Principal Consultant, Land Use Planner

Jobtailor; Oregon (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks an experienced Environmental Permitting Lead to manage and support complex land use planning and permitting for renewable energy projects across Oregon and Washington. You will coordinate with agencies, prepare permit applications, and mentor junior staff.

The role emphasizes technical writing, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder management in a fast-paced consulting environment, with opportunities to influence project outcomes and permitting strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Science, Geography, Natural Resources, Public Policy, or related field.
• 6+ years of experience supporting permitting and land use planning efforts for renewable energy, transmission, infrastructure, or similar development projects.
• Demonstrated experience preparing land use permit applications and supporting local government approval processes.
• Experience conducting zoning analyses, code consistency evaluations, and preparing findings demonstrating compliance with local and state land use regulations.
• Familiarity with Oregon land use planning requirements, including Oregon Statewide Planning Goals and county development codes.
• Familiarity with Washington land use regulations, SEPA review processes, and local development permitting requirements.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and client management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced consulting environment while managing multiple concurrent projects.
• AICP certification preferred
• Experience working directly with Oregon and Washington counties, States (EFSC, EFSEC), planning commissions, or local hearing bodies preferred
• Experience obtaining Oregon and Washington wetland and waters permits, including permitting under State Removal-Fill programs, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and related state and federal regulatory frameworks preferred
• Experience developing wetland, waters, and habitat mitigation strategies and coordinating with state and federal resource agencies to support renewable energy, transmission, and infrastructure projects preferred
• Knowledge of Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state and federal habitat mitigation requirements preferred
• Resume and brief cover letter required

Responsibilities

• Lead and support permit strategies and entitlement pathways for environmental permitting and land use planning for energy projects in Oregon and Washington
• Lead preparation of county and municipal land use permit applications, including Conditional Use Permits and Goal Exception applications
• Coordinate with state agencies, counties, municipalities, and special districts to support permitting and regulatory compliance requirements
• Conduct detailed zoning and land use due diligence assessments for project sites
• Interpret local development codes, comprehensive plans, and applicable state land use requirements to identify permitting risks and opportunities
• Prepare code consistency analyses demonstrating project conformance with applicable code
• Evaluate local permitting pathways and jurisdiction-specific code requirements for renewable energy developments
• Develop findings of fact and permit application narratives supporting project approvals
• Support EFSC and EFSEC review materials and coordination with Oregon Department of Energy staff
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams regarding technical studies and environmental documentation
• Mentor junior and mid-level staff in environmental permitting, land use planning, and project management
• Provide technical review and quality assurance for permitting deliverables
• Contribute to best practices, tools, and methodologies for renewable energy permitting projects

Skills

Environmental Permitting

Land Use Planning

Zoning Analysis

Oregon Land Use Requirements

AICP Certification

Regulatory Compliance

Findings of Fact Development

Mitigation Strategy Development

Permit Application Preparation

Code Consistency Evaluation

Technical Writing

Project Management

Client Management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Science, Geography, Natural Resources, Public Policy, or related field

12 years of equivalent experience

Job description

• Lead and support permit strategies and entitlement pathways for environmental permitting and land use planning efforts associated with utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), wind energy, transmission, and other energy infrastructure projects throughout Oregon and Washington
• Lead preparation of county and municipal land use permit applications, including Conditional Use Permits and Goal Exception applications
• Coordinate with state agencies, counties, municipalities, and special districts to support permitting and regulatory compliance requirements
• Conduct detailed zoning and land use due diligence assessments for project sites
• Interpret local development codes, comprehensive plans, and applicable state land use requirements to identify permitting risks and opportunities
• Prepare code consistency analyses demonstrating project conformance with applicable code
• Evaluate local permitting pathways and jurisdiction-specific code requirements for renewable energy developments
• Develop findings of fact and permit application narratives supporting project approvals
• Support projects undergoing Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) and Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) review, including application materials, Requests for Amendment, compliance reporting, and coordination with Oregon Department of Energy staff
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams including biologists, wetland scientists, archaeologists, visual resources specialists, and other technical experts regarding technical studies and environmental documentation
• Mentor junior and mid-level staff in environmental permitting, land use planning, and project management
• Provide technical review and quality assurance for permitting deliverables
• Contribute to best practices, tools, and methodologies for renewable energy permitting projects

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Science, Geography, Natural Resources, Public Policy, or a related field, or 12 years of equivalent experience
• 6+ years of experience supporting permitting and land use planning efforts for renewable energy, transmission, infrastructure, or similar development projects
• Demonstrated experience preparing land use permit applications and supporting local government approval processes
• Experience conducting zoning analyses, code consistency evaluations, and preparing findings demonstrating compliance with local and state land use regulations
• Familiarity with Oregon land use planning requirements, including Oregon Statewide Planning Goals and county development codes
• Familiarity with Washington land use regulations, SEPA review processes, and local development permitting requirements
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and client management skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced consulting environment while managing multiple concurrent projects
• AICP certification preferred
• Experience working directly with Oregon and Washington counties, States (EFSC, EFSEC), planning commissions, or local hearing bodies preferred
• Experience obtaining Oregon and Washington wetland and waters permits, including permitting under State Removal-Fill programs, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and related state and federal regulatory frameworks preferred
• Experience developing wetland, waters, and habitat mitigation strategies and coordinating with state and federal resource agencies to support renewable energy, transmission, and infrastructure projects preferred
• Knowledge of Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state and federal habitat mitigation requirements preferred
• Resume and brief cover letter required

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in environmental permitting and land use planning for renewable energy projects, with a strong focus on compliance with Oregon and Washington regulations. Proficient in technical writing, project management, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to achieve project approvals.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Environmental Permitting
• Land Use Planning
• Zoning Analysis
• Oregon Land Use Requirements
• AICP Certification

Hard Skills

• Permit Application Preparation
• Code Consistency Evaluation
• Findings of Fact Development
• Regulatory Compliance
• Mitigation Strategy Development

Soft Skills

• Technical Writing
• Communication
• Client Management
• Project Management

Certifications & Qualifications

• AICP Certification

Industry Keywords

• Renewable Energy
• Utility-Scale Solar
• Battery Energy Storage Systems
• Transmission Infrastructure
• Oregon Department of State Lands
• Washington Department of Ecology
• Clean Water Act
• SEPA Review Processes