Vice President Environmental & Land Use Planning

Rincon Consultants, Inc; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Rincon Consultants, Inc. seeks a Vice President of Environmental and Land Use Planning in Southern California.

The role leads a large environmental practice, guides complex governance, regulatory compliance, sustainability, and permitting efforts, while expanding market presence and client service excellence. The ideal candidate has 20+ years in consulting, strong CEQA experience, and a track record of building teams, managing risk, and delivering large, multidisciplinary projects in Southern

Qualifications

• Proven track record building and leading multidisciplinary environmental teams.
• Experience in CEQA environmental reviews and land use planning.
• Strong business development, client management, and risk oversight.

Responsibilities

• Shape Rincon’s statewide planning strategy and maintain key client relationships.
• Lead cross-service-line collaboration for complex environmental and infrastructure projects.
• Oversee proposal strategy, contract oversight, and project delivery quality.
• Mentor senior staff, develop leaders, and ensure long-term practice sustainability.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Business development

Client management

CEQA expertise

Environmental planning

Regulatory compliance

Team mentoring

Education

BS/BA in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Planning

MS/Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Digital project management tools

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

The Vice President of Environmental and Land Use Planning provides strategic leadership for a large environmental consulting practice, overseeing multidisciplinary teams and driving business growth, operational performance, and client service excellence. This role leadscomplexenvironmental planning, regulatory compliance, sustainability, andpermittingprojects while fostering strong client relationships, expanding market presence, andidentifyingnew business opportunities. The position also guides proposal development, risk management, contract oversight, and long-term service line strategy.

As a senior executive leader, the Vice Presidentis responsible formentoring and developing leaders and staff,optimizingteam performance, and ensuring successful project delivery. The ideal candidate has a proventrack recordof practice building, leading large teams, managing organizational risk, and delivering complex environmental programs in the Southern California region. Success in this role requires strong business development skills, executive presence, strategic vision, and the ability to inspire high-performing teams while supporting organizational growth and culture.

How We Collaborate

This role may offer a hybrid work setup, blending time in the office with remote work as business needsevolve. 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 includeLos Angeles, Carlsbad, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Sacramento, San Jose, and Fresno

(Please note: while this role's location is listed asa single location, we encourage you to apply if youhave extensive experience supporting projects and teams in Southern California.)

WhatYou’llDo

Practice Building and Team Development

• Review andoptimizegroup organizational structure.Assess major and minor risks toprograms and ensure these risks aremonitoredand managed.This includes assessment ofleadership to continue to develop team strategy focusing on strengths andsupplementing any weaknesses. Develop the next generation of leaders to build redundancyaround the Vice President role and eventually fill the Vice President role. Train,coach, growand inspire the team and top performers, giving individuals opportunities to level up and growwithin Rincon, and increase employee retention.
• Recruit, develop, andretaintop talent for environmental and land use practice, fostering a high-performance,collaborative culture.
• Mentor senior staff on business strategy, technical leadership, and client management.
• Lead succession planning to ensure long-term practice sustainability.

Strategic Business Development and Client Leadership

• Shape and lead Rincon’s statewide strategy for planning services,identifyingkey growth areasas well as areas at risk based on policy and market drivers.
• Cultivate and sustain new business relationships with large and strategically importantclients, and influence and train others to do the same, positioning Rincon as a trustedadvisor.
• Collaborate across service lines to deliver integrated solutions for a wide variety of development and infrastructure projects.
• Shape and lead Rincon’s statewide strategy for energy and utility services.
• Lead business development, including opportunity identification, proposal strategy, andindustry representation.
• Develop andmaintainrelationships with major California utilities.
• Develop overall market sector strategy,identifyingkey growth areas as well as areas at riskbased on policy and market drivers.

Operations and Technical Leadership

• Guide operational strategy and achievement of business metric targets for environmental and land use planning.
• Oversee client program portfolios, ensuring technical excellence, compliance, andon-time,on-budget delivery.
• Oversee the program team is providingappropriate QA/QCreview for technical studies,environmental documentation, and regulatory filings.
• Streamline operations and enhance service delivery through process improvements.
• Provide legal and regulatory interpretation of new or revised environmental laws and policiesandidentifyand communicate corresponding strategy to optimize ENV services in the market. Collaborate with Rincon Legal Department on regulatory and case law updatetrainings.
• Ensure integration and collaboration with allsubgroups and cross servicelines andacross regions. Integrate business planning, client capture planning, staffing, support, anddevelopment of large revenue, long-term, technically diverse, and sustainable programs.
• Build systems and best practices, create efficiencies, solve problems, and work with a widerange of aptitude types across the organization. Oversee and ensure accountability forimplementation of best practices forutilization, WIP, and AR management, which includesassuring accuracy of backlog and revenue projections.
• Facilitateeffective communication of key messages to team leadership and team members.
• Ensure adherencewithsafety, cyber, contracts and human resources related protocols.
• Perform contract reviewregardingpotential liability issues; signatory authority for allcontracts per the company bylaws. Work closely with clients to manage cash flow, avoiddelays in payments orbilling, andminimize WIP and AR exposure.

WhatYou’llBring

• Minimum of BS or BA in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Planning, or related field(MS/advanced degree preferred).
• 20+ years’ senior-level experience inconsulting, project delivery, andbusiness development in the Southern California region.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary projects, navigate regulatoryframeworks, and deliver strategic solutions for clients.
• Deep experience in CEQA environmental review documentation and land use planning for a wide variety of projecttypes.
• Proventrack recordof building long-term client relationships and securing repeat business.
• Strong business acumen, withexpertisein budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiencyin digital project management tools.

Investing in You

The base salary range for this full-time position is $220,000-$250,000, 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 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