Principal Planning Manager (CEQA/NEPA) (San Diego)

SUMMARY

The Principal Planning Manager (CEQA/NEPA) serves as a senior leader of Meridian Consultants' planning practice, a Trinity Consultants company. The role carries two equally weighted responsibilities: growing the firm's book of business through an established network of client relationships and organizing and directing technical work while mentoring team members to support their professional growth and development. The successful candidate leads multidisciplinary teams and is accountable for projects meeting client objectives, finishing on time and within budget, and complying with all applicable regulatory requirements. This is an exempt position reporting to Meridian and Trinity California operations leadership.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Business Development and Client Growth

• Bring an established network of client relationships across public agencies and private development, and convert those relationships into a consistent and growing volume of work for the firm.
• Own an annual revenue and sales target set with firm leadership, measured through originated work, backlog, and repeat business.
• Lead pursuit strategy, proposal development, and client interviews for major environmental review and planning assignments.
• Identify and lead cross selling opportunities across Trinity's broader service lines, including air quality, permitting and compliance, water, and ecology.
• Negotiate scopes, fees, and contracts, and remain accountable for the profitability of the work sold.
• Represent the firm at industry organizations, conferences, and public agency forums, and build the firm's visibility in the California market.
• Maintain and expand relationships with existing clients, identifying follow on and adjacent work.

Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the practice, guiding project teams successfully through environmental review (CEQA and NEPA) and planning processes.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and resources to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services.
• Lead internal initiatives to improve project delivery processes and staff efficiency.
• Lead workload management efforts to assist with meeting utilization goals.
• Support the integration of Meridian's planning practice with Trinity's broader operations, systems, and service offerings.

Technical Expertise

• Serve as a subject matter expert on environmental review regulations and planning law.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight to project teams, ensuring the preparation of high quality and accurate environmental review and planning documents.
• Develop and maintain internal best practices for technical and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the firm's senior representative at public hearings, scoping meetings, and agency negotiations.

Team Development

• Actively mentor and develop team members, while fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Provide regular training and workshops on environmental review processes, technical writing, and project management.
• Participate in recruitment and efforts to attract and add top talent to the firm.
• Lead onboarding programs to orient and integrate new team members.
• Develop and implement professional growth plans for team members, aligning with their career goals and firm objectives.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated ability to originate and sustain a significant book of business through an established client network. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the composition of their current client relationships and the annual revenue they have generated.
• Deep working knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, California planning and land use law, and the entitlement process.
• Experience serving both public agency clients (cities, counties, and special districts) and private development clients in California.
• Track record leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering EIRs, IS/MNDs, EAs, and EISs on schedule and within budget.
• Strong technical writing skills and proven ability to present at planning commission, city council, and board hearings.
• AICP certification, professional engineering license, or a comparable professional credential preferred.
• Comfort operating within a larger organization and collaborating across service lines and regions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in urban or environmental planning, environmental science, geography, engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in environmental planning and CEQA and NEPA document preparation and management, including several years managing projects and teams.
• Principal level or equivalent experience, such as Principal, Associate Principal, or Director, with direct responsibility for business development, client relationships, and practice or team leadership.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has supervisory responsibilities. The Principal Planning Manager leads multidisciplinary project teams and actively mentors and develops team members, including participating in recruitment, leading onboarding programs, and developing professional growth plans for staff.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL:

• Based out of any of Meridian's or Trinity's Southern California offices, with a hybrid schedule.
• Regular regional travel for client meetings, site visits, scoping meetings, and public hearings, primarily within Southern California, with occasional travel elsewhere in California and the Western United States.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements listed below represent the minimum standards that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this role successfully. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Regularly required to sit, use hands, and communicate verbally.
• Regularly required to work for long periods of time at a PC.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.