Planner /Assistant Planner

Urban Planning Partners • Oakland, CA

100d • $35 - $45

About The Position

Urban Planning Partners (UPP) is seeking a motivated Assistant Planner or Planner to join our collaborative, mission-driven team in Oakland. Our work is dynamic, impactful, and spans the full spectrum of planning practice, from housing policy to CEQA review. This role is inherently collaborative and is built on strong communication and relationships, both internally and externally. As part of our small, nimble team, you’ll never be siloed. You’ll build strong relationships, expand your skills, and help bring community visions to life.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree, preferably from an accredited planning program, or a degree focused on city/urban planning, housing policy, community development, environmental studies, or related field.
• Assistant Planner: at least one related internship is required.
• Planner: 1-3 years of full-time professional experience in planning, housing and community development, policy analysis, and a demonstrated understanding of the planning process.
• Excellent writing/editing, research, analytical (qualitative and quantitative), and communication skills.
• Flexible, detail-oriented, and organized; able to manage time in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive problem-solver with initiative and creativity.
• Collaborative team player willing to pitch in where needed.
• Comfort with ambiguity as we often work on things that are not well defined or that we have not done before.
• Legal eligibility to work in the U.S. and a valid driver’s license.
• Ability and willingness to work in office four days per week (Mon-Thu) in our Oakland office with potential for one remote date depending on project demands.
• Willingness to attend occasional evening/weekend meetings and travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual skills.
• Advanced GIS and graphics experience.
• Policy and research experience, someone who is curious and loves the art of research and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Housing Policy Assistance – Supporting jurisdictions in adopting pro-housing policies (e.g., objective design standards, residential zoning updates, ADU ordinances).
• GIS Mapping & Graphics – Creating maps and visuals, performing spatial analysis, and producing graphics for reports and community engagement.
• Policy & Entitlement Management – Evaluating development potential, preparing policy assessments, managing entitlement processes, and coordinating streamlined review.
• CEQA Analysis – Preparing CEQA documents and conducting environmental review for infill, mixed-use, and transit-oriented projects, ranging from exemptions to EIRs.
• Marketing & Social Media – Supporting marketing efforts, tracking leads, coordinating proposals, maintaining professional organization connections, and managing social media presence.
• Community Engagement – Designing and facilitating engagement activities from surveys to large workshops, using innovative approaches to reach representative voices.
• Contract Planning – Providing municipal planning services including design review, plan checks, use permits, public notices, staff reports, and interdepartmental coordination.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Medical, dental, group life, and long-term disability
• Transit reimbursement and monthly wellness stipend
• 401k with 3% company contribution plus profit sharing
• Charitable donation matching and referral bonus program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees