Senior Environmental Planner

Senior Environmental Planner

Job Description

ABOUT THE POSITION:

This position may take place at our Brea HQ or a client city.

Infrastructure Engineers is recruiting for a Senior Environmental Planner position in the Development Services Department, Planning Division. The goal of the Development Services Department is to provide current and long-term community planning and environmental services to constituent local government agencies to enhance the design and livability of residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and industrial zones within our client’s urban sphere, and to promote sustainable development.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This is the first supervisory or lead level class in the Land Use/Environmental Planner series. Under general direction, incumbents perform the most complex, difficult, and sensitive environmental and/or planning project tasks, and may serve as project leader for a major environmental and/or planning project or study. This class is distinguished from the next higher class, Land Use/Environmental Planning Manager, in that the latter plans, directs, and coordinates the work of subordinate planners for a significant functional area.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Collects and identifies sociological, economic, demographic, and physical site data that affect land use and community development.

• Conducts field investigations to obtain data on environmental matters by operating a variety of field sampling equipment and interviewing stakeholders
• Prepares correspondence to answer inquiries from various agencies
• Prepares reports and makes recommendations on a variety of environmental matters
• Reviews environmental impact reports to ensure that sufficient information has been submitted and recommends improvements in reporting methods
• Prepares categorical exemptions and negative declaration reports if initial studies indicate no significant environmental effects by the proposed projects
• Drafts environmental impact reports when initial studies indicate significant environmental effect
• Makes recommendations regarding departmental goals, policies, procedures, and programs for the control of pollutants; leads and personally performs specialized and technical planning tasks and coordinates, organizes, and implements comprehensive plans and programs for effective utilization of the land and physical facilities
• Leads multi-disciplinary professional and non-professional staff in conducting a variety of planning studies or evaluating discretionary permits
• Collects and identifies sociological, economic, demographic, and physical site data that affect land use and community development
• Prepares multi-disciplinary projects and studies
• Plans and implements comprehensive programs for utilization of land and physical facilities
• Reviews building plans for conformance with the Zoning Ordinance
• Reviews and prepares charts, maps and other graphic materials using planning instruments and computer mapping tools
• Plans, coordinates, and prepares projects and studies such as general plan elements, comprehensive plans and other special planning studies and environmental impact reports
• Defines parameters of projects
• Analyzes and makes recommendations on discretionary projects/permits
• May act as group lead/member on committees/special task forces
• Prepares records on the status of assigned projects
• Prepares grant applications
• Assists committees and groups in formulating policy statements and implementing programs
• Drafts agendas and minutes of meetings
• Assists in preparing project budgets
• Writes clear, concise, and effective reports, communicating information to the public, government officials, agencies, and staff
• Produces final documents such as ordinances, technical reports, development standards and criteria, general plan amendments and resolutions, and notices of approval or disapproval for discretionary projects
• Communicates orally to the public, governmental officials, citizen groups and other staff to effectively convey technical planning information
• Makes public presentations to the Board of Supervisors or City Councils, citizen planning groups, environmental groups Planning Commission, and other policy-making bodies
• May be required to perform the functions of the lower-level classes in this series
• Prepares environmental impact reports, initiates studies and environmental reports in archeology, biology, geography, geology, ecology, zoology, and environmental management
• Provides responsive, high-quality service to employees, representatives of outside agencies and member of the public by providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date information, in a courteous, efficient, and timely manner

CEQA Specialist plans, performs, reviews, and examines environmental studies, reports, and proposals of various projects to assess their environmental and policy impacts. Other duties include:

• Reviews, examines and/or prepares California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) documents, various environmental permits, and grant applications
• Conducts studies which may require collection and evaluation of field and laboratory data to assess the environmental and water quality impacts from the storage, handling, or release of solid waste and hazardous materials
• Conducts noise measurements to assess impacts and enforces noise abatement policies; conducts environmental compliance inspections and enforcement procedures as necessary
• Coordinates and implements environmental compliance, remediation, and enhancement; makes recommendations in accordance with established environmental policy, water regulations, and relevant technical information; oversees environmental consultant activities and services
• Conducts outreach and education on environmental issues; works with other public agencies and the community, supports others in major projects or studies, and may act as a technical team leader.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Land use/environmental principles in the areas of transportation, capital facilities, environmental analysis, growth management, zoning, and land use regulation
• Theories and principles of urban and regional planning
• Environmental issues relating to one or more of the following: archeology, biology, geography, ecology, zoology, air quality and noise, water quality and resources, land use planning, transportation, energy, environmental management, and agriculture
• The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and other federal, state, county and local laws and ordinances pertaining to the environment
• Environmental impact report preparation and interpretation
• Zoning and subdivision principles and regulations
• Research practices applicable to data collection and analysis
• Appropriate land use patterns
• Land development practices and construction permit processes
• Basic college level statistics
• Mapping techniques and graphic design
• Oral and written presentation techniques
• Legal basis for planning, zoning, and land development activities
• Principles and techniques of lead work and training
• Telephone, office, and online etiquette
• Integrate various planning disciplines necessary in a complex project
• Lead the work of other professional staff
• Compile, organize, analyze, and interpret data
• Assemble, analyze, and evaluate sociological, economic, demographic, environmental and land use data for studies and formulate recommendations for decision-making bodies
• Read, understand, and interpret maps including land use, topographic, population distribution, and physical and natural features
• Summarize technical information relevant to environmental issues
• Identify and evaluate environmental resources
• Analyze maps in a three-dimensional context and visualize the impact of construction on a site
• Read and interpret rules, regulations, policies, and ordinances
• Prepare reports and correspondence
• Use planning instruments and computer mapping tools
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, employees, employee representatives and the public representing diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Treat employees, representatives of outside agencies and members of the public with courtesy and respect
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations
• Provides responsive, high-quality service to employees, representatives of outside agencies and members of the public by providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date information, in a courteous, efficient, and timely manner

DESIREABLE TRAITS

Leadership, Communicates Effectively, Knowledge Worker, Holds Self and Others Accountable, Problem Solving and Innovation, Demonstrates Ethical Behavior, Leverages Resources (Coaches and Develops), Drives to Excel, Maximizes Team Effectiveness, Supportive of Change

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Possession of a bachelor's degree in city and regional planning, urban planning, aviation management, landscape architecture, geography, archeology, biology with a concentration in wildlife and/or botany; geology; or any one of the following life and physical sciences, geography with a concentration in conservation of environmental quality, natural resources or physical geography, ecology; zoology; engineering with an emphasis in acoustics or environmental management, environmental science or a related field
• A minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible professional level experience performing environmental analysis, planning, research, data analysis, and computations, and preparing and presenting reports and graphics as it relates to land use/environmental planning
• Computer keyboarding proficiency, with speed and accuracy, including experience using MS Office Suite required
• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, a safe driving record necessary
• Experience in geographic information systems (GIS) is highly preferred, but not required
• Bilingual skills a plus, but not required