CEQA Manager | K 12 Capital Improvement Program

Francison Consulting, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer paid medical, dental, &

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time off

Paid holidays

Annual bonus opportunities

Opportunities on major CA projects

Job summary

Francison Consulting, Inc. seeks a CEQA Project Manager to oversee CEQA compliance for San Diego Unified School District capital and facilities projects.

The role acts as the District’s environmental review expert, ensuring documentation is prepared and approved per CEQA statutes and guidelines. The candidate will coordinate consultants, support decision makers with defensible environmental documentation, and work with the SDUSD Legal Department for compliance, integrating CEQA into project

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental project management.
• Deep understanding of CEQA regulations, compliance, and technical document handling.
• Strong research, analytical, and problem solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.

Responsibilities

• Understand and implement SDUSD CEQA Handbook.
• Serve as Lead Agency CEQA project manager for District projects.
• Determine whether activities constitute a CEQA project and level of review.
• Prepare and review NOEs, Initial Studies, ND/MNDs, EIRs and related CEQA documents.
• Apply fair argument and substantial evidence to assess significance.
• Coordinate CEQA consultants and integrate findings into Board agendas.

Skills

CEQA project management

Research

Analytical skills

Written communication

Detail oriented

Job description

We are seeking a CEQA Project Manager to manage and oversee compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) capital improvement and facilities projects supporting Facilities Planning and Construction (FPC), Physical Plant Operations (PPO), Real Estate, Instructional Facilities Planning Department (IFPD) and any other department implementation projects subject to CEQA.

This role serves as the District’s subject matter expert for environmental review, ensuring projects are planned, reviewed, documented, and approved in accordance with CEQA statutes, guidelines, and case law.

The position integrates CEQA compliance into overall project management, coordinates consultants and agencies, supports decision makers through defensible environmental documentation, and will work closely with the SDUSD Legal Department for compliance.

Key Responsibilities

CEQA Compliance and Environmental Review

• Understand and implement SDUSD CEQA Handbook
• Serve as the Lead Agency CEQA project manager for all District projects
• Determine whether proposed activities constitute a “project” under CEQA and identify the appropriate level of environmental review.
• Evaluate applicability of statutory and categorical exemptions and prepare Notices of Exemption (NOEs).
• Direct preparation and review of Initial Studies, Negative Declarations (NDs), Mitigated Negative Declarations (MNDs), Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), and subsequent CEQA documents.
• Apply the fair argument standard and substantial and substantial evidence test to determine environmental significance.
• Assist various departments in preparing CEQA compliance documents and integrating findings into Board Item Agendas.
• Filing of CEQA determinations with the County of San Diego Clerk Recorder.

Program EIR and Tiering

• Administer and implement tiering from the District’s Program EIR (PEIR).
• Prepare and oversee Findings of Consistency, Addenda, Supplemental EIRs, Subsequent EIRs, and Subsequent MNDs as appropriate.
• Evaluate whether projects fall within the scope of previously certified CEQA documents under CEQA Guidelines §15162 and §15168.

Consultant and Project Coordination

• Procure, manage, and coordinate CEQA consultants and technical specialist for mitigation monitoring (Tribal, Archeological, Paleontological, Biological, etc.).
• Integrate CEQA schedules with overall project timelines and Board approval milestones.
• Ensure early involvement of environmental analysis in project planning and design to avoid or reduce impacts.
• Review and process technical consultant proposals, contract NTPs, and invoicing.

Mitigation and Monitoring

• Develop and implement Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs (MMRPs).
• Ensure mitigation measures are incorporated into project design, construction, and operations.
• Track compliance with adopted mitigation measures through project completion.
• Coordination with contractors, construction managers, and project managers to ensure District complies with mitigation requirements, including field monitoring activities.
• Public Process and Agency Coordination

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental project management.
• Deep understanding of CEQA regulations, compliance, and technical document.
• Strong research, analytical, and problem solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.

Why Join Francison Consulting, Inc.?

At Francison Consulting, Inc., we believe our people are at the heart of our success. You will have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful public infrastructure projects while working alongside a collaborative team that values your experience, ideas, and professional growth.

Francison offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums for employees
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Annual bonus opportunities
• Opportunities to work on major public infrastructure and capital improvement programs throughout California
• Join a growing team where your work makes an impact and your contributions are valued.