Supervising Senior Environmental Planning Manager

Rincon Consultants, Inc; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement benefits

Generous time off

Learning and growth programs

Job summary

Rincon Consultants, Inc in California seeks a Supervising Senior Environmental Planning Manager to lead CEQA-driven projects and grow its long-range planning practice in Southern California. The role combines business development with technical leadership and staff mentorship, overseeing large contracts and client relationships.

The successful candidate will manage multidisciplinary teams, engage with public agencies, and help expand Rincon’s client base in the LA/SD markets while guiding

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Environmental Planning or related field.
• 12+ years of environmental planning and consulting experience.
• Deep knowledge of CEQA and leadership of complex environmental review documents.
• Strong client management and ability to navigate high-profile client/project issues.
• Established relationships with municipalities, public agencies, developers, or partners in LA or SD markets.
• Proven success developing business, growing client relationships, and securing repeat work.

Responsibilities

• Oversee large environmental planning contracts, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, quality, risk, and financial performance.
• Lead CEQA compliance and planning efforts from strategy through environmental review and approval.
• Manage high-profile client relationships and provide strategic guidance on CEQA, land use planning, entitlement, and environmental review.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and provide senior-level QA/QC for environmental and planning deliverables.
• Coordinate with public agencies and participate in meetings, hearings, and stakeholder engagement.
• Identify prospective clients and lead client capture planning, proposals, interviews, scoping, and cost estimating.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop environmental planning staff and support recruiting.

Skills

CEQA leadership

Client management

Project leadership

Staff mentoring

Communication skills

Public agency relationships

Business development

Education

BA/MA Environmental Planning

Job description

About Us

We are an award-winning California-based environmental consulting firm with 600+ 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 team-member experiences.

About The Role

We are seeking a Supervising Senior Environmental Planning Manager to help grow our environmental and long-range planning practice in Southern California. This senior leadership role combines business and client development with oversight of large, complex contracts, technical leadership in CEQA and direct supervision and development of environmental planning staff.

The successful candidate will help expand our client base, strengthen high-profile client relationships, and identify strategic opportunities in the Southern California market. This person will also oversee project delivery, guide multidisciplinary teams, support staffing and recruiting, and help grow the team and capabilities needed to meet evolving client needs. The ideal candidate is a trusted client manager and experienced environmental consulting leader who enjoys building programs, developing people, and remaining connected to technical and project work.

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 Los Angeles and San Diego.

WhatYou’llDo

Project and Client Leadership

• Oversee large, complex environmental planning contracts, including scope, schedule, budget, staffing, quality, risk, and financial performance.

• Lead CEQA compliance and planning efforts from initial strategy through environmental review and approval.

• Manage high-profile client relationships and provide strategic guidance on CEQA, land use planning, entitlement, and environmental review.

• Lead multidisciplinary teams and provide senior-level QA/QC for environmental and planning deliverables.

• Coordinate with public agencies and participate in meetings, hearings, and stakeholder engagement.

Business Development and Practice Growth

• Build Rincon’s environmental and long-range planning client base in Southern California.

• Identify prospective clients and lead client capture planning, proposals, interviews, scoping, and cost estimating.

• Expand existing client relationships and develop partnerships that support new opportunities.

• Contribute to business planning, staffing discussions, and the growth of client-focused programs.

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise, mentor, and develop environmental planning staff.

• Provide oversight and coaching to project managers and emerging leaders.

• Help assess staffing needs and support recruiting, workload planning, and resource allocation.

• Promote collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement across project teams.

WhatYou’llBring

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Environmental Planning or a related field.

• 12+ years of progressively responsible environmental planning and consulting experience.

• Deep knowledge of CEQA and demonstrated experience leading complex environmental review documents and multidisciplinary projects.

• Strong client management skills and the ability to navigate complex or high-profile client and project issues.

• Established relationships with municipalities, public agencies, developers, or strategic partners in the Los Angeles or San Diego markets.

• Demonstrated success developing business, growing client relationships, and securing repeat work.

• Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing staff.

• Excellent communication, presentation, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience with general plans, specific plans, community plans, housing elements, zoning updates, or program-level environmental review.

• Experience overseeing on-call contracts, master service agreements, or multiyear planning programs.

• Active involvement or leadership in relevant professional or industry organizations.

Investing in You

The base salary range for this full-time position is $130,000-$160,000, plus a generous bonus and benefits program. Salary ranges are based on the market median of similar jobs, according to third-party salary benchmark surveys. Base pay isdeterminedbased 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-sponsoredinsurance, retirement benefits, generous time off, and programs that support learning, growth, and community engagement.

Explore more about our culture, benefits, and life at Rincon on our 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.