Planner I/II - Groundwater

The Napa Valley

Napa County is home to 140,000 residents who share a strong sense of community and a legacy of preserving and protecting our rich agricultural heritage.

Located in the heart of California's preeminent wine region, the Napa Valley is also part of the dynamic San Francisco Bay Metropolitan Area. With its sunny Mediterranean climate and proximity to the mountains and ocean, the Valley offers residents easy access to virtually unlimited shopping, dining, cultural and recreational opportunities.

The Napa Valley's strategic location, natural and cultural resources, history of responsible land use planning and attractive quality of life provide the ideal mix of small town living and big city amenities.

Napa County as an Employer

As an organization, Napa County is dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens and reflecting the best of the community's values: Respect, Accountability, Dedication, Integrity and Innovation. Learn more HERE .

The Position

The Planning, Building, and Environmental Services (PBES) department partners with the community to promote the health, safety, and sustainability of Napa County by providing a range of development services while balancing agricultural, environmental, and economic vitality. PBES is comprised of nine divisions: Planning, Building, Engineering & Conservation, Environmental Health, Natural Resources, Code Compliance, Parks, Administrative and Technical Support. The Department is supported by an $24+ million budget and 100+ full-time employees. Learn more about PBES HERE .

The Natural Resources Division is responsible for compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which encourages groundwater management at a local level, and implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Napa Valley Subbasin which is a detailed road map to achieve and maintain long-term sustainability. Our sustainability goal is to protect and enhance groundwater quality and quantity for all beneficial uses and users of groundwater and interconnected surface water now and in the future

Planner I/II is a flexibly staffed job series performing a full range of professional activities within the Natural Resources Division of the Planning, Building and Environmental Services Department. The difference in Planner levels depends on the complexity of the assignments and degree of independent judgment and responsibility required. The Planner I works under close supervision and perform the para-professional and less complex professional planning assignments.The Planner II is the journey level of the series and works under general supervision, while performing difficult, varied and complex professional planning assignments. This position is expected to perform the full range of planning duties with a significant degree of independent judgment and responsibility. Positions assigned to this class may also apply specialized and advanced level knowledge skills and abilities in the area to which they are assigned and may serve as a lead worker to lower planning level staff.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time vacancy, which may be filled at either level depending on qualifications. The list established by this recruitment may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and extra help vacancies for up to one year.

Specific duties to be performed by selected candidate for the “Planner I/II - Groundwater” position include:

• Assist Natural Resources Conservation Manager and Principal Planner with implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and associated watershed monitoring.
• Assisting with data collection at public and private groundwater monitoring wells around the county and maintain records of monitoring data and support required annual reporting to the State and public.
• Assist with water quality sampling of creeks during the rainy season.
• Assist with internal and external communication, public outreach and engagement efforts around groundwater and water resources topics. Provide timely responses to inquiries from the public. Maintain an email listserv and prepare monthly communiques to the public on water resources related topics.
• Assist with the conduct of public meetings including preparation and posting of meeting agendas, minutes, materials, and distribution lists.
• Assist with preparation of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for consulting services and program implementation to provide cost effective solutions, program resources and services. Review proposals and assist with recommendation of selection of consultants.
• Seek out relevant grant opportunities and assist with preparation, submittal and administration of grant applications.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong analytical skills and proficient in conducting research, data analysis and utilizing tools to evaluate and interpret data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey planning concepts and present findings.
• The ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong problem-solving abilities to identify issues, propose creative solutions, and evaluate the planning initiatives.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Detail oriented and ability to analyze data accurately.

Scheduled salary increases and Winter Time Off (WTO):

• 3.5% COLA increase effective 7/01/25
• 3.5% COLA increase effective 7/01/26
• 32.0 hours of paid Winter Time Off (WTO)

Experience and Education: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be: PLANNER I ( $ 41.85 - $ 50.01 hourly)

Option I
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with bachelor's degree in city, regional, land use or environmental planning, or related field .

Option II
Experience: Two years of the experience providing planning information to the public and processing administrative permits such as sign permits, temporary trailer permits, home occupations, event permits and ABC compliance checks.
AND Education: Graduation from an accredited college with an associate's degree in city, regional, land use or environmental planning or possession of a planning certification from an accredited college or professional planning association.

Option III
Experience: Four years of the experience providing planning information to the public and processing administrative permits such as sign permits, temporary trailer permits, home occupations, event permits and ABC compliance checks.

PLANNER II ( $ 48.25 - $ 57.74 hourly)

Experience: Two years professional experience in the planning, natural resources, water resources or sustainability/energy field.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in city, regional, land use or environmental planning, environmental policy, environmental science, hydrogeology or related field.

License or Certificate* for Planner I & II:

Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

*Any license, certification, or registration required for this position shall be maintained (i.e., active and in good standing) at all times during employment with Napa County. For continued employment with Napa County, you must maintain such license, certification, or registration to meet the minimum qualifications of this position.
The Recruitment Process

Application Deadline 5:00 pm (PST) JANUARY 3, 2025 Application Screening Week of January 6, 2025 Supplemental Questions Scoring By January 16, 2025
Supplemental questions will be scored by the subject matter experts. The most qualified applicants from the scoring of the supplemental questions will be invited for an Oral Panel Interview.
Oral Panel Interview Week of January 20, 2025 (Tentative)
The most qualified candidates from the oral panel exam will be placed on the eligibility list and may be considered to fill positions for up to one year.

The Human Resources Department reserves the right to change the recruitment process at any time.

Example of Duties

View the full job description, including the example of duties for Planner I or Planner II .

Benefits
Click here to learn more about the benefits package for this position.

ADA Accommodation
Applicants requiring accommodation during the application and/or selection process pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act should contact County of Napa Human Resources at (707) 253-4303.

Napa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Napa County employees automatically become Disaster Service Workers. This means that when Napa County experience emergencies (earthquakes, wildfire, power outage, etc.) you may be asked to pivot from your regular duties to provide critical services to those affected by the emergency (Cal. Gov. Code § 3101.)

PUBLIC SERVICES EMPLOYEES BENEFITS INFORMATION

SALARY -
Salaries are based on a five-step range. Appointments are usually made at the beginning step with advances occurring at six months and the completion of each year thereafter. Salary rates are reviewed annually.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS INFO -
Click here for additional benefits information forPublic ServicesEmployees:
https://www.countyofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/25886/Benefits-Summary---Public-Service-Employee-PSE

THESE BENEFITS DO NOT APPLY TO EXTRA HELP POSITIONS

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

PHYSICAL STANDARDS -
Certain designated County positions require a candidate to pass a physical examination prior to appointment. Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of this examination.

FINGERPRINTING -
All employees hired into allocated positions or extra help positions will be fingerprinted.

SELECTION PROCESS -

FOR POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT - The selection process will include an oral board interview, psychological assessment, background investigation, and a pre-employment physical exam.

Closing Date/Time: 1/3/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

1/3/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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