Description
Position Summary:
The Senior Environmental Planner is a senior technical and leadership role responsible for directing environmental planning, regulatory compliance, permitting, construction-phase oversight, and project closeout for complex electric transmission and related energy infrastructure projects throughout California and the western US. This position requires a minimum of 20 years of specialized California regulatory experience and a demonstrated ability to successfully navigate CEQA, secure multi-agency permits, manage construction compliance programs, and bring projects to full environmental closeout while protecting client schedules and budgets.
Essential Functions:
• Lead and manage the full lifecycle of environmental planning and compliance for electric transmission projects, from initial routing/siting studies through CEQA clearance, permitting, construction, and final closeout.
• Direct the preparation, quality control, and agency coordination of all CEQA documentation, including Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), Initial Studies, Mitigated Negative Declarations, Addenda, and supporting technical studies (biological resources, cultural resources, visual/aesthetics, air quality, noise, hydrology, traffic, etc.).
• Develop and execute strategic permitting plans; coordinate with and obtain all required administrative permits and approvals from cities, counties, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Regional Water Quality Control Boards, Caltrans, local Air Quality Management Districts, and other agencies.
• Oversee and direct construction-phase environmental compliance programs, including management of third-party environmental monitors, implementation and tracking of Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs (MMRPs), daily/weekly compliance reporting, issue identification and resolution, and proactive communication with regulatory agencies to maintain project momentum.
• Manage all project closeout activities: preparation and submittal of final mitigation monitoring and compliance reports, verification of habitat restoration and mitigation success, coordination of permit terminations and bond/excise releases, and compilation of complete, audit-ready environmental compliance records.
• Provide expert-level regulatory guidance, risk assessment, and strategic advice to project managers, engineers, legal teams, and clients on California environmental requirements specific to electric transmission and linear infrastructure.
• Mentor, supervise, and develop mid-level and junior environmental planners and technical staff; conduct quality reviews and ensure consistent high standards across deliverables.
• Manage environmental workstream budgets, schedules, and scopes; support proposal preparation, client relationship management, and business development activities as required.
• Represent the organization at public meetings, agency workshops, stakeholder forums, and executive briefings; prepare and deliver clear, persuasive presentations on complex environmental and regulatory 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 twenty (20) years of progressively responsible professional experience in environmental planning, regulatory compliance, and CEQA documentation, with substantial focus on California-based projects.
• Demonstrated expertise and hands-on leadership overseeing electric transmission projects (or closely analogous linear infrastructure such as natural gas pipelines, renewable energy gen-tie lines, or major utility corridors) in California.
• Extensive experience preparing, managing, and securing approval of CEQA documents for complex or controversial infrastructure projects.
• Proven, successful track record obtaining administrative permits from multiple cities, counties, and state agencies for utility or energy infrastructure projects.
• Significant direct experience overseeing and directing environmental compliance during active construction, including field oversight, compliance documentation review, and real-time problem solving under schedule pressure.
• 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 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:
REMOTE - Environmental Factors: Indoor and outdoor conditions; exposure to heat, cold, potentially hazardous chemicals, toxic materials. 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 or 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 15 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.
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.
FIELD - 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 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.
Pay Range
$160,000.00 Annually to $220,000.00 Annually
