Associate Environmental Planner (Associate Flood Control Planner)

The Flood Control District currently has multiple opportunities for Associate Environmental Planners for the Regulatory Division at Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Note that the official job title is “Associate Flood Control Planner” (FCP). Associate FCPs serve as PM on most projects and provide general guidance and direction to Assistant FCPs and other technicians and administrative support staff. Associate FCP candidates could come from a variety of disciplines which include, Environmental Planners, Biologists, Regulatory Specialists, City Planners, or Archeologists (or many of the other specialties within the CEQA/environmental planning field). Each of these disciplines have specific skill sets that are applicable and could complement the Regulatory Division.
The District’s FCPs not only interact with District staff, but also with many other public agencies and stakeholders such as developers, planning and engineering consultants, members of the public, the Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, USFWS, and various other federal, state and local government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
The Regulatory Division is primarily responsible for ensuring that the District complies with the following state and federal environmental laws: CEQA, NEPA, FESA, CESA, AB-52, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Fish and Game Code Section 1600 et seq., Clean Water Act Sections 401 and 404, and the Western Riverside County and the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plans (MSHCP).
In addition, the Regulatory Division provides support for all types of District actions such as constructing new Flood Control facilities, maintaining existing facilities, developing master drainage plans, and issuing encroachment permits to developers or other public agencies for their projects. The Associate FCP will help develop and implement compliance strategies for our projects that balance protection of the natural environment with the District's mission to responsibly manage stormwater in service of safe, sustainable and livable communities.
The District desires candidates with experience working collaboratively on Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs), public works or capital facility projects, water resources projects and private development projects. Successful candidates will have experience with:

• applying environmental regulations to these types of projects;
• California environmental and regulatory setting, obtained through directly related work experience within that setting
• conducting comprehensive research on regulations, policies, and best practices to inform project decisions
• conducting site assessments and impact analyses;
• collaborating with a variety of technical specialists to identify project requirements and develop solutions to meet federal, state, and local environmental regulations
• preparing, reviewing, and coordinating the production of various decision documentation, environmental/technical reports (i.e. air quality, water quality, biological resource, cultural resource technical studies and the full range of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents;
• applying legal basis to planning, maintenance, and land development activities
• internal and supporting agency coordination; and,
• internal and external correspondence associated with environmental reviews and findings.

The District also desires candidates with a strong knowledge of impact assessment methodologies and the CEQA process as well as other relevant state and federal environmental laws, and a willingness to learn and develop expertise in environmental regulations and CEQA Project Management. Experience in project compliance with environmental laws and regulations, such as NEPA; National Historic Preservation Act, Assembly Bill 52, Federal Endangered Species Act; California Endangered Species Act; Clean Water Act (Sections 401 and 404); AB52, and/or California Department of Fish & Game Code is also desired. Knowledge and experience utilizing GIS software/programs and ability to read and interpret engineering drawings would also be useful to the work performed.
The FCP series and professional progression include Assistant FCP, Associate FCP, Senior FCP, Environmental Project Manager and Division Chief.
Please Note: The District also has FCPs in our Watershed Protection Division, however their sole focus is NPDES compliance; this current recruitment is not intended for NPDES professionals, unless the individual is otherwise qualified with the applicable environmental experience described herein.
Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District provides for the control and conservation of flood and storm waters and for the protection of watercourses, watersheds, public highways, life and property from damage within its boundaries.