Climate Resilience Planner

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan design permit mitigate and restore for projects across our communities infrastructure systems open spaces and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California the Pacific Northwest and the Southeastern United States.

ESA is seeking an experienced climate resilience planner to support ESAs rapidly growing Climate Change Planning Practice in developing innovative sea level rise vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans community resilience plans local coastal program amendments coastal development permit applications general plan amendments related to resilience and project implementation for a variety of public and private sector this position you will be interfacing with clients managing projects assisting with business development providing policy and technical direction and forging internal (cross-practice) and external partnerships that will lead to successful outcomes for a diverse range of projects.

This position requires collaboration and teamwork strong technical analysis and data management skills excellent communication and writing skills an in-depth knowledge of the planning processes used in coastal adaptation planning and deep familiarity with climate legislation in California and the US. We are looking for organized resourceful and motivated individuals with strong task and time management skills and demonstrated experience in community planning climate change coastal planning land use planning environmental planning or related fields.

This is a flexible hybrid opportunity with the ability to work from any of our California offices a few days a week.

Who You Are

• You are an experienced professional with a strong desire to grow and advance your career and develop your environmental planning and project management skills.
• You hold a bachelors or masters degree with major coursework in environmental planning policy and/or science; urban planning or landscape architecture; geography; or related interdisciplinary field.
• You have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience which ideally includes working in a consulting environment with responsibilities including conducting research analyzing impacts and writing sections of reports.
• Working knowledge of the California Coastal Act McAteer-Petris Act California Environmental Quality Act National Environmental Policy Act similar state/federal regulations is preferred.
• Familiarity with relevant state and federal grant programs (e.g. California Ocean Protection Councils SB1 Grant Program California Coastal Commissions Local Assistance Grant Program Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program and State Coastal Conservancys various programs among others).
• Preparation of resource-related permit applications is a plus.
• You are known for preparing documents that are clear concise well-written and supported and for your ability to present information understandably and speak persuasively about complex topics to colleagues clients agency staff teaming partners other project stakeholders and the general public.
• Experience in a consulting environment including project management and business development and an affinity with fast-paced and varied work.

What you will do for ESA:

• Manage and/or contribute to the development of complex multidisciplinary planning projects from initiation to close out including negotiating scopes of work and being accountable for meeting schedule and budget requirements.
• Lead business strategy and development marketing and client stewardship activities including identifying project opportunities preparing proposals and leading interview teams to win and secure work.
• Serve as project manager and supervise project teams including engineers scientists cultural resource specialists landscape architects and other specialists to ensure that project and client needs are met in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Coordinate with clients discipline leads technical and support staff subconsultants community members and interested parties.
• Manage task and/or project delivery schedule logistics dissemination of information and resources budget tracking and invoicing and meetings with team members to gauge progress toward task / project completion.
• Prepare detailed planning studies and reports as well as drafts of technical memoranda meeting minutes transmittals presentations and other written materials.
• Provide quality assurance and quality control of deliverables.
• Help market ESAs climate planning services and promote ESAs reputation as thought leader in developing climate change solutions through conference presentations workshops and active participation in professional organizations.
• Foster meaningful engagement with diverse communities and interested parties and stakeholders and clearly communicate complicated scientific and climate related topics.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships both externally and internally with clients and other colleagues.
• Experience with transportation water energy and/or community planning projects is a plus.
• Ability to travel within the west coast primarily in California.
• Support the professional development of ESA staff.
• LEED AP or AICP certification is desirable. Envision certification a plus.
• Strong interpersonal writing and presentation skills.

**Please include a relevantcover letter and any relevant work examples with your submittal (all documents can be uploaded in the cover letter submittal section.).

What ESA Will Do For You

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects improve environmental stewardship and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA we provide benefits including medical dental and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family) annual allocations of company shares through our Employee Stock Option Program a 401(k) plan with company match and paid vacation sick leave and holidays to name a few.

We also provide specific career development opportunities whether you want to further your technical expertise sharpen your business acumen or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement professional development bonuses and attendance at conferences.

Whats Special About Our Climate Change and Resilience Planning Services

ESAs is an industry leader in Climate Change Planning Services helping clients navigate the increasingly complex and interconnected needs of business environment and society as climate change and other stressors increase the need for science-informed decision making and effective stakeholder communication. We serve primarily public sector clients offering planning technical assistance and policy expertise in climate change energy water transportation solid waste public health and resource conservation. ESA enjoys a strong reputation built on more than 50 years as a premier environmental consulting firm offering a full range of technical capabilities in air quality hydrology biological resources water resources cultural resources land use planning and transportation planning. Our firm of more than 700 professionals with 21 offices throughout the West Coast and the Eastern United States strives to achieve the highest levels of sustainability in our business operations as well as our daily lives in the most equitable way. We are looking to grow our team with people who are interested in collaborating to build sustainable and equitable communities. A sampling of our work can be found at: has established multiple pay ranges tailored to the economic factors in the geographies in which ESA staff reside. For this position the range is approximately as listed based on our anticipated hiring locations as noted in the above job details. Actual compensation is determined by several factors including but not limited to an individuals related experience education skills and the city in which the applicant lives.