Planning Senior Technical Lead

verdantas; West Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Verdantas in the United States seeks a Senior Technical Lead to join our Planning & Advisory Services practice, shaping the strategic direction of planning engagements nationwide. You will lead complex contracts, guide policy development, and serve as a trusted advisor to public agencies and regional stakeholders.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, cross-disciplinary collaboration with Engineering, Environmental, Transportation, and Natural Resources teams, and mentorship of junior staff

Responsibilities

• Establish technical direction, methodologies, and best practices for the planning practice.
• Lead major planning contracts, long-range planning initiatives, and complex policy development projects with regional or national impact.
• Review and approve high-complexity deliverables, including: Comprehensive and master plans
• Environmental Impact Statements (EIS/EIR)
• Complex entitlement applications and packages
• Policy and regulatory documents
• Ensure technical quality, consistency, and methodological rigor across all planning projects
• Provide expert testimony in regulatory, legislative, and legal proceedings
• Direct multidisciplinary project teams in collaboration with Engineering, Environmental, Transportation, Natural Resources, and Grants/Funding specialists
• Serve as a trusted advisor to public planning officials, government agencies, and regional stakeholders
• Represent Verdantas at industry conferences, professional associations, public forums, and regulatory proceedings
• Lead strategic planning pursuits and cultivate long-term relationships with key clients and agency partners
• Strengthen Verdantas' visibility, reputation, and influence within the planning profession
• Provide expert interpretation of planning laws, zoning ordinances, land use regulations, and development codes
• Advise project teams, clients, and leadership on regulatory requirements and compliance strategies
• Monitor emerging regulatory, legislative, and policy trends affecting planning and development
• Identify and communicate potential risks, opportunities, and strategic implications for clients and the firm
• Lead pursuit strategy and proposal development for major planning and advisory opportunities
• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with public agencies, municipalities, and regional stakeholders
• Drive growth through service line expansion, innovation, and emerging planning practice areas
• Establish thought leadership through industry engagement, publications, presentations, and professional participation
• Contribute to strategic planning efforts that differentiate Verdantas in competitive markets
• Mentor and coach junior and mid-level planners across the practice
• Establish and maintain technical standards, guidance, and quality expectations for planning services
• Support employee career development, including AICP certification and professional advancement
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and succession planning initiatives
• Design and deliver firm-wide training programs that reflect industry best practices and evolving planning trends
• Foster a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous learning across the planning team

Job description

Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose!

At Verdantas, we're redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting-edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high-growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure.

Our commitment to excellence, across more than 90 offices, is championed by a team of over 2,000 experts, scientists, engineers, geologists, and technical specialists, embedded in a people-focused culture, prioritizing the well-being of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data-driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. We don't just solve problems; we help shape a more sustainable future.

Join a people-first culture that values your well-being, empowers your growth, and amplifies your impact. At Verdantas, your career goes beyond the expected, and your work helps build a better world.

Ready to shape the future of resilient communities?

We are seeking an experienced Senior Technical Lead to join our Planning & Advisory Services practice, which delivers high-impact land use planning, long-range policy development, environmental review, and community advisory services to public agencies and regional stakeholders nationwide.

The Senior Technical Lead, Planning is Verdantas' most senior planning authority, a nationally recognized expert who shapes the strategic direction of the planning practice, leads the firm's most complex and consequential planning engagements, and serves as a trusted advisor to public officials, regional stakeholders, and planning bodies.

Building on the Technical Lead foundation of leading major planning contracts, long-range initiatives, and complex policy development, the Senior Technical Lead operates with the broadest scope of influence, driving firmwide planning strategy, cultivating landmark client relationships, and setting the standard for technical excellence and professional development across the practice.

What You'll Do:

Technical Delivery

Establish technical direction, methodologies, and best practices for the planning practice

Lead major planning contracts, long-range planning initiatives, and complex policy development projects with regional or national impact

Review and approve high-complexity deliverables, including: Comprehensive and master plans

Environmental Impact Statements (EIS/EIR)

Complex entitlement applications and packages

Policy and regulatory documents

Ensure technical quality, consistency, and methodological rigor across all planning projects

Provide expert testimony in regulatory, legislative, and legal proceedings

Direct multidisciplinary project teams in collaboration with Engineering, Environmental, Transportation, Natural Resources, and Grants/Funding specialists

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as a trusted advisor to public planning officials, government agencies, and regional stakeholders

Represent Verdantas at industry conferences, professional associations, public forums, and regulatory proceedings

Lead strategic planning pursuits and cultivate long-term relationships with key clients and agency partners

Strengthen Verdantas' visibility, reputation, and influence within the planning profession

Regulatory Compliance & Documentation

Provide expert interpretation of planning laws, zoning ordinances, land use regulations, and development codes

Advise project teams, clients, and leadership on regulatory requirements and compliance strategies

Monitor emerging regulatory, legislative, and policy trends affecting planning and development

Identify and communicate potential risks, opportunities, and strategic implications for clients and the firm

Business Development

Lead pursuit strategy and proposal development for major planning and advisory opportunities

Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with public agencies, municipalities, and regional stakeholders

Drive growth through service line expansion, innovation, and emerging planning practice areas

Establish thought leadership through industry engagement, publications, presentations, and professional participation

Contribute to strategic planning efforts that differentiate Verdantas in competitive markets

People & Team Development

Mentor and coach junior and mid-level planners across the practice

Establish and maintain technical standards, guidance, and quality expectations for planning services

Support employee career development, including AICP certification and professional advancement

Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and succession planning initiatives

Design and deliver firm-wide training programs that reflect industry best practices and evolving planning trends

Foster a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous learning across the planning team