THIS IS A CITYWIDE RECRUITMENT FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY
This is an Exempt to Permanent position in accordance with Class-Based Test (CBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current exempt employees of the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, or San Francisco City College, working within the 5291 Planner III classification.
This is a Citywide Exam posting. Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam. If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification they may use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City's hiring process here: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/
Application Opening: February 6, 2026
Application Deadline: February 23, 2026
Compensation Range: $128,726 to $156,442/annually (Classification and Compensation Info) (https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/?classCode=5291&setId=COMMN)
Recruitment ID: E2P-5291-162982
FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY. This is an Exempt to Permanent position in accordance with Class-Based Test (CBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current exempt employees of the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, or San Francisco City College, working within the posted classification
San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.
Under direction, the Planner III performs difficult and responsible planning work in land use, zoning, development, recreation, urban design, urban economics and finance, housing, code enforcement, historic preservation and real estate; supervises or assists in the preparation and design of research surveys and projects and conducts the more difficult investigations; prepares or assists in the preparation of reports and planning studies; processes applications; provides information on planning policies, contracts, budgets, and procedures; conducts limited environmental reviews and may also coordinate environmental review processes; may manage capital improvement projects for a city department and may supervise subordinate personnel and lead team projects; assists in the development and implementation of planning policies and procedures; reviews various building and land use permit applications; prepares, checks, and reviews important technical records and plans; has considerable contact with representatives of government, community groups, developers, business organizations and the general public; and performs related duties as required.
Positions at Emergency Communications Department perform difficult and responsible disaster and emergency planning work in the areas of homeland security and emergency services planning citywide and perform other related duties as required. The duties and responsibilities of this position include: planning, coordinating, developing and promoting emergency service operations, plans and programs, and training of emergency services and pubic safety personnel; developing, implementing and evaluating comprehensive emergency master plans for natural disasters such as fire, earthquakes, floods and other operation emergencies including major accidents and other catastrophic events facing the City; and responding to local disasters and emergencies and any Emergency Operation Center activation.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
This is the advanced journey-level position in the Planner series. Planner III's may coordinate complex projects involving the resolution of conflicting interests and may supervise subordinate staff. Planner III is distinguished from Planner II by the responsibility for more difficult and complicated programs or projects, and the supervision of professional staff. Planner III is distinguished from Planner IV in that Planner IV's plan and direct the activities of a planning unit or regularly supervise a major program or project. Planner III is distinguished from Planner III Environmental Review in that the latter is an environmental review specialist, while the former may be assigned a wider range of planning duties.
Supervision Exercised: The Planner III may supervise the work of subordinate Planner I's and/or II's or administrative support staff.
MAJOR, IMPORTANT, AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES
According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.
Compiles, analyzes and interprets complex technical, physical, social, economic, and statistical data for urban policy development, planning and capital projects, zoning, permit application review, recreation plans, historic preservation, environmental review, code enforcement, and other legal requirements.
Conducts or facilitates effective public presentations for various planning topics.
Designs and prepares graphic presentations using computer applications, including maps, charts, models, sketches, graphs, and other applications for database management.
Prepares land use, urban design and policy plans.
May supervise and review the work of subordinates engaged in the performance of professional and sub professional level planning work.
Interprets and explains legal, technical, and procedural aspects of planning work for individuals, permit applicants and community groups; may represent the department in hearings or appear as a witness in court proceedings.
May assist and/or manage the work of consultants/contractors engaged in the work of capital projects, plans or programs which may include assisting in the preparation of RFP/RFQs, budgets, and grant applications for capital projects.
Studies and makes recommendations on the more complex development applications. Makes recommendations to the appropriate decision-making boards, and coordinates required notification and other processes.
Works with and/or coordinates the environmental review process, including coordinating and integrating required data and documents.
Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
When Assigned to Emergency Communications Department essential duties also include:
Compiles, analyzes and interprets complex technical, physical, and statistical data on a variety of disaster and general emergency services grant programs and other related elements.
Conducts special studies to assess the impact of disasters on specific areas and neighborhoods of the City; identifies areas where disasters, such as fires, floods, and earthquakes historically occur; assesses the impact on the City and develops mitigation plans to address disasters when they occur; and prepares comprehensive reports.
Coordinates and attends various meetings with a wide variety of individuals and groups to discuss, assess and develop effective plans and procedures for emergency management purposes.
Coordinates and/or performs the emergency services review process, including coordinating and integrating required data and documents.
Assesses City structures, properties, byways, traffic patterns and demographics to assist in coordinating, promoting and implementing emergency services programs, resource management, operational readiness, and response plans and capabilities. Develops and prepares a variety of operational and contingency plans for different City neighborhoods in response to identified natural and technological hazards. Formulates plans involving weapons of mass destruction safety, civil defenses, communications, emergency response, and directed hazard mitigation.
