Principal University Planner in City of Westminster

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Principal University Planner. The CSU Chancellor's Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education.

The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes:

• Outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans
• Fee waiver education program
• Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• 15 paid holidays a year

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $130,008 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Flexibility to telecommute two days a week, with three days on-site at the main headquarters in Long Beach, California.

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Principal University Planner to be responsible for overseeing their assigned campuses and interfacing with campus staff on all project planning activities including review of project programs, budgets and schedules, for the purpose of developing the CSU Five-Year Capital Outlay Plan. The Principal University Planner will serve as the administrator of CSU Plan, the Smartsheet-based platform supporting the Five-Year Capital Outlay Plan.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Maintaining and archiving data
• Implementing system improvements
• Developing portfolio-level reports
• Managing cost escalations
• Preparing for each new planning cycle
• End-user training

The Principal University Planner is also responsible for the direct supervision and support of Associate University Planner(s). The position reviews, updates and implements Board of Trustees’ policy in developing the campus physical master plan and communicates with campus staff on all physical planning activities from project conception to construction implementation and maintenance for all programs. The Principal University Planner prepares legislative reports and provides technical support to the Planning and Design Unit.

Under the general direction of the Director of Planning, the Principal University Planner will perform duties as outlined below:

• Reviews facility condition reports generated for both academic and self-support funded campus facilities to determine critical deferred maintenance; assists campuses in the identification and prioritization of deferred maintenance and capital and infrastructure improvement projects.
• Reviews and recommends for funding approval campus requests for deferred maintenance, capital and infrastructure improvements projects.
• Develops process improvements to streamline the capital planning, budgeting, design and construction document submittal process for the capital outlay program.
• Reviews campus physical master plans proposed by the campus, including changes in academic and enrollment plans and participates on campus planning committees to assist with major master plan revisions.
• Prepares agenda material for Board of Trustees approval as required.
• Assists the Chief of Planning and Design in developing the systemwide priority list for the Five-Year Plan.
• Conducts project meetings with campus and CPDC staff to review project financial status, construction progress, and reports on expenditure of contingency funds.
• Helps maintain current data in the Capital Projects Database and Active Projects Report for project tracking and reporting on scope, schedule and budget.
• Reviews campus performance and cashflow status on delegated projects.
• Partners with Real Estate Services to review and evaluate campus proposed public-private partnerships.
• Maintains a regular schedule of campus visits to understand campus needs in support of mutually developed solutions for capital program and master plan development.
• Provides support to the campus to justify projects during review by the Legislative Analyst's Office and the Department of Finance.
• Serves as the administrator of CSU Plan, managing system operations and development.
• With minimal supervision, reviews and provides comment on schematic, preliminary, and working drawings of major capital outlay projects.
• Develops justifications in support of requests for project augmentations or scope changes.
• Performs analyses of campus capacities, space utilization, course section reports and other prepared documents as required for capital program prioritization.
• Supervises and provides ongoing guidance to Associate University Planner(s) on tasks related to the development and implementation of the Five-Year Plan.

This position requires:

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, urban planning, construction management, business administration, accounting or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five years planning experience demonstrating the application of the methods, practices and procedures of facilities and space planning, capital project design and construction, fiscal management, budgetary preparation, scheduling and control techniques.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
• Strong Understanding and proven experience with Smartsheet for project management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines.

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by August 18, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, the CSU provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.