About The Position

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is seeking an Environmental Planner to perform complex environmental planning, permitting, compliance, and lands management work. This role supports the operational and Capital Improvement Program activities of the SFPUC Water Enterprise. Key responsibilities include CEQA/NEPA environmental review, Chapter 31 implementation, resource-agency permitting, environmental construction compliance, professional-services administration, federal-land coordination, natural and cultural resources management, Tribal engagement, and strategic program development. The position reports to the Senior Environmental Planner of the Moccasin Planning and Compliance Section and may supervise consultants and junior staff. This is an external-facing role requiring collaboration with federal and state agency staff, City attorneys, Tribal representatives, and SFPUC multidisciplinary teams. The incumbent will develop project descriptions, evaluate environmental impacts and mitigation measures, prepare and manage technical studies and regulatory documentation, support contract administration, coordinate project teams, and provide technical guidance on environmental review, permitting, and compliance.

Requirements

  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university AND four (4) years (8000 hours) of verifiable full-time equivalent experience either: A. performing environmental review functions OR B. in a city/regional/urban planning environment preparing documents for entities such as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  • OR Master's degree from an accredited college or university in city/regional/urban planning, environmental studies, architecture, law, earth sciences, geography, economics, landscape architecture, civil engineering, urban studies or public administration AND two (2) years (4000 hours) of verifiable full-time equivalent experience either: A. performing environmental review functions OR B. in a city/regional/urban planning environment preparing documents for entities such as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  • Possession of a current valid California Driver’s License.
  • Knowledge of the principles, practices, purposes, scope, and techniques of environmental analysis.
  • Knowledge of methods and data sources for environmental investigations.
  • Public relations/interpersonal skills – refers to the ability to deal tactfully with public governmental officials, professional and technical person, and other City employees.
  • Ability in problem solving.
  • Ability in written communication.

Nice To Haves

  • Experience interpreting or working with federal land management and permitting instruments including rights-of-way, special use authorizations, permits, easements, agreements, maps, land records, or historical authorizations.
  • Experience applying local, state, and federal environmental laws, regulations, and environmental review processes.
  • Experience with cultural resources identification, preservation, protection, consultation, and management practices.
  • Experience conducting environmental review and permitting for utility, infrastructure, operations, maintenance, or capital improvement activities.
  • Experience using GIS, databases, document management systems, or other tools to organize and analyze environmental, geographic, or regulatory information.
  • Experience developing scopes of work and supporting consultant contract administration, schedules, budgets, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
  • Experience coordinating with regulatory agencies, land management agencies, Tribal representatives, project managers, operations staff, consultants, attorneys, or other parties with differing responsibilities and perspectives.

Responsibilities

  • Analyzes proposed project activities to determine environmental review, documentation, consultation, and permitting requirements.
  • Identifies environmental and regulatory risks and recommends avoidance measures, mitigation measures, and best management practices.
  • Applies and interprets federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, permits, agreements, authorizations, and SFPUC policies, including the Raker Act.
  • Prepares or coordinates permit applications, right-of-way and special use authorization requests, and related submissions to local, state, and federal agencies.
  • Obtains authorizations under CWA §§401/404, NPDES §402, Fish & Game Code §§1602/1610, ESA/CESA, NHPA §106, ARPA, FLPMA, Raker Act, Wilderness Act, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, and related federal/state authorities.
  • Prepares, reviews, and coordinates CEQA, NEPA, NHPA, FLPMA, and related environmental review and compliance documentation.
  • Prepares and manages technical studies and reports concerning environmental, biological, cultural, land, and other natural resource matters.
  • Critically reviews and evaluates consultant work, develops scopes of work, and supports consultant contract administration.
  • Coordinates interdisciplinary review of project proposals, technical studies, and environmental documentation.
  • Performs environmental review of third-party applications for use of SFPUC lands.
  • Represents SFPUC interests during interagency consultations, stakeholder meetings, public meetings, and field visits.
  • Collaborates with multidisciplinary staff, consultants, regulatory personnel, Tribal representatives, and other parties.
  • Manages competing priorities and communicates emerging issues, schedule risks, and recommended actions to project managers and supervisors.
  • Communicates complex legal, technical, and procedural information clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Benefits

  • Employee Benefits Overview
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