The Position The Town of Los Altos Hills is seeking an experienced and collaborative Planning Manager to serve as a key member of the Community Development Department's leadership team. Reporting to the Community Development Director, the Planning Manager will help lead the Town's planning division by providing technical leadership to staff, managing consultant teams, and serving as the primary project manager for the Town's long-range planning initiatives while also overseeing its most complex current planning projects. The Planning Manager is being recruited to expand the Town's planning capacity as California planning and housing law continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. While many jurisdictions remain focused on achieving Housing Element compliance, Los Altos Hills has successfully adopted a certified Housing Element and is current on the implementation of its Housing Element programs. This position provides a unique opportunity to focus on the next generation of planning initiatives rather than recovering from past deficiencies. Unlike many jurisdictions, Los Altos Hills is almost exclusively a residential community. The Town does not permit commercial or industrial development, with conditional uses generally limited to religious, governmental, and educational facilities. This allows the Planning Manager to concentrate on high-quality residential planning, complex land use policy, Housing Element implementation, General Plan maintenance, zoning updates, environmental stewardship, wildfire resilience, and other long-range planning initiatives that preserve and enhance the Town's unique character. The Planning Manager will work within a well-supported and collaborative department that includes a Planning Technician, two Assistant Planners, a Senior Planner, and two Department Analysts. In addition to leading the Town's planning program, the Planning Manager will serve as the direct supervisor for the planning team, providing day-to-day leadership, coaching, mentorship, performance management, and professional development while fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment. The position is supported by consultant teams specializing in planning, environmental review, housing, engineering, and other technical disciplines, allowing the Planning Manager to focus on project leadership, policy development, and strategic implementation. The Planning Manager will also receive direct support and mentorship from the Community Development Director, who brings extensive experience in planning, building, engineering, emergency management, sustainability, and organizational leadership. This collaborative leadership structure provides an exceptional opportunity for an experienced planner seeking to expand their management responsibilities while working alongside a multidisciplinary executive. The Town has invested significantly in modernizing its Community Development Department through continuous process improvement, organizational enhancements, technology investments, and strategic staffing. Deferred work has been substantially addressed, the department is operating from a position of strength, and the Town enjoys a positive working relationship with its residents, who are actively engaged in community planning and frequently express their appreciation and support for staff. The Planning Manager will serve as a strategic partner to the Community Development Director and work closely with the Planning Commission, City Council, advisory committees, regional agencies, and community stakeholders to advance the Town's planning priorities and maintain compliance with evolving State planning requirements. The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated and collaborative leader who is comfortable working independently while building strong partnerships across departments and with outside agencies. The successful candidate will possess demonstrated experience with California housing law, Housing Element implementation, SB 330, zoning and General Plan updates, and other advanced planning initiatives. Strong project management, political awareness, consultant management, and public engagement skills are essential, along with a passion for thoughtful planning and exceptional public service. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced planning professional who wants to help shape the future of one of California's most distinctive communities while working with an engaged community, supportive elected officials, and a highly collaborative professional staff. Examples of Duties Leadership and Administration Assists the Community Development Director in the administration and management of the Planning Division. Provides leadership, mentorship, technical guidance, and training to planning staff. Assists with work planning, project prioritization, performance management, and professional development of planning personnel. Coordinates and oversees the work of planning consultants and technical specialists. Assists with departmental budgeting, consultant procurement, contract administration, and strategic planning efforts. Serves as acting manager for planning operations in the absence of the Community Development Director, as assigned. Long-Range Planning Leads and manages major long-range planning initiatives and policy projects. Oversees implementation of Housing Element programs and other state-mandated planning requirements. Assists with updates to the General Plan and its elements, including Housing, Safety, Land Use, Open Space and Conservation, and related implementation programs. Coordinates planning efforts related to wildfire resilience, climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, hazard mitigation, and emergency preparedness. Manages updates to zoning regulations, objective design standards, development regulations, and related planning policies. Conducts research and analysis regarding planning legislation, emerging policy trends, and