Environmental Planning Lead
Job DescriptionJob Description
NCE is excited to have a motivated, critical thinker join our team and lead our Environmental Planning service in Northern California. For this position, the primary work location will be associated with one of NCE’s Point Richmond, Oakland, or Sacramento offices. In this role, you will guide our team of environmental planners to assist clients in moving their projects through complex regulatory and planning processes including the Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). You will be a “leader/seller/doer” who can inspire, manage and guide all aspects of our Environmental Planning service line, is innately strategic in their approach, an analytical problem solver, and possess the ability to put thoughts into words and actions. You will also be naturally goal oriented, driven to succeed, love to inspire those around you, and thrive in problem solving.
As the lead for Environmental Planning in Northern California you will be expected to guide strategic thinking and implementation within the marketplace, guide and mentor staff, recognize and resolve issues, and work closely with the Regional and Firmwide Environmental Practice Leads to provide a vision for the service.
Responsibilities:
Manage and deliver technical work
Functioning as a project manager or technical advisor in the delivery of projects
Prepare legally defensible environmental documents in compliance with CEQA and NEPA
Negotiate and communicate with regulatory agencies on behalf of clients and projects
Providing quality control
Mentor and inspire the environmental planning team
Overseeing workload planning
Supporting achieving business plan goals
Working collaboratively with senior technical and business development staff to identify and secure new work and clients to sustain and grow the practice
Represent NCE and the Environmental Planning service in Northern California and improve name recognition through professional organizations, events, and conferences
Prepare proposals, participate in interviews, and develop scope and for environmental planning, environmental document, and regulatory compliance (CEQA and NEPA) projects
Qualifications
(Must Have):
A Bachelor’s Degree in environmental, urban, or regional planning, natural resource science, environmental science, biology, or other related degree
Strong working knowledge of CEQA and NEPA analysis, regulations, and documentation
A minimum of 10+ years of direct experience developing and delivering CEQA and NEPA documents including ensuring legal adequacy, clear readability, and top-quality deliverables
Proven leadership and problem-solving skills in guiding clients, projects, and staff through CEQA/NEPA processes
Experience working with regulatory and planning agencies to move projects through environmental review efficiently
Excellent technical writing and oral communication skills
Strong communication and business development skills, successfully selling environmental planning services while actively contributing to project execution
Ability to manage and deliver multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
Qualifications
(Nice to Have):
A Master’s Degree in environmental, urban, or regional planning, natural resource science, environmental science, biology, or other related degree
12+ years of direct experience developing and delivering CEQA and NEPA documents
Experience in private consulting
Experience facilitating stakeholder and community engagement
Experience with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) code of ordinances, environmental review process, and regulatory permitting
Experience with Housing and Urban Development environmental requirements (e.g., 24 CRF Part 58 reviews)
Experience with transportation planning (specifically Caltrans planning processes)
Experience with land use planning and/or policy development
Working Conditions:
The position will primarily work out of an office environment, with some field or project work. Travel will be required for attendance at meetings, events, and conferences.
Salary range : $140,000 to $190,000 annually, DOE and primary work location.