Identifies training needs of local emergency services personnel and organizations; prepares, executes various @type of training and education programs to other agencies and the general public.
Serves as the 24-hour Office of Emergency Services Duty Officer on a rotating basis. Responds to calls from citizens, the Emergency Communications Department and other agencies, and to the scene of emergency situations in the City as needed to support the command post operations and coordinate resources. Activates the Emergency Operations Center as needed in large scale emergencies.
Serves as liaison for grant related programs and efforts of homeland security, disaster and emergency service policy development and planning.
IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of: Principles, practices, purposes, scopes and techniques of various phases of urban planning, zoning, transportation, environmental review, urban design and urban economics; statistical and research methods and the sources of information relevant to specialty areas; federal, state and local laws and ordinances; graphic presentation methods; principles of supervision.
When assigned to Emergency Communications Department: Knowledge of: Emergency service and homeland security principles, practices, purposes and methodology; multi-hazard functional plan preparation, coordination and implementation; function of emergency operation centers, facilities, warning equipment and systems required during disaster/emergency operations; physical and statistical characteristics of City areas and neighborhoods that affect emergency service planning and programs; practices of supervision and personnel management, development and training; management information systems and related application; community emergency response needs and resources.
Ability to: Collect, analyze and interpret complex data; assess information in a variety of forms and from various sources and make judgments and recommendations; prepare written reports and make oral presentations of findings and recommendations in public hearings; and work effectively in a team environment; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with government agencies, community groups, special interest advocates, permit applicants, and the general public; design and carry out complex studies or projects; work collaboratively with staff and others; present technical information to a general audience.
Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
Minimum Qualifications
Current Category 16, 17, or 18 Exempt Employee in Class 5291 who has worked at least 2,080 hours in class 5291; AND
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university AND four (4) years (8,000 hours) of verifiable full-time-equivalent experience in an urban, city, regional and/or other related planning environment (such as transportation planning, environmental planning, architecture or urban design); OR
Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in City, Regional or Urban Planning, or a closely related field such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies or Environmental Studies AND two (2) years (4,000 hours) of verifiable full-time-equivalent experience in an urban, city, regional and/or other related planning environment (such as transportation planning, environmental planning, architecture or urban design).
When assigned to Emergency Communications Department: Possession of a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited four year college or university AND four (4) years of experience in emergency/disaster planning and management.
License and Certification: Positions at the Emergency Communications Department require a valid California driver license.
Verification of Education and Experience: Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/#:~:text=Employment%20Applications%20and%20Minimum%20Qualifications) for considerations taken when reviewing applications.
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.
Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
Special Requirements: Special Qualifications including specialized knowledge, abilities, education, experience, or license may be established for individual positions.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to a lower score.
Selection Procedures:
Job Application - Applicants must fully complete the job application for this recruitment on the City and County of San Francisco's website. Information from resumes does not substitute for the information on the job application or preliminary questionnaire.
Preliminary Questionnaire - Training and Experience Assessment (100% weight)- During the application process, candidates will be prompted to complete a Preliminary Questionnaire as part of the online employment process. Please answer the Preliminary Questionnaire carefully and thoroughly. It will serve as the Training and Experience Assessment for this recruitment and will be used to determine your eligibility for this recruitment as well as your score and rank on the eligible list. Qualified applicants will be ranked on the eligible list based on the length of their exempt City service (in Category 16, 17, and/or 18) in the 5291 job class, along with any additional qualifying points (e.g., promotive status), as outlined in Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules. All work history will be verified using official City records, which will serve as the final authority in determining qualifying service.
What else should I know?
Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.
The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 6 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director. To find Departments which use this classification, please see the city's (https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2022-23.pdf) Position Counts by Job Codes and Departments.
Certification Rule: The certification rule for this selection process will be Rule of the List.
Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/. The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
Information About the Hiring Process (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/)
Conviction History
Employee Benefits Overview (https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview)
Equal Employment Opportunity (https://sfdhr.org/equal-employment-opportunity)
Disaster Service Worker
ADA Accommodation (https://careers.sf.gov/accommodations/)
Veterans Preference
Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
Right to Work (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/#:~:text=Identification/Right%20to%20Work)
Copies of Application Documents
Diversity Statement (https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/#:~:text=Learn%20more-,Diversity%20Statement,-The%20City%20and)
Where to Apply
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.
Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall (https://www.sf.gov/city-career-center) , 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.
Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Michael Eng at Michael.Eng@sfgov.org. Please include the recruitment ID, E2P-5291-162982 in the subject line.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
