Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner)

County of Marin; San Rafael (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

County of Marin is seeking a Natural Resources Project Planner (Senior Planner) to support DPW projects involving sensitive habitats, CEQA compliance, and permit acquisition from environmental agencies. The role requires coordinating consultants and staff, and negotiating conditions through the full project cycle.

The position emphasizes strong writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills, with opportunities to engage in fieldwork, GIS tasks, and environmentally responsible construction practices

Qualifications

• Principles and practices and trends in planning fields (environmental, housing, transportation, sustainable development).
• Intensive planning policy development and analysis trends.
• Environmental, land use, and water resource analysis.
• Sustainable development practices.
• Legislative developments affecting regional planning and local laws.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct staff in delivery of planning activities and projects.
• Actively manage projects and programs from inception to completion.
• Prepare and present studies, reports, and graphics for boards and commissions.
• Implement current land use planning principles and trends.
• Interpret trends and statistics affecting public planning.
• Apply laws and ordinances to planning projects.
• Coordinate with community development and public works for coordinated budgeting and services.
• Speak at public hearings and forums.
• Conduct strategic planning and collaborative problem solving.

Skills

CEQA experience

Public engagement

Project management

Environmental planning

Education

College degree in planning/related field

Three years land use planning experience

Tools

GIS

Job description

At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people "I work for the County of Marin." Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture on the Department of Human Resources website. Read on to find out more about this opportunity.

The mission of the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) is To provide quality services and maintain and improve public infrastructure and facilities, while protecting Marin’s natural resources. Read more about the Department of Public Works at https://publicworks.marincounty.gov/.

About The Position

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.
• report writing.
• 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 Candidate will 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

• 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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

For any questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Stephen Schoengarth, Human Resources Analyst, at 415-473-6946.

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095.

PLEASE NOTE: The benefits described herein do not apply to temporary (contingent) or to part-time employees that work less than 50%.

COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL

Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the Marin County's Benefits Homepage.

Paid Time Off

Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.

Health Plan

Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.

Retirement

Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at www.mcera.org.

IRS 457 Plan

Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical

The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.

For specific questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at [phone]. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the Benefits Division at [phone].

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Qualifying Education/Experience

Your professional land use related planning experience is listed in the Work Experience section of the standard application.

Your degree and major are listed in the Education section of the standard application, along with all relevant documentation attached to your submission.

NARRATIVE QUESTIONS (If you do not possess any experience, please state "No Experience" in the space provided)

01

Describe the type of CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) documents you have prepared. A) Explain your role and direct responsibilities as part of a team. B) Detail your role in the public engagement process.

02

Describe your experience with preparing or leading in the preparation of permit applications, writing permitting annual reports, and conducting post-implementation monitoring for regulatory permits on a creek or waterbody project. Include details such as: A) Whether the project was located in California. B) Which special status species were potentially impacted, if any. C) Which agencies required permits.

03

Describe your project management experience working as part of a team to support environmental compliance of construction, maintenance, and/or engineering projects. A) How did you work with the team to align the process with project timelines and budgets? B) Include in your response: your role, type(s) of projects, level of responsibility, and how you helped the project be executed efficiently while abiding by permit requirements and outcome.

04

Explain your process for resolving conflicts between protecting the environment and implementing public works projects (e.g., replacing a culvert, building a bridge, restoring a drainage ditch). B) Include in your response how you find agreement within a diverse group of stakeholders (e.g., regulatory agencies, construction/maintenance workers, engineers, planners, and department managers).

Required Question