Environmental Planner II

HDR; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee-owned culture

Job summary

HDR is seeking an Environmental Planner II to contribute to a wide range of environmental planning, documentation, and permitting projects across Hawaiʻi. You will work with senior planners, project managers, and clients to deliver clear technical reports and planning studies.

Responsibilities include preparing NEPA/343 documents, coordinating with regulatory agencies, and mentoring junior staff, all while supporting a culture of quality and environmental stewardship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, urban and regional planning, environmental science, geography, natural resources, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant environmental planning, documentation, permitting, or regulatory compliance experience.
• Experience with HS R 343 and NEPA documents and environmental permitting processes.

Responsibilities

• Prepare environmental review documents under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 343, NEPA, and other applicable requirements.
• Conduct environmental and land-use research and develop mitigation measures.
• Coordinate with specialists and integrate findings into environmental documents.
• Support permitting and agency consultations for federal, state, and county requirements.
• Mentor junior planning staff and assist with workload planning.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, urban and regional planning, environmental science, geography, natural resources, or a closely related field

Master’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, urban and regional planning, or a related field

AICP certification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

GIS

Microsoft Project

Document production and technical graphics

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

Watch Our Story:’ https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story‘

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

We believe electricity powers modern life. As part of our Power sector, you’ll help shape how electricity is generated, transmitted and delivered as global energy demands grow. From massive data centers to modernizing transmission systems, our industry-recognized engineers and scientists have been at the forefront of grid transformation for more than a century. You’ll work side‑by‑side with these experts and contribute to reliable, resilient and sustainable power systems, helping communities thrive and industries expand. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive infrastructure forward, power innovation and leave your mark on our energy future.

In the role of Environmental Planner II, you will contribute to and help manage a wide variety of environmental planning, documentation, and permitting projects throughout Hawaiʻi. Working collaboratively with senior planners, project managers, technical specialists, and clients, you will:

• Prepare environmental review documents pursuant to Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 343, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other applicable federal, state, and county requirements.
• Conduct environmental and land-use research; evaluate potential project impacts; and develop practical avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.
• Prepare clear, well‑organized technical reports, environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, permit applications, planning studies, and related deliverables.
• Coordinate with biological, cultural, archaeological, engineering, and other technical specialists, and integrate their findings into environmental documents.
• Support federal, State of Hawaiʻi, and county environmental permitting and agency consultation.
• Evaluate project consistency with state and county land‑use plans, policies, zoning requirements, and regulatory programs.
• Serve as a task lead or deputy project manager for environmental planning assignments, including managing schedules, budgets, deliverables, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Perform quality‑control reviews of environmental documents, technical studies, permit applications, and supporting materials.
• Coordinate with clients, regulatory agencies, subconsultants, community stakeholders, and project team members.
• Support public involvement activities, including public meetings, agency consultations, presentation materials, and responses to public comments.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior planning staff.
• Assist with workload planning and efficient use of project resources.
• Support proposal preparation, scopes of work, cost estimates, interviews, and other business‑development activities.
• Participate in professional organizations and industry events and help strengthen the firm’s environmental planning practice in Hawaiʻi.
• Promote a culture of quality, collaboration, safety, and environmental stewardship.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, urban and regional planning, environmental science, geography, natural resources, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in environmental planning, documentation, permitting, or regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or contributing substantially to environmental review documents, preferably including HRS Chapter 343 and/or NEPA documents.
• Experience evaluating environmental impacts and preparing avoidance, minimization, or mitigation measures.
• Understanding of environmental permitting processes and coordination with regulatory agencies.
• Strong technical writing, research, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex technical information into clear and understandable documents.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams and managing individual tasks or smaller projects.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to travel within Hawaiʻi and occasionally to other locations, as project needs require.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant in our employee‑owned culture.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, urban and regional planning, or a related field.
• Seven to nine years of environmental planning or consulting experience.
• Experience with Hawaiʻi’s environmental review, land‑use, and permitting requirements, including HRS Chapters 343, 205, 205A, and 6E.
• Familiarity with State of Hawaiʻi and county planning and permitting agencies.
• Experience with federal environmental requirements, including NEPA, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and Clean Water Act permitting.
• Experience preparing environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, permit applications, and land‑use entitlement documents.
• Experience with projects involving transportation, utilities, energy, water, coastal resources, or public infrastructure.
• Knowledge of Hawaiʻi’s cultural, biological, archaeological, and community considerations.
• Experience with GIS, Microsoft Project, document production, and technical graphics.
• Previous environmental consulting experience.
• AICP certification or other relevant professional certification.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or closely related field
• A minimum of 5 years experience in planning and design
• AICP certification desired
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs
• Extensive graphics and report document production experience
• Experience with GIS
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Leadership skills and ability to work in a team environment
• May require the ability to travel
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other’s life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ , People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.