What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Planner (Creeks Restoration) position at City of Santa Barbara?
ABOUT US
The Creeks Division is hiring an environmental professional with strong technical skills who will contribute to our mission: improving creek and ocean water quality and restoring urban stream habitat. Individuals who join the Creeks Division tend to stay because of the welcoming culture, creative opportunities, and impactful work. Read more about the Creeks Division here.
The Creeks Division is housed within the Sustainability & Resilience Department, with the mission to support a sustainable, healthy, and safe Santa Barbara through reducing the City’s carbon footprint, managing energy and materials use, protecting, and restoring creeks and water quality, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and building local climate resilience. If you are a motivated and dedicated environmental professional interested in the position, read more about the Sustainability & Resilience Department here.
At the City of Santa Barbara, the best part of our organization is our people. As a City of Santa Barbara employee, you will work in an environment with other motivated individuals who are passionate about their work. We strive to provide employees with the support they need to thrive. Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture here.
THE POSITION
The Creeks Division seeks a full-time employee to perform high-level professional planning, project coordination, consultant and construction management. The ideal candidate will have a strong background and/or demonstrated interest in surface water quality improvement and creek habitat restoration. The candidate should have experience working on project teams that include consultants, engineers, and design professionals. This position will also work with a variety of City staff members from different departments, stakeholder groups, and members of the public, to review and implement projects.? The Creeks Restoration Planner will have the unique opportunity to participate in a model program with widespread community benefits to implement habitat restoration and water quality improvement projects.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Act as a high-level project manager; overseeing the design, permitting, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation of complex creek habitat restoration projects.
- Writing requests for proposals; vetting, hiring, and directing consultants for technical consulting services.
- Provide contract management for technical consulting services and construction projects.
- Inspect and manage contractors and construction sites.
- Secure local, state, and federal permits for restoration and capital improvement projects.
- Develop project restoration, maintenance, and monitoring plans.
- Oversee maintenance of restoration project sites.
- Responding appropriately to unforeseen project challenges, while keeping projects on schedule.
- Prepare detailed grant applications and reporting.
- Coordinate restoration projects with other City departments.
- Assist in the development of public information and education programs.
- Prepare complex memoranda, letters, staff reports, and guidelines pertaining to assigned projects; prepare and present oral staff reports at City council and associated advisory committee meetings.
- Provide exemplary customer service to all individuals by demonstrating a willingness to be attentive, understanding, responsive, fair, courteous and respectful, and to actively participate in maintaining a positive customer service environment.
- Answer questions and provide information to the public; research information; interpret data and explain requirements, and procedures.
- Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.
KNOWLEDGE OF
- Principles and practices of watershed protection and/or natural resource management, urban planning and development, landscape architecture, and project planning and management.
- Watershed processes (geomorphology and hydrology), and principles and practices of watershed management and storm water resource management.
- Biological and ecological processes.
- Research techniques including data collection methodologies and report preparation.
- Identification of plant and animal species endemic to the Central Coast.
- Strategies and techniques for the protection of creek resources including improving water quality, riparian, wetland and habitat restoration.
- Construction techniques and equipment.
- Native landscape design and restoration.
- Data and budget management.
- Federal and state natural resources protection and permitting.
- Principles and practices of municipal planning, zoning, policy development, public participation, and environmental and coastal land use.
ABILITY TO
- Manage multiple and complex projects.
- Undertake local, state and federal permit processing.
- Write comprehensive and concise reports.
- Work with interdepartmental teams on major projects.
- Communicate clearly and make verbal presentations to Boards, Commissions and City Council; develop and maintain budgets.
- Write grants applications and reports.
- Manage design, construction, and grant contracts.
- Work with members of the community.
- Read and understand site plans, construction plans, project proposals, CEQA, Coastal Act, and federal, state and local planning and environmental regulations.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Conduct field work related to project site maintenance and monitoring
- Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following:
- Sitting, standing, or walking for extended periods of time
- Walking down steep banks near water
EXPERIENCE
Four (4) to six (6) years of increasingly responsible natural resource planning, habitat restoration, and/or project management, including at least two years with a local governmental agency, is highly desirable.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, biology, natural resource management, environmental science/studies, conservation planning, landscape architecture or closely related field?
A Master's degree in natural resources management, urban or regional planning, watershed resource management, and/or additional coursework or certifications, is highly desirable.
Equivalent to a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, biology, natural resource management, environmental science/studies, conservation planning, landscape architecture or closely related field?
A Master's degree in natural resources management, urban or regional planning, watershed resource management, and/or additional coursework or certifications, is highly desirable.
It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed, and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.
The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.
There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Sustainability & Resilience Department.
Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.
CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025.
Salary : $100,437 - $122,083
