Lead/Senior Environmental Planner - CEQA in Northern CA

SWCA, Incorporated; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)

Competitive benefits package

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Lead or Senior Environmental Planner for the Northern California Bay Area. The role involves pursuing, managing, and preparing CEQA and NEPA documents, with emphasis on QA/QC, client relationships, and business development.

The position offers a hybrid work arrangement in the Bay Area, with salary based on qualifications and experience. SWCA emphasizes employee ownership and growth within a collaborative, supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, environmental science, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience with a public planning agency, an environmental consulting firm, or comparable experience.
• Working knowledge of CEQA and NEPA, and related environmental laws and regulations.
• Experience leading client and business development efforts and proposals.

Responsibilities

• Prepare CEQA and NEPA documents for a wide range of projects.
• Lead and manage large, complex projects to meet milestones and budgets.
• Support business development through proposals and client outreach.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff and review technical reports for quality.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to produce compliant documents.

Skills

CEQA/NEPA

QA/QC oversight

Client management

Proposal development

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or environmental science

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a motivated Lead or Senior Environmental Planner in the Northern California area, specifically with local agency experience and connections in the Bay Area, to pursue, manage and prepare various CEQA and NEPA projects, pursuing new business opportunities, and collaborating with a talented and established environmental professionals throughout California. The position of Senior Environmental Planner requires skills to manage large, complex projects and meet milestones within schedule and budget expectations as well as competency in technical writing and the ability to provide quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) oversight. Attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to work directly with clients is imperative. As a seller-doer, an equally important aspect of this position will be contributing towards preparing proposals, meeting with clients, and conducting all forms of marketing and business development. This position would collaborate with SWCA’s interdisciplinary staff in the Northern California subregion, including our planning, natural, and cultural resources teams, throughout California, and among SWCA’s other west region offices.

We are considering candidates for the below levels:

• Lead Environmental Planner– Typically with at least eight (8) years of relevant experience and expertise
• Senior Environmental– Typically with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and expertise

This is a regular, full-time, salaried position (with benefits) and eligible for a flexible hybrid work arrangement in the Bay Area. Pay rate will be based on individual qualifications and experience. We offer a close-knit and supportive, team-oriented work environment, competitive wages, a competitive benefits package, including an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and a career growth opportunity to join SWCA’s growing California environmental planning practice.

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants.

What you will accomplish

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; attention to detail; and organization.
• Prepare and manage a wide variety of CEQA and NEPA documents for a wide range of project types and clients.
• Travel to client meetings, site visits, hearings, and conferences.
• Conduct background research and data collection on environmental topics primarily for CEQA documents and, less often, for NEPA documents.
• Contribute to business development by leading and preparing proposals, coordinating with teaming partners, participating in interviews, and contributing to client outreach and capture planning efforts.
• Foster new client relationships, strengthen existing client relationships, and conduct ongoing business development with clients.
• Supervise and provide mentorship and support for junior and mid-level staff, including providing constructive feedback when reviewing reports for accuracy and clarity.
• Work closely with and manage teams of planners and technical specialists to produce CEQA and NEPA documents and related tasks for various projects.
• Prepare understandable summaries of technical environmental background studies prepared by technical experts, such as transportation and circulation, geology and soils, air quality, and/or noise.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Experienced environmental planner seeking a new technical opportunity to provide leadership and a voice to an established and recognized employee-owned consulting firm with a legacy of preparing award-winning planning documents, and providing environmental compliance, clearance, and advancement throughout California’s broad range of communities.
• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, environmental science, or a related field.
• At least (8) eight years of experience with a public planning agency, an environmental consulting firm, or comparable experience.
• Working knowledge of CEQA and NEPA, as well as other related environmental laws and regulations.
• Experience leading client and business development efforts and proposals to secure new opportunities with new clientele.
• Strong technical review skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication and teaming skills.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services.

We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.

Purpose: Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record's Top 200 Environmental Firms.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Half Moon Bay, CA-based position can expect a salary of $101,861 to $130,965/year for the Lead Planner role, and $115,090 to $149,485/year for the Sr. Planner role. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive benefits package (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

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