Senior Environmental Planner

LSA; Irvine, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

LSA's Irvine office is seeking a Senior Environmental Planner with 5+ years of experience to prepare CEQA/NEPA documents and environmental reports for transportation, residential, and commercial projects in California. The role involves independent work under a Project Manager, leading client and regulatory meetings, coordinating reviews, and ensuring schedules and budgets.

Candidates should have strong writing skills, experience with subconsultants, and a track record in business development

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in CEQA/NEPA documentation and environmental analysis.
• Experience in a private environmental consulting firm preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, scheduling, and budget management skills.
• Ability to lead client and regulatory agency meetings and manage subconsultants.

Responsibilities

• Prepare CEQA/NEPA environmental documents and analyses.
• Coordinate reviews with environmental and technical staff; scope projects and set budgets.
• Lead client and regulatory agency meetings; ensure timely deliverables.
• Prepare proposals and engage in business development activities.

Skills

Written communication

Client coordination

Budget management

Project leadership

Education

Bachelors in Urban Planning

Bachelors in Environmental Studies

Bachelors in Environmental Planning

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

LSA's Irvine office is seeking a Senior Environmental Planner with 5 or more years of professional experience. Working independently and under the direction of a Project Manager, the Senior Environmental Planner will work collaboratively with colleagues and clients to prepare technical reports and environmental documentation, primarily in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for both public and private projects (e.g., transportation/transit, residential and commercial developments, utility corridors, parks, schools, and open space). City and County, California Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration, and resource agency permitting experience is a plus.

The ideal Senior Environmental Planner candidate will have a strong foundation in successfully obtaining environmental work, and will have established good working relationships with a diverse clientele. Candidate must have experience in writing environmental documents and conducting environmental analysis, and must have excellent writing skills. In addition, candidate must have experience overseeing all aspects of a project, including leading client and regulatory agency meetings; coordinating reviews with environmental and technical staff; scoping projects for the appropriate level of environmental review, budget control, and invoicing; maintaining schedules; managing subconsultants; and providing overall quality control. The ideal candidate will have the ability to manage several projects simultaneously. The successful candidate will also be expected to prepare proposals and to engage in business development activities.

LSA places a strong emphasis on previous technical experience, quality of work, and the ability to manage project budgets and schedules. Excellent communication skills, willingness to collaborate with others, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment are essential.

Flexible workplace schedules may be arranged and allow for potential hybrid in-office/remote opportunities, subject to supervisor discretion. From time to time, travel to project sites and client meetings is also required.

Position Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible experience with the preparation of documents that comply with CEQA and/or NEPA, as well as knowledge of other federal, State, and local environmental statutes and regulations
• Experience in a private environmental consulting firm preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, Environmental Planning, or a related field
• Advanced degree preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational, scheduling, and budget management skills
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work as a member of a fast-paced team
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously
• Business development, marketing, and proposal preparation
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $180,000 per year. The compensation offer will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Contact

If you would like to learn more about this position or be put in touch with the hiring manager, please contact our Recruitment Department at [e-mail]

About the Organization

LSA is a diversified environmental, transportation, and community planning organization. We are recognized as innovators in the field of environmental impact assessment, and we have developed a reputation among clients and professional peers in both the public and private sectors as being thorough, innovative, and objective.

LSA's employee-owners are its most valuable resource. LSA fosters professional development and personal growth in an environment that offers opportunities for training and enrichment. LSA takes great pride in its work and looks for talented, dedicated professionals to join its team. We are always looking for energetic and enthusiastic people. If you enjoy working with clients and colleagues to plan and manage projects, we would like to hear from you.

LSA offers competitive pay, and for all eligible employees medical, dental, vision, long term disability, group life/AD&D insurance plans; vacation, sick, and holiday pay; an Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and a Profit Sharing and Savings Plan with 401k safe harbor match.

For more details about our employee benefits package please visit our Careers Page on our company website.

EOE Statement

LSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify.

LSA provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. All employment decisions at LSA are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Except where required or permitted by law, employment decisions will not be influenced by an individual’s actual or perceived—or association with others of an actual or perceived—age, ancestry, color, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), denial of Family and Medical Care Leave, disability (mental and physical), marital status, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, national origin, race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal, State, or local laws.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES

LSA does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agency Agreement, LSA will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. If a resume or candidate is submitted to any hiring manager without a previously signed agreement, LSA reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. These candidates will be considered property of LSA. We’re not currently looking to add any more agencies to our list of approved vendors, so please do not contact any of our managers or recruitment team with sales calls or details of your candidates.

Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Environmental Planning or related field.

Bachelors or better in Environmental Studies or related field.

Bachelors or better in Urban Planning or related field.

Experience

Required

5 years:

Minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible experience with the preparation of documents that comply with CEQA and/or NEPA, as well as knowledge of other federal, State, and local environmental statutes and regulations.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.