Natural Resources Senior Planner (Senior Planner)

San Rafael, CA, United States

At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people “I work for the County of Marin.” Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture  here .  Read on to find out more about this opportunity.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS MISSION STATEMENT: Provide the community with quality services, maintain and improve our public infrastructures and facilities, and support the preservation of Marin’s unsurpassed beauty. There is currently one (1) Full-Time 2-Year fixed-term position in the Department of Public Works supporting both the Water Resources and Road Maintenance Divisions.

The Natural Resources Senior Planner will be housed in the Water Resources Division but will primarily support environmental compliance for Department of Public Works (DPW) Road Maintenance Division projects, including maintenance, repair, and replacement of roads, bridges, and drainage infrastructure (i.e., culverts, ditches and drainage channels).

The work is dynamic, requiring strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills to accomplish the following tasks that range among: coordinating with the Road Maintenance Division managers to develop permitting strategies.

analyzing project impacts on species and the environment.

preparing permit applications and negotiating with agencies.

hiring and managing consultants.

working with project managers to identify and implement best management practices and develop mitigation strategies to off-set impacts.

conducting pre-project biological surveys.

report writing.

post-construction monitoring.

The Natural Resources Senior Planner may assist with or take the lead on other DPW projects that complement their skill sets, including field work, GIS, developing environmentally friendly construction practices, or other natural resource-related topics. The position could potentially support other divisions within Public Works as well.Our Ideal Candidate will be an exceptional project manager with experience in environmental/natural resource projects including permitting of public works infrastructure and/or environmental restoration projects in California that are in or adjacent to sensitive habitats including creeks, wetlands, bays, and other bodies of water.

Our highly qualified candidate: thrives in a fast-paced environment and be passionate about helping to deliver projects, while protecting natural resources and improving environmental conditions.

appreciates working on complex problems to develop solutions with benefits for people, wildlife, and the environment.

has experience with the environmental permitting process in California, negotiating permit requirements, CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), Marin County’s special status species and sensitive habitats, and best management practices to safeguard them.

possesses strong written and verbal communication skills, the experience to unite competing interests, and the ability to successfully work with a diverse team of managers, engineers, planners, construction/maintenance workers, regulatory agency staff and the public.

is self-directed, values finding creative solutions to problems, and enjoys being part of a diverse team to support public works projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:  Principles and practices and trends in one or more fields of planning, such as current, advance, affordable housing, environmental, transportation, regional and/or sustainable development planning.

Intensive practices and trends in planning policy development and analysis.

Environmental, land use, and water resource analysis.

Sustainable development practices.

Legislative developments affecting regional and advanced planning including federal, state and local laws and ordinances.

Difficult research, analytical and statistical methods and comprehensive cost analysis techniques.

The physical, social and economic factors involved in land use and regional planning.

Research and statistical methods as applied to the collection, tabulation and analysis of data essential to planning studies.

Independent programs related to sustainability.

Ability to: Lead and direct staff in delivery of planning activities and projects.

Actively manage projects and programs.

Prepare and present studies, reports, and graphics within applicable time limits before boards and commissions.

Implement current principles, practices and trends in land use planning.

Interpret trends and statistics affecting public planning.

Interpret and apply laws and ordinances to planning projects.

Work collaboratively with community development agency and public work divisions to assure the provision of comprehensive and coordinated budgeting and fiscal services.

Speak effectively at public hearings and forums before public officials, the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, and community groups.

Think critically and conduct strategic planning.

Work effectively as a member of a County management team.

Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Act as a liaison to advise or resolve differences with individuals, groups and management.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, clients, customers, and representatives of other agencies or departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills listed above. Typically, equivalent to graduation from college with a major in planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, biological sciences or closely related field and three years of professional land use related planning experience.

Note: Additional graduate level courses in planning environmental quality planning or closely related field may substitute for up to one year of the experience requirement at the rate of three semester units for one month of experience.All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

Testing and Eligible List:  Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list.  The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.

Round 1 Selection Interviews via Zoom will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Round 2 In-Person Selection Interviews will be held on Wednesday , July 17, 2024

This is a two-year fixed-term position. This position is budgeted for 2 years. However, there may be opportunities for the hired individual during this time-period to move to a regular, ongoing position as other vacancies or promotional opportunities occur, or the position may be funded and convert to an ongoing position. Fixed-term employment ends when the position’s funding finishes, or the work is completed. Employees in these positions are exempt from the County’s policies regarding lay-off order and reduction-in-force rights.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer:   If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 415-473-2095.  If you have questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Stephen Schoengarth, Human Resources Analyst, 415-473-6946.

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