Environmental Planner

Description

Position Summary:
The Environmental Planner is a mid-to-senior technical and leadership role responsible for environmental planning, regulatory compliance, permitting, construction-phase oversight, and project closeout for electric transmission and distribution projects in California. This position requires a minimum of 8-10 years of specialized California regulatory experience overseeing linear infrastructure projects, including conducting CEQA analyses, securing and overseeing administrative permits from cities, counties, and state/federal agencies, managing construction compliance, and completing project closeout activities.

Essential Functions:
• Support and contribute to the full lifecycle of environmental planning and compliance for electric transmission and distribution projects, including routing/siting support, CEQA documentation, permitting, construction oversight, and closeout.
• Conduct and support CEQA analyses and documentation, including preparation of Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), Initial Studies, Mitigated Negative Declarations, Addenda, and coordination of supporting technical studies.
• Oversee permitting processes and obtain administrative permits from cities, counties, and various state and federal agencies for linear infrastructure projects.
• Oversee construction-phase environmental compliance, including coordination of environmental monitors, implementation of Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs (MMRPs), compliance reporting, and issue resolution.
• Support project closeout activities, including final compliance reports, mitigation verification, permit terminations, and record compilation.
• Provide regulatory guidance and support on California environmental requirements for electric transmission and distribution projects.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to quality reviews of environmental deliverables.
• Support project budgets, schedules, scopes, and proposal efforts as needed.
• Represent the organization at meetings and prepare presentations on environmental topics.
• Acknowledge and participate in OMS H&S programs and trainings.
• Other duties as assigned by OMS or the client.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Biology, Natural Resource Management, Urban/Regional Planning, or closely related field. Master's degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum of eight to ten (8-10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in environmental planning, regulatory compliance, CEQA analyses, and linear infrastructure projects in California.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing linear infrastructure projects, including electric transmission and distribution in California.
• Experience conducting CEQA analyses and preparing related documentation for infrastructure projects.
• Experience obtaining administrative permits from cities, counties, and state agencies.
• Direct experience overseeing environmental compliance during construction, including field oversight and compliance documentation.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of CEQA statute and Guidelines, CPUC transmission project processes (including General Order 131-D/E and CPCN applications), California Fish and Game Code, federal and state Clean Water Act, Porter-Cologne Act, and relevant local environmental ordinances and general plans.
• Strong project management, team leadership, technical writing, and oral communication skills. Ability to synthesize complex technical information and present it clearly to regulators, executives, stakeholders, and the public.
• Valid California driver's license and ability/willingness to travel to project sites across California (approximately 20-40% travel, including occasional overnight stays).
• Conduct a background check, drug screening, and physical exam.
• Must have and maintain a clean driving record.

Preferred:
• Direct experience supporting California Investor-Owned Utilities (PG&E, Southern California Edison, or San Diego Gas & Electric) on electric transmission projects.
• Experience with NEPA compliance, particularly for projects involving federal lands (BLM, USFS), USACE permits, or federal funding.
• Professional certification such as AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners), CEP (Certified Environmental Professional), or PMP (Project Management Professional).
• Familiarity with digital environmental compliance management systems, GIS applications for impact analysis, or environmental database tools.

Working Conditions:
HYBRID - Environmental Factors: Indoor and outdoor conditions; exposure to heat, cold, potentially hazardous chemicals, toxic materials; work on/walk on slippery or uneven and potentially mountainous terrain. Noise level is usually moderate. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to, talk, hear, stand, sit during extended periods of time, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch lift, push, pull, walk for extended periods of time, walk long distances and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to perform tasks during a typical 8+ hour workday.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, talk, hear, stand, walk for extended periods of time, walk long distances, sit during extended periods of time, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift, push, pull, and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to perform tasks during a typical 8+ hour workday.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & DISCLAIMER
OMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
This position description is intended to convey the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to add, modify, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary.

Pay Range

$110,000.00 Annually to $160,000.00 Annually