Planning Investigator

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants to one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.   
The Planning & Building Department oversees regulations for the City's growth and development. By reviewing project plans, enforcing local ordinances, developing neighborhood plans, and responding to public concerns, we work to create an environment that supports the health and welfare of all Oaklanders.

 
Our department seeks dynamic individuals with a positive outlook, outgoing personality, and the ability to adapt and excel in our fast-paced, yet detail-oriented team environment. We are looking for someone who: Able to handle stressful and sensitive situations: y ou will interact with diverse groups and must effectively manage each situation you encounter . Can coordinate functions and activities between departments: you will act as a liaison between different departments and facilitate teamwork. Can communicate effectively in both oral and written form: you will communicate with diverse groups with varying degrees of understanding. Prepare reports, proposals, and other written materials: your written materials will play a crucial role in informing decision-makers and communicating complex information effectively to stakeholders. What you will typically be responsible for: Assisting in performing Zoning Inspections of permitted construction projects as necessary to confirm planning compliance. Coordinating with Inspection Services staff to monitor project compliance with Zoning codes, planning conditions of approval, guideline requirements, and other applicable land use codes. Identifying planning compliance requirements applicable to permitted construction projects, as per planning approval letters, staff reports, CEQA documents, City Council Resolutions, Compliance Tables, etc. Generating complaint correspondence (i.e. Courtesy Notices, NOV, Billing Requests, Warrants, Liens, Compliance Plans. Issuing infraction citations for violations of approved conditions. Investigating alleged code violations and respond to complaints. Coordinating abatement strategy as needed with Zoning, CMO (Nuisance Abatement Unit), CAO, OPD, etc. Recording and documenting abatement progress on Accela (permit tracking system). Read the complete job description by clicking here: Planning Investigator
Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!
Working for the City of Oakland   A few reasons you might love this job:   You will be part of a productive work environment that fosters growth, efficiency, and achievement. You will be making a positive impact on the residents of Oakland and the wider community. You will join a team that is both helpful and considerate, fostering an enjoyable and supportive work environment. A few challenges you might face in this job: You will need to navigate intricate issues and develop innovative solutions quickly and efficiently. You will need to manage stressful situations and interactions with internal and external customers. You will need to quickly evaluate and manage multiple demands ensuring efficient service and prioritizing critical tasks. Competencies Required: Critical Thinking : Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations Professional & Technical Expertise : Applying technical subject matter to the job Attention to Detail : Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products Informing : Proactively obtaining and sharing information Oral Communication : Engaging effectively in dialogue Writing : Communicating effectively in writing Handling & Resolving Conflict : Managing interpersonally strained situations Interpersonal Savvy: Considering and responding appropriately to the needs and feelings of others in different situations Professional Impact : Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization Teamwork : Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications is acceptable: Education:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in planning, zoning, architecture or closely related field. Experience:
Two (2) years of planning, code enforcement, and/or inspection related work experience including public contact. Previous experience performing investigations is highly desirable. LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE / OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of a valid California Driver's License to be maintained throughout duration of employment.
Certification by California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CASEO) must be obtained within 12 months of appointment to this position, unless the appointee is otherwise exempted based on California Building Standards Code 18949.28. The Planning Investigator is required to maintain possession of a valid inspector certification throughout tenure of employment with the City of Oakland and renew on or before expiration. Failure to maintain this certificate may result in dismissal from employment.

 
Certification as a building inspector from the International Code Council (ICC) is desirable.

 
Certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.

 
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
May be required to conduct field visits on nights and weekends and outside of standard work hours.

 
Must be willing to work outdoors and in a variety of weather conditions. The Recruitment Process:
The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the "minimum qualifications" listed for each position.
Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.
Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.
In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.
For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be sent a writing exercise, which will then be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. The tentative date that the writing exercise will be sent to you for completion is the week of June 24, 2024.
For some recruitments, more than one type of assessment may be used. Depending on the number of candidates who pass the first assessment (writing exercise) you may be asked to complete a secondary assessment before the recruitment is finalized. If a secondary assessment is scheduled, you will be notified by email with specific details. If a secondary assessment is not scheduled, department hiring interviews will occur during this time frame.
 
Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you're applying to a "restricted" posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.
The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.   What's in it for you?  Work/Life Balance : 37.5 hour work weeks, and a flexible/hybrid remote schedule 15 paid holidays Vacation – 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service Retirement – CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security Health – The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans Dental – The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents Vision – The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents Sick leave – Employees accrue 12 days per year Deferred Compensation – 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & possible Telecommuting. Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list. Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency. How to Apply Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system.  APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:
 
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
 
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system.   For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Jessica Daubenmire-Chambers at:  .