Senior Planner

Urban Planning Partners, Inc.

Oakland (CA)

Hybrid

USD 120,000 - 175,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & sick pay

Insurance plans

Transit reimbursement

Wellness stipend

401k match

Profit sharing

Donation matching

Referral bonus

Job summary

Urban Planning Partners (UPP) in Oakland is seeking a full-time Senior Planner/Associate Principal to lead complex housing policy, CEQA work, and planning entitlements for projects across the Bay Area and beyond. The role focuses on client management, multi-project supervision, and mentoring junior staff.

Ideal candidates bring 7+ years (Senior) or 10+ years (Associate Principal) of experience, strong communication, and a track record in development review, entitlement processing, and

Qualifications

Minimum years of experience: Senior Planner 7+ years with 3–4 years in project management; Associate Principal 10+ years with 5 years in project management.
Experience in housing policy, CEQA, development/land use entitlement, community engagement, contract planning, and planning policy.
Ability to manage multiple projects, communicate with clients, control contracts and budgets, ensure quality and deadlines.
Understanding of zoning and planning policies, standard city processes, and CEQA procedures.
Experience as main client contact, leading meetings, and presenting to councils or commissions.
Demonstrated people management experience and strong writing/editing, research, and analytical skills.
Ability to collaborate in a small, hands-on boutique firm where team members wear multiple hats.

Responsibilities

Lead selected projects and provide support on others, with opportunities for advancement.
Mentor junior staff and participate in management discussions.
Engage with clients and subconsultants, lead meetings, and present to City Council or Planning Commission sessions.
Prepare CEQA documents for mixed-use, infill, and transit projects; advocate streamline provisions where appropriate.
Oversee proposal development and participate in interview processes.

Skills

Housing policy

CEQA

Land use entitlement

Community engagement

Contract planning

Planning policy

Project management

Client communication

Team leadership

Urban planning

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in urban planning or related field

Tools

GIS

Adobe Creative Suite

MS Office

Job description

Urban Planning Partners (UPP) seeks a full-time Senior Planner/Associate Principal to join our team.

Salary Range: $120,000 to $175,000 (DOE)

Urban Planning Partners has a significant amount of exciting work related to housing policy, community and stakeholder engagement, and planning entitlements for development projects. We also continue to have a steady stream of CEQA and contract planning work. Successful candidates for Senior Planner/Associate Principal will have strong knowledge or and experience in housing policy, CEQA, development/land use entitlement, community engagement, contract planning, and planning policy. Come join the UPP team and work with us on the following:

Housing policy and associated implementation for numerous agencies and local governments in the Bay Area.
Community and stakeholder engagement around housing policy and transportation planning with a strong equity lens.
Specific Plan development for downtowns, neighborhoods, and transitional areas in Bay Area, Central Coast, and beyond.
Development land use entitlement management for developers, nonprofits, and corporate companies throughout Northern California on housing, commercial, and recreational projects.
Contract planning for jurisdictions throughout the Bay Area, generally on a project-basis (versus staffing a full-time position for a city). Clients include Albany, Berkeley, Foster City, San Mateo, San Carlos, and Redwood City.
Preparing CEQA documents for mixed-use and infill development, transit projects, Specific Plans, and Housing Elements. We are advocates for utilizing the streamline provisions when available and preparing more comprehensive analyses and EIRs when warranted.

We expect that you will work on a combination of the above with a focus in one or two areas. You will lead some projects and provide project support for others. There is also significant room for advancement. Leadership opportunities include, but are not limited to, participating on Executive Management Team, mentoring junior staff, and serving as a subject matter expert on specific planning issues.

Requirements

Senior Planner: Minimum of 7 years of experience, with 3-4 years of experience in project management.

Associate Principal: Minimum of 10 years of experience, with 5 years of experience in project management.

Ideal candidates will also have:

Bachelor’s or master’s degree. Ideally focused on city/urban planning, housing policy, community development, environmental studies, or a related field.
Experience managing multiple projects in a range of sizes, including client communication, contract, and budget management, ensuring quality control, and meeting deadlines.
An understanding of zoning and other planning policies and regulations, typical city planning approval processes, and CEQA processes.
Experience serving as main point of contact for clients and subconsultants, leading meetings, and presenting at City Council or Planning Commission sessions.
Demonstrated experience or training in people management.
Excellent writing/editing, research, and analysis (qualitative and quantitative), and communication skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in teams and willingness to do what is needed to get the job done. This is critical in a small boutique firm——everyone does everything.

Ability to think creatively, take initiative, and be comfortable with ambiguity as we often work with clients to define their scopes and take on innovative work without a direct precedent.

Experience managing the proposal development process and leading and/or participating in interview processes.
Flexibility, an orientation toward detail, and excellent time management and organizational skills.
Creative problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced and professional environment.
Legal eligibility to work in the U.S.
Valid California driver’s license and ability to drive a vehicle for company business.
Ability and willingness to work in office. This position is primarily on-site with four days in our Oakland office and one day remote each week. After one year, an alternative schedule may be considered.
Ability to occasionally travel and attend evening and weekend meetings.

Desired

Urban design experience (we have several objective design standards projects and Specific Plan and currently use subconsultants for our urban design work).
Demonstrated ability to win and lead new work.
Experience, training and/or interest in community engagement.
Data analysis.

Extras

Experience/Expertise with any of the following: equity, urban design, Adobe CS and/or GIS, formal training around community engagement and meeting facilitation.
Active membership in a professional organization and AICP.
Desire for significant growth opportunities including company leadership and ownership shares.
Bilingual

This position would be a hybrid remote/on-site in Oakland with 4 days in the office.

Why Urban Planning Partners?

At UPP, we help create better places in partnership with our clients and the communities where we work. We are actively seeking talented people to join an empowered and collaborative employee environment. Located in downtown Oakland, we provide land use planning policy, community engagement, municipal planning, and environmental review consulting services on large complex projects throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.

We credit the success of our projects and the satisfaction of clients to our amazing staff and commitment to our core values: We Care, Collaborate, Reach, and We are Real. Urban Planning Partners is a relatively small (staff of 10) yet vital and respected firm— we punch above our weight. Come join our team and work on some of the most innovative planning projects happening in the region.