Senior Environmental Planner, Energy & Permitting

Rincon Consultants; Riverside (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Rincon Consultants is seeking a Senior Environmental Planner to join the Energy and Utilities Team, supporting renewable energy and other energy infrastructure in California and the Western U.S. You’ll lead routing, siting, and permitting efforts, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and interact with clients and agencies.

The role emphasizes strong regulatory knowledge, project leadership, and the ability to guide complex environmental reviews while mentoring junior staff and contributing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Urban Planning, or related field.
• 7+ years of environmental planning, permitting, or environmental consulting experience.
• Experience supporting renewable energy, battery storage, or utility infrastructure projects in the Western U.S.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing budgets/schedules.

Responsibilities

• Lead discretionary land use entitlement and permitting for energy projects.
• Coordinate routing, siting, and permitting for utility projects.
• Develop permitting and entitlement strategies to support development.
• Oversee routing studies, feasibility analyses, and permitting pathways.
• Collaborate with planners, biologists, engineers, and other specialists.
• Manage multiple projects’ tasks, budgets, and client communications.
• Prepare analyses for land use, zoning, and policy reviews.
• Interface with clients, agencies, and stakeholders during development.
• Support and lead agency consultations and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to QA/QC and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to business development and client relationship management.
• Advance clean energy delivery across the Western U.S.

Skills

Technical writing

Communication

Presentation

Client management

Analytical thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Urban Planning, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

We are an award-winning California-based environmental consulting firm with600+ professionals and more than 30 years of diverse experience serving clients in transportation, energy, water, infrastructure, private development, and government sectors. Our mission is to deliver practical, science-based environmental and planning solutions that support communities, infrastructure, and natural systems.

As a people-centric organization, we value collaboration, fairness, and transparency, and are committed to fostering a workplace that supports both personal and professional growth while offering robust career opportunities. We are especially proud of our recent Great Place To Work certification, which reflects an independent assessment of our culture and our teammembers'experiences.

About The Role

We are seeking a Senior Environmental Planner to join our Energy and Utilities Team, supporting renewable energy, battery energy storage, electric transmission, and other energy infrastructure projects throughout California and other western states. This role offers the opportunity to lead complex routing, siting, permitting, and environmental review efforts; collaborate with multidisciplinary technical teams; and work directly with industry-leading clients advancing clean energy in the Western U.S.

How We Collaborate

This role may offer a hybrid work setup, blending time in the office with remote work as business needs evolve. We enjoy coming together in person to collaborate, connect with teammates, and partner with clients, and may prioritize candidates who live within 50 miles of a Rincon office. Eligible office locations for this role include Carlsbad, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Riverside, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

Please note: While this role's location is listed as a single location, we encourage you to apply if you reside in or near any of the CA locations listed above.

WhatYou’llDo

• Lead and manage discretionary land use entitlement and permitting efforts for renewable energy, battery storage, electric transmission, and other energy infrastructure projects
• Lead routing, siting, and permitting efforts for electric transmission, renewable energy, battery energy storage, and other utility infrastructure projects
• Develop permitting and entitlement strategies to support project development, construction, and operation
• Develop and oversee routing studies, constraints analyses, feasibility assessments, permitting strategies, encroachment permitting efforts, technical studies,and entitlement pathways to support project development and implementation
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams of planners, biologists, cultural resource specialists, engineers, and other technical experts to deliver integrated project solutions
• Manage project tasks, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and client communications across multiple concurrent projects
• Conduct land use, zoning, and policy analyses to support project siting, entitlement, routing, and environmental review efforts
• Interface directly with clients, regulatory agencies, Tribal representatives, stakeholders, and community members throughout project development and environmental review processes
• Support and lead agency consultation efforts and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations
• Prepare and participatein public meetings, workshops, hearings, and presentations before agency decision-making bodies
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to technical quality through QA/QC review, training, and knowledge sharing
• Support business development efforts, including proposal preparation, scope and budget development, and client relationship management
• Contribute to the advancement of clean energy in the Western U.S.through the successful delivery of renewable energy and infrastructure projects

WhatYou’llBring

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Urban Planning, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• 7+years of relevant environmental planning, permitting, or environmental consulting experience
• Experience supporting renewable energy, battery storage, electric transmission, utility, or other infrastructure projectsin the Western U.S.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, permitting requirements, encroachment permitting processes, and agency review processes
• Demonstrated experience supporting permitting, encroachment permitting, routing, siting, land use entitlement, or environmental compliance efforts for infrastructure projects
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing NEPAdocuments.Familiarity withCEQA.
• Experience conducting permitting analyses, entitlement strategies, constraints assessments, and feasibility studies
• Experience coordinating with localjurisdictions, transportation agencies, utility providers, and regulatory agencies to obtain project approvals and permits
• Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage project schedules, budgets, and deliverables
• Excellent technical writing, communication, presentation, and client management skills
• Strong research, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced consulting environment

Investing in You

The base salary range for this full-time position is $95,000-140,000, plus a generous benefits program. Salary ranges are based on the market median of similar jobs, according to third-party salary benchmark surveys. Base pay is determined based on internal equity and a candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Package designed to support employee well-being, growth, and financial security. Our benefits are designed to offer flexibility and choice, including health coverage options, employer-sponsored insurance, retirement benefits, generous time off, and programs that support learning, growth, and community engagement.

Explore more about our culture, benefits, and life at Rincon onour Culture and Benefits page.

Additional Employment Information

Individuals offered employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of employment. Additionally, those hired who may be assigned to federal projects will be subject to further drug testing, including screening for cannabinoids (THC/marijuana), in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and other applicable federal regulations, which take precedence over California state and local laws.

Rincon Consultants does not accept unsolicited applicant/candidate resumes from search firm recruiters and/or temporary agencies that do not have a signed contract and specified work order with Rincon Consultants. Further, such resumes received will be deemed the sole property of Rincon Consultants and no fees will be paid in the event Rincon Consultants subsequently hires such individual. Rincon Consultants is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.