Principal Regional Planner
- San Diego Association of Governments - SANDAG
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Job Description
Annual Salary Range: $104,790.40 - $162,427.200
First Review of Applications: January 12, 2026
Expected Start Date: February/March 2026
Description
Role
The Regional Plan Principal Planner will serve as the Project Manager for the Regional Plan and will contribute to regional planning projects and programs that support implementation of the Regional Plan. In collaboration with member agencies and stakeholders, this position also will oversee and coordinate key policy and planning areas in the development and implementation of the Regional Plan to include transportation, land use, smart growth, transit-oriented development, housing, open space, climate and resiliency, public health, and Title VI. A focus area for this position involves coordinating the development and implementation of the Regional Transportation Plan and its Sustainable Communities Strategy and supporting policies and programs that contribute to meeting state and federal requirements.
Regional Planning Department
The Regional Planning Department provides the regional framework to connect land use to transportation systems, respond to population growth, preserve the environment, and sustain economic prosperity. The department oversees the development and implementation of various long-range and short-range plans including multimodal transportation plans and projects, sustainable development plans and programs, tribal, binational, interregional, land use coordination, environmental and habitat planning and programs, goods movement, transit planning, and performance monitoring to track implementation of plans.
Sustainable Communities Section
The Sustainable Communities Section manages the development of the Regional Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and implementation activities related to land use coordination, Title VI analysis, tribal coordination, reconnecting communities, integrated transportation, vision zero, strategic partnerships, goods movement, and the Housing Acceleration Program (HAP).
Experience and Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in urban, regional, transportation, or environmental planning, geography, public administration or a related field. An advanced degree is desirable.
- Seven years of increasingly responsible professional regional, transportation, or environmental planning experience, including two years of supervisory experience.
- Superior organizational capabilities, project management skills and experience managing complex projects, the ability to work collaboratively and build consensus (internally and externally), highly developed communication skills and the ability to communicate complex technical information to a variety of audiences, and the ability to lead.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, practices, and current trends related to transportation and regional program planning.
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and requirements pertaining to regional policies, programs, and plans; knowledge of current political trends and recent technological enhancements.
Benefits
- Hybrid work options
- 9/80 flexible work schedule
- Pay-for-performance merit increases
- Retirement - Defined Benefit Plan with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Retirement - 457 Defined Contribution Plan with Voya
- Excellent health insurance options for employees and their eligible dependents
- Free dental and vision insurance for employees and their eligible dependents
- Education Assistance of up to $5,250 a year for regular employees
- Free transit pass for use throughout the San Diego region, bus, Rapid Express, Trolley, and COASTER
- Paid time off including 12 paid holidays, 2 floating holiday days, generous paid time off (PTO) per year, depending on length of service
- Manager and Principal level positions are offered a three-year At-Will employment contract, which provides an annual $5,000 contribution to their defined contribution plan.
Call (619) 699-1900 or visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sandag? for information. First Review: January 12, 2026. EOE
Education Requirements
SANDAG is one of the most recognized regional agencies in the nation with responsibilities that cover a broad range of complex, interrelated program areas connected by a Quality of Life theme. We are best known for our efforts related to transportation and this role continues to expand as we push beyond traditional boundaries to deliver a state-of-the-art transportation system for the region. In recent years SANDAG???s leadership in areas such as comprehensive land use and environmental planning, public safety, and state-of-the-art modeling and data systems, also have earned us much acclaim. With an employee group about 200 strong, we work for our Board of Directors - mayors, councilmembers, supervisors, and other leaders representing the jurisdictions within the San Diego region and neighboring areas. They play the important role of making policy decisions that shape the future of the region. Our collaboration with stakeholders, partners, and the community, the precision of our data, the completeness of our reports and studies, and our sound recommendations are essential components of the regional decision-making process.