regulatory changes affecting local government. Current Planning Serves as project manager for complex development applications, including residential, institutional, public, and special projects. Reviews development proposals for consistency with the General Plan, Municipal Code, zoning regulations, state law, and applicable planning policies. Evaluates environmental, design, land use, infrastructure, and community impacts associated with development proposals. Coordinates multidisciplinary project reviews involving Planning, Building, Engineering, Fire, Public Works, and outside agencies. Provides technical guidance and recommendations regarding planning, zoning, and development issues. Environmental Review and Project Management Oversees and coordinates environmental review activities pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Manages consultant preparation of Initial Studies, Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports, and related environmental documents. Develops project scopes, budgets, schedules, and consultant contracts. Monitors project progress and ensure timely completion of assigned planning initiatives. Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Coordination Prepares and presents staff reports, ordinances, resolutions, policy analyses, and recommendations to the Planning Commission, City Council, and advisory committees. Represents the Town in meetings with residents, property owners, developers, consultants, regulatory agencies, and community organizations. Responds to public inquiries regarding planning policies, development proposals, and land use regulations. Facilitates community outreach and public engagement efforts related to planning projects and policy initiatives. Coordinates with regional agencies and partner organizations on planning and environmental initiatives. Other Duties Performs related duties as assigned. Knowledge Of Advanced principles and practices of urban and regional planning. California planning, zoning, subdivision, housing, and environmental laws and regulations. Housing Element implementation and General Plan administration. Safety Element planning, hazard mitigation, wildfire resilience, and climate adaptation strategies. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and environmental review procedures. Municipal government organization and administration. Project management principles and practices. Consultant contract administration and budget management. Public engagement and community outreach techniques. Principles and practices of supervision, coaching, and staff development. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), permit tracking systems, and related planning technologies. Ability To Assist in the management and administration of a municipal planning program. Provide leadership, mentorship, and technical guidance to professional planning staff. Coordinate and oversee consultant teams and multidisciplinary project teams. Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and effectively. Analyze planning, environmental, and policy issues and develop practical solutions. Interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, ordinances, and planning policies. Prepare clear, concise, and effective reports, presentations, and policy recommendations. Build productive working relationships with elected officials, commissioners, staff, residents, developers, consultants, and public agencies. Exercise sound judgment in politically sensitive and technically complex situations. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Represent the Department and the Town in a professional and effective manner. Qualifications Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, city planning, environmental planning, public administration, architecture, geography, or a closely related field. Eight (8) years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience, including substantial experience managing complex planning projects, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and leading policy development and implementation efforts. Experience in both current planning and long-range planning is highly desirable. A master's degree in urban planning, public administration, environmental planning, or a related field is desirable. Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred. Candidates without AICP certification must demonstrate equivalent senior-level professional planning experience and expertise. Demonstrated experience with Housing Element implementation, General Plan updates, Safety Element planning, wildfire resilience, climate adaptation, zoning administration, CEQA compliance, consultant management, and public engagement processes is highly desirable. Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing technical leadership to professional planning staff is desirable. Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is an experienced planning professional who combines technical expertise, strategic thinking, project management skills, and strong interpersonal abilities. The successful candidate will possess the leadership skills necessary to support the Community Development Director, mentor staff, manage consultant resources, and guide complex planning initiatives from concept through implementation. The Town seeks a collaborative leader who can balance long-range planning priorities with complex current planning responsibilities while maintaining a high level of customer service and responsiveness. Experience implementing Housing Element programs, managing General Plan and zoning updates, coordinating CEQA review, overseeing consultant teams, and navigating complex entitlement processes is highly desirable. The successful candidate will demonstrate political awareness, sound judgment, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to public service while helping the Town advance its long-term planning objectives, environmental stewardship goals, and community priorities.