Entry-Level Community Planner

Rincon Consultants, Inc•Ventura, CA

8d•$60,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Rincon Consultants, Inc. is seeking enthusiastic Entry-Level Community Planners to join our growing team. This is an opportunity for early-career professionals passionate about community planning, land use policy, housing, and sustainable development to gain hands-on experience and build their careers in environmental consulting. In this role, you’ll support the preparation of General Plans, Community Plans, Specific and Master Plans, Housing Elements, Zoning Code updates, and land use analyses. You’ll also contribute to environmental compliance efforts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including analyzing environmental impacts associated with planning and development projects. Working alongside experienced planners and multidisciplinary project teams, you’ll gain exposure to a variety of community planning, housing, land use, environmental compliance, and public engagement projects throughout California.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to technical documents and deliver presentations.
A collaborative mindset and eagerness to learn from experienced planners and multidisciplinary project teams.
Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to support multiple assignments and deadlines.
Demonstrated interest in land use planning, community development, housing policy, and/or environmental compliance processes, including CEQA.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability and willingness to travel locally for project needs.
A valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Nice To Haves

Academic, internship, or professional experience related to community planning, land use, housing, environmental planning, or a related discipline.
Familiarity with General Plans, Specific Plans, Housing Elements, zoning codes, or other local planning documents.
Familiarity with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and environmental review processes.
Experience conducting planning-related research, data analysis, or policy analysis.
Experience or coursework involving public outreach, community engagement, workshops, or stakeholder coordination.
Familiarity with GIS or similar mapping and spatial analysis tools.
Experience working collaboratively on multidisciplinary projects or teams.
Knowledge of California land use, housing, or community development issues.

Responsibilities

Assist with preparing General Plans, Community Plans, Housing Elements, Specific and Master Plans, and other comprehensive planning documents under the guidance of experienced team members.
Support the development and updating of zoning codes, permitting policies, development standards, and other land use regulations, with a particular focus on housing and community development.
Conduct research and data analysis to support recommendations related to land use, housing, transportation, community facilities, and community development.
Collaborate with clients, public agencies, and interdisciplinary teams to advance project goals and support alignment with applicable local policies and regulations.
Assist with preparing CEQA documents and analyses evaluating environmental impacts associated with planning and development projects.
Support the preparation, coordination, and facilitation of public meetings, workshops, and consensus-building sessions to gather stakeholder and community input.
Review project plans and development proposals for consistency with applicable local codes, policies, plans, and regulations.
Assist with tracking assignments, schedules, and deliverables to help projects remain on time and within budget.
Conduct site visits to gather information and support planning and project development efforts.
Support project managers and team members with additional planning, research, analysis, and project needs as assigned.