Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner)

County of Marin, California; San Rafael (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Marin, California seeks a Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) to support the Department of Public Works on habitat restoration and related projects. The role involves CEQA compliance, regulatory coordination, and managing consultants across the project lifecycle.

The position requires strong communication, environmental expertise, and ability to oversee permitting with agencies, ensuring successful project outcomes in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• CEQA document preparation including studies and declarations
• Preparation and filing of CEQA documents
• Preparation of permit applications for regulatory agencies
• Writing reports, conducting monitoring and mitigation activities
• Managing projects and programs
• Public engagement and effective communication
• GIS and/or other technical software usage

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with project managers and directors to develop permitting strategies.
• Analyze project impacts on species and the environment.
• Prepare permit applications and negotiate with agencies.
• Hire and manage consultants.
• Work with managers to implement best management practices and mitigation strategies.
• Conduct pre-project biological surveys.
• Oversee post-construction monitoring.
• Assist with or lead other DPW projects related to natural resources as needed.

Skills

CEQA documents

permit applications

project management

writing reports

public engagement

GIS software

regulatory coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in planning or related field

Tools

GIS

Job description

Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner)

Salary: $115,381.00 - $138,060.00 Annually

Application Deadline: Aug 25, 2026

Government

There is currently one (1) full-time, regular hire Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) vacancy in the Department of Public Works.

Marin County's unique natural resources are a source of pride for the public. The Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) will support Department of Public Works teams working on projects in sensitive habitats. The Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) will oversee, prepare and secure permits from the regulatory agencies and work with staff and consultants to gather required information. Diverse habitat conditions require careful planning when designing and constructing projects which can range from flood risk reduction, facility repair and rehabilitation, habitat restoration, and maintenance activities in and near creeks and waterbodies.

The Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) will be largely responsible for supporting project managers with natural resources analysis, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, and permit acquisition from environmental resource agencies. The Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) will provide input on design considerations to protect and enhance habitat features, negotiate permit conditions, and track mitigation and monitoring requirements. A proven record with project management is essential as this position will coordinate consultants and staff, negotiate and track multiple projects and their conditions over the entire project cycle.

The work is dynamic, requiring strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills to accomplish the following tasks that range among:

• coordinating with the project managers and directors to develop permitting strategies.
• analyzing project impacts on species and the environment.
• preparing permit applications and negotiating with agencies.
• hiring and managing consultants.
• working with project managers to identify and implement best management practices and develop mitigation strategies to off-set impacts.
• conducting pre-project biological surveys.
• post-construction monitoring.

The Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) may assist with or take the lead on other DPW projects that complement their skill sets, including field work, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), developing environmentally friendly construction practices, or other natural resource-related topics.

Hybrid schedule:

The Department of Public Works has embraced a hybrid work schedule that considers some duties of this position may be performed remotely. However, the successful candidate must be able to report to County facilities for meetings, work assignments, and/or disaster service work upon short notice, as needed and deemed appropriate. During the initial probationary period, the successful candidate will be required to work primarily onsite before establishing a hybrid work schedule.

ABOUT YOU

Our Highly Qualified Candidatewill be an exceptional project manager with experience in environmental/natural resource projects including permitting of public works and/or habitat restoration projects in and adjacent to creeks, wetlands, bays and other waterbodies. The highly qualified candidate would have knowledge of local species, habitats and the experience with best management practices for permits from state and national Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Board, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others. The candidate will be dedicated to achieving maximum benefits to people, wildlife and habitat while maintaining flexibility and a good perspective on the constraints of permitting and construction schedules.

Factors that contribute to the success of our projects are strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to find creative solutions to problems. Our Natural Resources Project Planner’s (Senior Planner) are self-directed but value being part of a diverse team to support public works projects.

Skill in:

• Preparation of CEQA documents, including Initial Studies and Mitigated Negative Declarations
• Filing CEQA documents consistent with current legal requirements
• Preparation of permit applications for regulatory agencies
• Writing reports, conducting monitoring and mitigation activities
• Managing projects and programs.
• Public engagement and effective communication with others
• GIS and/or other technical software

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices and trends in one or more fields of planning, such as current, advance, affordable housing, environmental, transportation, regional and/or sustainable development planning.
• Intensive practices and trends in planning policy development and analysis.
• Environmental, land use, and water resource analysis.
• Sustainable development practices.
• Legislative developments affecting regional and advanced planning including federal, state and local laws and ordinances.
• Difficult research, analytical and statistical methods and comprehensive cost analysis techniques.
• The physical, social and economic factors involved in land use and regional planning.
• Research and statistical methods as applied to the collection, tabulation and analysis of data essential to planning studies.
• Independent programs related to sustainability.

Ability to:

• Lead and direct staff in delivery of planning activities and projects.
• Actively manage projects and programs.
• Prepare and present studies, reports, and graphics within applicable time limits before boards and commissions.
• Implement current principles, practices and trends in land use planning.
• Interpret trends and statistics affecting public planning.
• Interpret and apply laws and ordinances to planning projects.
• Work collaboratively with community development agency and public work divisions to assure the provision of comprehensive and coordinated budgeting and fiscal services.
• Speak effectively at public hearings and forums before public officials, the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, and community groups.
• Think critically and conduct strategic planning.
• Work effectively as a member of a County management team.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Act as a liaison to advise or resolve differences with individuals, groups and management.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, clients, customers, and representatives of other agencies or departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills listed. Typically, equivalent to graduation from college with a major in planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, biological sciences or closely related field and three years of professional land use related planning experience.

Note: Additional graduate level courses in planning environmental quality planning or closely related field may substitute for up to one year of the experience requirement at the rate of three semester units for one month of experience.