Planning Division Manager/Official

City of Moreno Valley

Description

The City of Moreno Valley Community Development Department seeks a skilled professional

to lead the Planning Division.

Apply today to be the next Planning Division Manager/Planning Official!

1st review of applications is planned for Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

This recruitment may close at any time without notice after the first review deadline.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Planning Manager/Planning Official oversees and integrates the City's planning programs, services, and staff under policy direction. This role involves developing policy, planning programs, managing budgets, and providing operational direction for the Planning Division. The incumbent will coordinate, manage, monitor, and evaluate the work of professional and technical planning staff. Responsibilities include ensuring that division objectives and goals are met within the guidelines established by the Community Development Director, City Manager, Planning Commission, and City Council, requiring a high degree of administrative discretion in execution. The Planning Manager will serve as staff to the Planning Commission and the Environmental and Historical Preservation Commission and must be able to attend evening meetings and occasional weekend events.

Job Description

Click here to access the complete classification description, including the experience, education, and physical and mental requirements for this job.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Our ideal candidate for the Planning Manager/Planning Official position will have extensive knowledge of urban planning principles, City code promulgation, and community development activities within a city government framework. They will possess a proven ability to plan, direct, manage, coordinate, and integrate comprehensive planning programs and services. The candidate should be well-versed in federal, state, and local laws and regulations, with strong skills in public administration, effective management, and communication. They will have a track record of exercising sound independent judgment, presenting recommendations persuasively in public meetings, and establishing effective working relationships with city officials, staff, and the public. Strong leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to maintaining the city's character and natural resources are essential qualities for success in this role.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, city or regional planning, urban planning, or a closely related field; OR, equivalent related work experience; AND

A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional and administrative experience in municipal planning and development; AND

At least three (3) years of experience in a supervisory or program/project management capacity.

About The Planning Division

The Planning Division recommends and implements land use policies, processes land use applications, and prepares and processes updates and revisions to the General Plan, Municipal Code, Landscape Guidelines, and Design Guidelines. This division provides staff support to the City Council, the Planning Commission, the Environmental and Historical Preservation Board, and the Project Review Staff Committee. For more information about the Planning Division, please click here.

About The Community Development Department

The Community Development Department provides a variety of development and business services related to enhancing the quality of life in the community. The Community Development function provides planning, building, and code compliance services. The Building & Safety Division provides building plans examination services and conducts field inspections of buildings under construction to ensure that the City’s building environment adheres to established construction codes. The Planning Division processes land use applications in accordance with the provisions of the City’s Development Code, General Plan, Landscape Guidelines, applicable Specific plan requirements, CEQA, and other State and Federal requirements.

OUR CITY

Moreno Valley was incorporated in 1984 as a General Law City, merging the communities of Moreno, Sunnymead, and Edgemont. The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of an elected Mayor and four Council Members elected by district. The City has a committee, a customer-service oriented workforce comprised of more than 450 employees who provide a wide range of municipal services, including Public Works, Economic Development, Community Development, Parks and Community Services, and Library services. The City contracts with Riverside County for Police and Fire services.

OUR COMMUNITY

The City of Moreno Valley is a dynamic City home to nearly 215,000 people and 4,500 businesses. Inland Southern California’s economic hub, Moreno Valley, is the second largest city in Riverside County and the 21st largest city in the state of California. Numerous national and international Fortune 500 companies, including Procter & Gamble, Amazon, Karma Automotive, AYRO, Inc., Skechers USA, Aldi Foods, Deckers Outdoor, Walgreens, Philips Electronics, ResMed, Medline, Harbor Freight Tools, Solaris Pap, er and Fisher and Paykel, have selected Moreno Valley as their ideal business location.

Moreno Valley is home to Riverside University Health Systems and Kaiser Permanente, which continue to expand. Moreno Valley continues to add to its parks and trails system with 33 parks, 15 miles of trails, and the recently opened Civic Center Amphitheater, 3 City libraries, a golf course, Senior Community Center, and 4 community centers, making Moreno Valley an ideal location to live, play, and work.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants possessing the MOST DESIRABLE qualifications at each level, based on a screening of required application materials, including the completed Supplemental Questionnaire, will be invited to continue in the selection process. The City of Moreno Valley prioritizes and is committed to continuously providing a workplace where equal employment opportunity is afforded to all people.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS: Human Resources (HR) reviews all application materials to determine whether candidates meet the established minimum and preferred qualifications once the position has closed. Those who qualify will be advanced to the next stage of the recruitment process. All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status.

Application Screening

Applications and supplemental materials will be reviewed to identify candidates whose qualifications best align with the essential requirements of the position. Only those applicants who meet the criteria outlined in the job bulletin will advance to the next phase of the selection process.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List: Once the appraisal is complete, HR will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Disclaimers

The City of Moreno Valley is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The City of Moreno Valley prioritizes and is committed to continuously providing a workplace where equal employment opportunity is afforded to all people. As part of this commitment, the City of Moreno Valley will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.

If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the interview process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or (951) 413-3045.

All New Division Manager positions are At-Will Employment/Contract positions.

BENEFITS: For an overview of the City of Moreno Valley's excellent benefit offerings, please click the following link: City of Moreno Valley Benefits Overview

SELECTION PROCESS: Following an administrative review of each application, only the most qualified applicants will be invited to an oral interview and/or testing. The successful candidate will be required to pass a medical examination, and to submit original documentation to establish both work authorization and identity (per the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986). Criminal background investigations will be conducted, and, in accordance with our Drug Free Workplace Policy, a Drug Screening Test will be required.

The City of Moreno Valley is an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. For further information regarding this position, contact the Human Resources Department at (951) 413-3045.

The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

This supplemental questionnaire is used to further evaluate your experience and education to determine your eligibility for this position. Responses should be complete and specific, describing work you have actually performed, the level and purpose of the work performed and how often. To be considered for this position, the experience you indicate in your responses to the supplemental questions must also be described, in detail, on the Work History/Experience section of your Employment Application. A resume will not be considered in determining your qualifications. A response of "see resume" or "see application" for any of the supplemental questions will result in the questions not being scored. Please check Yes/No if you understand the above requirement.

Please Indicate the highest level of education you have completed.

Less than High School Diploma or GED
High School Diploma or GED
Some college coursework completed (less than 59 semester units or less than 89 quarter units)
Associate's Degree (at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units)
Bachelor's Degree (at least 120 semester units or 180 quarter units)
Master's Degree or higher

Do you possess experience working in a municipal and /or governmental environment?

If you answered "Yes" to the question above, please provide the name of the government agency where you gained your experience. ("See Resume" is not a valid response, if you do not have this experience, put N/A)

How many years of supervisory experience do you possess?

No experience
Less than one (1) year
One (1) - two (2) years
Three (3) years or more

Please share an example of a major planning project you've managed and key challenges you faced.