Vice President, Environmental Planning & Land Use

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

Job summary

Rincon Consultants, a California-based environmental consulting firm, seeks a Vice President of Environmental Planning and Land Use to lead a large, multidisciplinary practice, drive growth, and assure client service excellence.

The role requires senior leadership, with a proven track record in environmental planning, CEQA, and strategic development in California. Hybrid work and regional offices are available to support collaboration and delivery.

Qualifications

• Minimum of BS/BA in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Planning, or related field.
• 20+ years of progressively responsible experience in environmental and land use planning.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary projects and secure revenue growth.
• Deep expertise in CEQA and California land use planning.
• Track record building and growing a planning practice or program.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead Practice Building and Team Development to strengthen leadership structures, coach leaders, and retain staff.
• Drive Strategic Business Development and Client Leadership across Rincon’s statewide planning services.
• Oversee Operations and Technical Leadership ensuring QA/QC and on-time delivery.
• Guide CEQA compliance and regulatory strategy for major projects.
• Shape market strategy and collaborate across service lines for integrated solutions.
• Develop and execute market strategies and cultivate strategic client relationships.

Skills

CEQA expertise

Leadership

Business development

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Education

BS/BA in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Planning, or related field

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 Planning and Land Use provides strategic leadership for a large environmental consulting practice, overseeing multidisciplinary teams and driving business growth, operational performance, and client service excellence. This role leads complex environmental planning, regulatory compliance, sustainability, and permitting projects while fostering strong client relationships, expanding market presence, and identifying new 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 President is responsible for mentoring and developing leaders and staff, optimizing team performance, and ensuring successful project delivery. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of practice building, leading large teams, managing organizational risk, and delivering complex environmental programs in California. 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 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, Carlsbad, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Sacramento, San Jose, and Fresno, with a preference for our Southern California locations.

WhatYou’llDo

Practice Building and Team Development

• Assess and strengthen the practice’s organizational and leadership structure, identifying opportunities to build on existing strengths and address capability or succession gaps. Develop, coach, and inspire leaders and high‑performing staff, creating meaningful opportunities for growth and supporting long‑term retention.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top 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, identifying key growth areas as well as areas at risk based on policy and market drivers.
• Cultivate and sustain new business relationships with large and strategically important clients, 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.
• Lead business development, including opportunity identification, proposal strategy, and industry representation.
• Develop and execute market strategy for Rincon’s environmental and land use planning services, identifying opportunities for growth across public‑and private‑sector development, community and general planning, transportation, infrastructure, and other priority planning markets, while anticipating changes in policy, regulation, and client demand.

Operations and Technical Leadership

• Guide teams and clients through evolving CEQA, land use, housing, development, and environmental planning requirements, translating regulatory and policy changes into practical client and business strategies.
• Guide operational strategy and achievement of business metric targets for environmental and land use planning.
• Oversee client program portfolios, ensuring technical excellence, compliance, and on‑time, on‑budget delivery.
• Oversee the program team is providing appropriate QA/QC review for technical studies, environmental documentation, and regulatory filings.
• Streamline operations and enhance service delivery through process improvements.
• Monitor and assess new or revised environmental laws, regulations, policies, and case law affecting planning services, and communicate their implications for clients, projects, and Rincon’s business strategy. Collaborate with Rincon’s Legal Department on regulatory and case law updates and training.
• Ensure integration and collaboration with all subgroups and cross servicelines and across regions. Integrate business planning, client capture planning, staffing, support, and development of large revenue, long‑term, technically diverse, and sustainable programs.
• Build systems and best practices, create efficiencies, solve problems, and work with a wider range of aptitude types across the organization. Oversee and ensure accountability for implementation of best practices for utilization, WIP, and AR management, which includes assuring accuracy of backlog and revenue projections.
• Facilitate effective communication of key messages to team leadership and team members.
• Ensure adherence with safety, cyber, contracts and human resources related protocols.
• Perform contract review regarding potential liability issues; signatory authority for all contracts per the company bylaws. Work closely with clients to manage cash flow, avoid delays in payments or billing, and minimize 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 of progressively responsible experience in environmental and land use planning, including significant leadership experience in environmental consulting, business development, and complex project or program delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary projects, navigate regulatory frameworks, and deliver strategic solutions for clients.
• Deep expertise in CEQA environmental review and documentation, California land use and environmental planning, and the regulatory and policy environment affecting development and infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated success building and growing a planning practice or major planning program, including developing senior leaders, expanding client relationships, and generating sustainable revenue growth.
• Proventrack recordof building long‑term client relationships and securing repeat business.
• Strong business acumen, with expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in 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 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 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.