What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Environmental Planner position at Santa Clara Valley Water District (CA)?
Overview:
The Senior Environmental Planner within the Water Utility team of the O&M Environmental Services Unit plays a critical role as the technical lead, providing expert environmental oversight for highly complex operations and maintenance activities within the Water Utility (WUE). This includes key programs such as Pipeline Maintenance and various WUE O&M projects. Examples of projects relate to gage improvements, turnout repairs, road repairs, pump replacements, and inspection and rehab. This position also includes overseeing the development and implementation of environmental programs that support watershed management, including the Integrated Invasive Plant Management Program (IIPMP). This program is essential for maintaining the ecological health of watersheds, ensuring that invasive plant species do not negatively impact water resources and habitats. The planner will also provide expert oversight for other various key programs and project as needed.
This Senior Planner plays a key leadership role in developing and executing integrated environmental strategies that protect and restore watersheds, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance the long-term sustainability of Valley Water’s operations and maintenance activities.
Our Commitment:Racial equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to Valley Water. We are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment for all. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity, contributes to inclusion, and strengthens belonging by broadening our perspective and collective understanding of the world around us to accomplish our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.
About Valley Water:
Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.
Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Integrated Invasive Plant Management Program (IIPMP) Development – Leading the creation and execution of the program that addresses invasive plant species on VW lands, coordinating efforts to assess, monitor, and control their spread to protect water quality and habitat integrity.
- CEQA Analysis– Managing the preparation and review of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analyses projects to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
- Permitting- Management of permit strategy for local, State, and Federal regulatory agencies. These include but are not limited to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Army Corp of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Valley Habitat Agency.
- Mitigation Monitoring & Reporting – Overseeing the preparation and submission of mitigation reports and compliance documentation related to various efforts, as well as other environmental permits. This includes Valley Habitat Plan compliance.
- Regulatory Compliance & Oversight – Acting as the senior specialist in environmental planning, ensuring that watershed management activities, including invasive species control, meet all relevant federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
- Interdepartmental Coordination – Ensuring consistency with other Valley Water projects and programs, integrating environmental planning efforts across departments, and maintaining alignment with Quality and Environmental Management System (QEMS) protocols and other internal procedures.
Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:
Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.
Ideal Experience:
- Seven (7) years of professional-level environmental planning or related experience evaluating the impact of proposed public works, capital projects, or facilities in the community and the environment.
- Experience managing CEQA analysis and compliance
- Experience in developing and managing environmental programs such as the Integrated Invasive Plant Management Program (IIPMP), with a focus on controlling invasive species and protecting water quality.
- Experience working with State and Federal agencies negotiating permits and ensuring permit compliance.
- Experience using databases to prepare annual summary reports.
- Experience in project management.
Ideal Skills and Abilities:
- Build consensus through negotiation.
- Improve and streamline workload and permitting processes.
- Act collaboratively and work effectively with the public, other governmental agencies, regulators, and management.
- Ability to work with different units and across all levels of staff in the organization.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills with strategic and analytical thinking.
Ideal Knowledge:
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) / National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) expertise.
- State and Federal regulatory laws, regulations, and permitting.
- Field principles and practices of natural sciences, especially related to air quality, biological resources, geology, and soil, GHG emissions, hydrology/water quality, and cultural resources.
- Knowledge and familiarity with Construction and Maintenance practices.
Ideal Training and Education:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in environmental studies, environmental planning, city and regional planning, environmental science, natural resources management, geography, or a closely related field.
- Directly related experience may be substituted for the college requirement on the basis of one and one-half years of experience for one year of education to a maximum of four years.
- A master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental studies, environmental planning, city and regional planning, environmental science, natural resources management, geography, or a closely related field may substitute for two years of the required experience.
- Two years of professional-level planning that does not involve full-time work on environmental regulations may substitute for each year of the required environmental planning experience.
Operations and Maintenance Environmental Support Unit (Position Code 705)
Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.
This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.
(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.
NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.
Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.
Valley Water's Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.
Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.
Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.
Salary : $137,197 - $175,698
