Principal Coordinator (Principal Planner)

Job Description:

Principal Coordinator (Principal Planner)

Description

Description

Lead Development Coordination. Support the Team That Moves Projects Forward.

Join Our Team as a Principal Coordinator (Principal Planner)

The Opportunity

The City of Palo Alto’s Planning and Development Services Department is seeking a Principal Coordinator to support operations within the City’s Development Center.

This position supervises the Development Project Coordinator team, which serves as a central hub for customers navigating the City’s building permit processes. The team provides front-line support to homeowners, contractors, designers, and developers, helping guide projects from early assistance through permit issuance and project close-out.

As the Principal Coordinator, you will provide leadership, technical guidance, and operational oversight for the project coordination team. You will help ensure that building permit projects move efficiently through the review process while maintaining high standards for customer service and regulatory compliance.

The ideal candidate brings strong experience in building permit processing, development coordination, and construction-related project management, along with demonstrated supervisory skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

About Us: Development Services

Development Services is the Building Division of the Planning and Development Services department. The Development Center is a one-stop center for homeowners, businesses, designers, and contractors working on projects in Palo Alto.

At the Development Center staff helps customers navigate the City’s development and building permit process while ensuring projects comply with applicable building codes, zoning regulations, engineering standards, and sustainability requirements.

The Development Project Coordinator team plays a key role in guiding projects through the permit process and coordinating with planners, engineers, building inspectors, and other City staff throughout the development review cycle.

We are committed to:

• Helping customers successfully navigate the development process
• Providing clear guidance in a complex regulatory environment
• Maintaining efficient and transparent permit processes
• Delivering exceptional customer service to the community

The City has transitioned to a fully digital application and plan review system, allowing projects to be submitted and processed electronically.

What You’ll Do

As the Principal Coordinator, you will lead the Development Project Coordinator team. Overseeing daily operations and ensuring efficient delivery of Development Center permitting services.

Supervise the Development Project Coordinator Team

• Provide leadership and supervision for seven Development Project Coordinators. Responsible for managing building permits and guiding applicants through the permitting process
• Assign and prioritize work, monitor progress, and provide guidance on project coordination and permit processing.
• Oversee Development Center front desk operations. Ensuring staffing levels are met and staff are sufficiently trained and responsive to meet customer service expectations.
• Support staff and team development through coaching, performance management, and training.

Support Building Permit Project Coordination

• Provide oversight and guidance on residential and commercial permit projects moving through the building permitting process.
• Assist staff in resolving complex coordination issues involving multiple departments or regulatory requirements.
• Ensure projects are tracked accurately and processed efficiently within the City’s permit management system.

Strengthen Development Center Operations

• Lead daily operations related to permit coordination, front desk service functions, and customer inquiries.
  
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, workflows, and service delivery.
  
• Ensure staff maintain high standards for customer service and responsiveness.
  

Provide Technical Guidance

• Serve as a senior resource to staff on building permit processes, development procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Support staff in interpreting codes, coordinating reviews, and facilitating communication across City departments.
• Assist with implementing operational improvements and best practices within the Development Center.

Coordinate with Internal and External Stakeholders

• Communicate with customers, contractors, consultants, and internal City staff regarding processes and project coordination.
• Develop strong working relationships with interdepartmental partners. Participate in cross-departmental meetings and initiatives related to permit services.

Who Thrives in This Role

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong knowledge of building and development processes with leadership and operational management skills.

Successful candidates often bring experience in permit center operations, construction administration, development coordination, or municipal planning or building environments, along with demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.

You may be a strong fit for this position if you:

• Demonstrated experience supervising or leading a team in a professional environment
• Have experience providing proactive, highly engaged customer service in a public-facing environment
• Have experience coordinating or processing building permits
• Possess strong knowledge of building codes, construction practices, and development regulations
• Bring strong project management and organizational skills
• Are comfortable managing multiple priorities and operational workflows
• Posses strong interpersonal and communication skills to facilitate problem-solving and collaboration
• Have experience identifying opportunities for process improvements for operational efficiencies

Why Work for the City of Palo Alto?

Palo Alto is the birthplace of Silicon Valley, where innovation meets public service.

When you join the City, you become part of a team dedicated to delivering high-quality services that support a thriving and sustainable community.

Highlights include:

• CalPERS Pension retirement plan
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Professional development opportunities
• Collaborative and mission-driven work environment

Ready to Help Strengthen Development Services?

Apply today and play a key role in supporting the team that helps residents, businesses, and builders navigate Palo Alto’s development process while maintaining the City’s high standards for safety, sustainability, and design excellence.

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• May supervise professional and administrative staff and consultants.
• May prepare and conduct performance evaluations and prepare program, team or individual work programs.
• May participate in hiring and disciplinary actions.
• Establish and evaluate achievement of program and individual goals and objectives.
• Represent the city to the public, to other agencies, and to regional and sub-regional committees, including conducting public meetings, making presentations, and responding to requests for information.
• Serve as project manager on projects or other assignments; may also oversee programs or oversee staff with responsibility for programs (e.g. housing, block grant).
• Prepare and write high quality staff reports, professional documents, and communications.
• Critically review the draft work products of staff and consultants, providing comments as needed to ensure they represent the Department’s best work.
• Attend, chair, and conduct a variety of meetings; serve on committees as requested; make presentations to the City Council; represent the Department and make oral presentations at meetings, inter-agency meetings, conferences and other events.
• Serve as a liaison to one of the city’s boards or commissions, or other committees.
• Assist in the development of department budgets; monitor and approve expenditures in accordance with policies and principles of sound fiscal management. Develop and maintain analytical tools for audit and control of programs.
• Procure the services of consultants and contractors consistent with City procedures, oversee contract work program, schedule, budget, and deliverables.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through:

• Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the program or function being managed; Urban planning, architecture, or a related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in municipal government including complex project management; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.

Licensing Requirements:
• Valid California Driver’s License

Supplemental Information

The Selection Process:

• Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
  
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time after the posting closes.
  
• The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
  
  

Our online application system is provided byNeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contactNeoGov'sLive Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

This position is represented by Service Employee International Union (SEIU).

Compensation (SEIU) :Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more clickHERE.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Compensation Plan HERE.

Closing Date/Time: 4/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$116,084.80 - $174,137.60 Annually