Senior Environmental Planner/Project Manager

Description

DOES THIS DESCRIBE YOU?

CEQA and NEPA are exciting environmental laws for you. You might even dub yourself a “CEQA Geek” or “NEPA Nerd.” You love helping clients anticipate issues, avoid or solve problems, and define environmental compliance strategies. You are experienced in effectively managing environmental compliance and planning projects. Owning the responsibility for large, complex environmental documents is in your comfort zone, including quality assurance, client management, schedule and budget management, and team coordination. Working with colleagues and clients, including staff development, is something that motivates you. On any given day, you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with Ascent principals and analysts.

To keep up with CEQA and NEPA, you follow court decisions and participate regularly in legal and practice updates. Your personal copy of the CEQA statute and guidelines is dog-eared and coffee-stained, and the CEQ NEPA link is pinned to your desktop. You enjoy keeping up on environmental issues, like innovative urban planning, sustainable transportation, water, energy, biodiversity, or climate change.  

 
Your skills are excellent for analytical thinking, writing, relationship building, and translating technical material into forms suitable for decision-makers and the public. Your past success also includes business development, proposal writing, and networking with prospective clients. Your attitude is positive and your personality is caring.

 
Job Duties/Responsibilities

Ascent is looking for a full-time Senior Environmental Planner/Project Manager to join our Environmental Practice team in our Berkeley office. In a typical week in this position, you might:

• Work with clients on their most important, often complex, and challenging environmental planning documents
• Collaborate closely with Ascent principals, who support you in carrying out projects
• Team up, shoulder-to-shoulder, with a knowledgeable, interdisciplinary group of Ascent professionals in Irvine, San Diego, Berkeley, Sacramento, and Lake Tahoe
• Brainstorm with your assistant project manager, who helps you coordinate projects
• Communicate directly with clients, regulatory agencies, sub-consultants, and stakeholders to understand and address a broad range of perspectives
• Prepare budgets and schedules, and carry out project work within agreed time frames and contract price
• Create, with your team, high-quality environmental and planning documents
• Provide quality review of documents, with attention to completeness, legal adequacy, technical accuracy, and readability
• Represent Ascent and our clients at public meetings, workshops, and open houses
• Lead and contribute to business development activities, including proposal preparation and relationship building with existing and prospective clients
• Participate in professional associations, such as speaking at conferences 
• Help with mentoring and skill development of more junior staff

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

Qualifications

• BS/MS in planning, environmental studies, geography, natural resources, physical sciences, or related field
• A minimum of 12 years of experience in the preparation of CEQA/NEPA analysis
• Seven to 10 years of experience managing environmental documents and analyses
• A record of successful environmental planning projects and working relationships with clients and regulatory agencies are needed. 

Work environment

• Typical office environment

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at a time.

Travel 

• Limited travel may be required.

Work authorization/security clearance requirements Not eligible for sponsorship

Additional eligibility requirements N/A   

At Ascent, we believe in fostering a nurturing environment that prioritizes our people. We are committed to holistic investments in our team, offering not only competitive salaries and comprehensive medical benefits, but also a range of perks designed to enhance emotional, financial, and physical wellness. A comprehensive listing of benefits offered can be found here.  Interested in learning more about the Ascentian life? Reach out to our People Resources team at People.Resources@ascent.inc. We look forward to hearing from you!

Diversity Statement

Ascent is committed to creating a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout all facets of the organization. We value and will strive to ascend by welcoming and uplifting all voices, ideas, achievements, and contributions, including those from marginalized communities and identities. We believe that recognizing and embracing our differences makes us a stronger organization. We commit to proactively nurturing environments of mutual support, respect, and caring for all through our words and actions. Join us on our journey.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement 

Ascent provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Ascent is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact PeopleResources@ascent.inc.

Ascent strives for equity in every area at Ascent, including compensation. To ensure candidates are paid fairly the offered salary will fall within this range and will be determined based on the candidate's demonstrated qualifications and alignment with the requirements of the position outlined above.