Environmental Planning Lead

NICHOLS CONSULTING ENGINEERS CHTD is seeking an Environmental Planning Lead for its Northern California offices. The role involves guiding a team in navigating complex regulatory processes (NEPA/CEQA), managing projects, preparing environmental documents, and mentoring staff. Candidates should have a relevant Bachelor's degree, extensive experience with CEQA/NEPA, and strong leadership and communication skills. The position is based in Stateline, NV, and is not remote.
NCE is excited to have a motivated, critical thinker join our team and lead our Environmental Planning service in Northern California. For this position, the primary work location will be associated with one of NCE’s Point Richmond, Oakland, or Sacramento offices. In this role, you will guide our team of environmental planners to assist clients in moving their projects through complex regulatory and planning processes including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). You will be a “leader/seller/doer” who can inspire, manage and guide all aspects of our Environmental Planning service line, is innately strategic in their approach, an analytical problem solver, and possess the ability to put thoughts into words and actions. You will also be naturally goal oriented, driven to succeed, love to inspire those around you, and thrive in problem solving.

As the lead for Environmental Planning in Northern California you will be expected to guide strategic thinking and implementation within the marketplace, guide and mentor staff, recognize and resolve issues, and work closely with the Regional and Firmwide Environmental Practice Leads to provide a vision for the service.

Responsibilities:
• Manage and deliver technical work
• Functioning as a project manager or technical advisor in the delivery of projects
• Prepare legally defensible environmental documents in compliance with CEQA and NEPA
• Negotiate and communicate with regulatory agencies on behalf of clients and projects
• Providing quality control
• Mentor and inspire the environmental planning team
• Overseeing workload planning
• Supporting achieving business plan goals
• Working collaboratively with senior technical and business development staff to identify and secure new work and clients to sustain and grow the practice
• Represent NCE and the Environmental Planning service in Northern California and improve name recognition through professional organizations, events, and conferences
• Prepare proposals, participate in interviews, and develop scope and fee for environmental planning, environmental document, and regulatory compliance (CEQA and NEPA) projects

Qualifications (Must Have):
• A Bachelor’s Degree in environmental, urban, or regional planning, natural resource science, environmental science, biology, or other related degree
• Strong working knowledge of CEQA and NEPA analysis, regulations, and documentation
• At least ten years of direct experience developing and delivering CEQA and/or NEPA documents including ensuring legal adequacy, clear readability, and top-quality deliverables
• Proven leadership and problem-solving skills in guiding clients, projects, and staff through CEQA/NEPA processes
• Experience working with regulatory and planning agencies to move projects through environmental review efficiently
• Excellent technical writing and oral communication skills
• Strong communication and business development skills, successfully selling environmental planning services while actively contributing to project execution
• Ability to manage and deliver multiple tasks and projects simultaneously

Qualifications (Nice to Have):
• A Master’s Degree in environmental, urban, or regional planning, natural resource science, environmental science, biology, or other related degree
• Experience in private consulting
• Experience facilitating stakeholder and community engagement
• Experience with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) code of ordinances, environmental review process, and regulatory permitting
• Experience with Housing and Urban Development environmental requirements (e.g., 24 CRF Part 58 reviews)
• Experience with transportation planning (specifically Caltrans planning processes)
• Experience with land use planning and/or policy development

Working Conditions: The position will primarily work out of an office environment, with some field or project work. Travel will be required for attendance at meetings, events, and conferences.

Salary range: $140,000 to $190,000 annually, DOE and primary work location.

Qualified candidates should submit their resume and cover letter below. For questions regarding your application please email Hr@ncenet.com.