekly eNews, Project Updates, City alerts, Calendar Events, Bid Postings.
You can also learn about City Council Procedures and Decorum.
The City Council develops Strategic Elements to help focus the City’s actions and work plans on its key priorities.
Do You Know How the 1953 Brown Act Guides Public Agencies Towards Transparency?
City Council Contact
Phone: (650) 726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)
Mayor Robert Brownstone, District 1; Term ends 2026
RBrownstone@hmbcity.com
Vice Mayor Debbie Ruddock, District 4; Term ends 2026
DRuddock@hmbcity.com
Councilmember Deborah Penrose, District 5, Term ends 2026
DPenrose@hmbcity.com
Councilmember Patric Bo Jonsson, District 2, Term Ends 2028
PJonsson@hmbcity.com
Councilmember Paul Nagengast, District 3; Term Ends 2028
PNagengast@hmbcity.com
The City of Half Moon Bay holds district-based elections for its five city council seats. Each Councilmember is elected to a 4 year term. There are no term limits in Half Moon Bay. The City Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and one to serve as Vice Mayor, on an annual basis.
- November 2024 Election – Districts 2 and 3 will elect a representative to a four-year term.
- November 2026 Election – Districts 1, 4, and 5 will elect a representative to a four-year term.
Click here to figure out which district you are in. Type your address into the interactive map and it will show you which district you are in.
Author: mdrag
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