Lead Environmental Planner/Assistant Project Manager

Insignia Environmental; Menlo Park (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Retirement savings plan

Bonuses

Job summary

Insignia Environmental seeks a Lead Environmental Planner/Assistant Project Manager to support environmental planning and permitting for energy and infrastructure projects. Based in Menlo Park, this hybrid role emphasizes coordinating with senior staff, preparing environmental documents, and communicating with clients and agencies.

The ideal candidate has strong technical writing, project coordination, and regulatory knowledge, with experience in CEQA/NEPA and related permit processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental science, biology, ecology, environmental planning, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant professional experience in environmental consulting.
• 1+ year in an Assistant Project Manager or similar role.
• Working knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, and related regulations.
• Experience supporting environmental permitting, environmental review, and client-facing project work.
• Technical background in biology, environmental policy, or land use planning.
• Familiarity with California ecosystems, species, and regulatory environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate environmental projects from initiation to completion, supporting senior staff and project managers.
• Prepare and review environmental documents in compliance with CEQA/NEPA.
• Develop and submit regulatory permit applications (e.g., CWA, ESA, Lake/Streambed Agreements).
• Apply knowledge of environmental regulations to support compliance and execution.
• Communicate with clients, regulators, and stakeholders; grow responsibilities over time.
• Participate in internal and client meetings on status, permitting strategies, and milestones.
• Coordinate technical staff and subconsultants; track tasks and deliverables.
• Deliver environmental work products meeting project requirements, agency expectations, and Insignia’s standards within budget and schedule.

Skills

Project coordination

Client-facing communication

Technical writing

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Environmental planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental science or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Project management software

Job description

About Insignia Environmental

Insignia Environmental (Insignia) is a collaborative, fast-paced growing environmental consulting firm full of bright, motivated employees. Our services are focused on the unique needs of energy projects, including renewables, electricity, and gas. We pride ourselves on being solution-oriented and go beyond traditional environmental review and permitting to leverage innovative concepts and technology to deliver results for our clients. Our reputation in the industry precedes us, and we are extremely proud of it!

Why Join Us?

We love our employees, listen to their input, and strive to take care of them. We are constantly investing in and providing opportunities for development and growth through internal training programs and our professional development program. We frequently gather for teambuilding events to strengthen our relationships and celebrate our employees’ milestones. We value giving back to our community and hold several volunteer events for our employees every year. In support of our goal of being the best place to work, Insignia offers a casual, flexible work environment with generous benefits, including a 401(k)-equivalent program, medical insurance (including partial coverage for significant others and dependents), and an above-industry amount of paid time off that escalates with tenure. Our canine friends are invited to “work” in the office with us!

Position Details

Insignia is seeking a motivated Lead Environmental Planner/Assistant Project Manager to support the delivery of environmental planning and permitting projects for energy and infrastructure clients. This role focuses on assisting with project coordination, contributing to the preparation of environmental documents and permit applications, and supporting communication with clients and regulatory agencies under the direction of senior staff. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in environmental planning and consulting, demonstrates sound technical writing and organizational skills, and a desire to build project management capabilities. This role requires a working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, along with the ability to manage priorities, contribute to client-facing work, and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams. This is a full-time hybrid position based out of Insignia’s Menlo Park headquarters.

Job Description

• Assist in the coordination and execution of environmental projects from initiation through completion, supporting senior staff and project managers.
• Support preparation and review of environmental documents in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Assist with the development and submission of regulatory permit applications, including the Clean Water Act (Sections 404 and 401), the Endangered Species Act (Sections 7 and 10), and Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements.
• Apply working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations to support project compliance and execution.
• Support communication with clients, regulators, and stakeholders, with increasing responsibility over time.
• Participate in internal and client meetings related to project status, permitting strategies, and key milestones.
• Assist in coordinating technical staff and subconsultants, supporting task tracking and deliverable completion.
• Support delivery of environmental work products to meet project requirements, agency expectations, and Insignia’s quality standards within budget and schedule constraints.
• Conduct technical writing, editing, and review of environmental analyses, technical studies, and permit packages.
• Assist with proposal development, including contributing to scopes of work and budgets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental science, biology, ecology, environmental planning, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience, with environmental consulting experience strongly preferred.
• At least 1 year of experience working in an Assistant Project Manager or similar project coordination role.
• Working knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, and other relevant federal and state environmental regulations, including the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
• Experience supporting environmental permitting, environmental review, interagency coordination, and client-facing project work.
• Technical background or familiarity in one or more environmental disciplines, such as biology (e.g., botany, wildlife, wetlands), environmental policy, or land use planning.
• Familiarity with California ecosystems, species, and regulatory environments.
• Experience supporting project teams and coordinating with technical staff or subconsultants.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to high-quality work products within scope, budget, and schedule across multiple projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with professionalism in interactions with clients, regulators, and internal teams.
• Proficiency in preparing and reviewing technical documents with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (particularly Word and Excel) and other project management software.

Other

• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Willingness and ability to travel when needed.

Benefits And Compensation

• Offered rate of compensation will be based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. The annual salary range for this position is $75,000 to $110,000.
• Insignia is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Insignia benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, employee assistance program, retirement savings plan, and bonuses.

Insignia may request, for lawful employment purposes, background information about candidates from a consumer reporting agency in connection with employment.

Insignia is an equal opportunity employer. Insignia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, mental or physical disability, genetic predisposition or characteristics, or any other characteristics protected by applicable state or federal civil rights law.