Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose!
At Verdantas, we’re redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting-edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high-growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure.
Our commitment to excellence, across more than 90 offices, is championed by a team of over 2,000 experts, scientists, engineers, geologists, and technical specialists, embedded in a people-focused culture, prioritizing the well-being of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data-driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. We don’t just solve problems; we help shape a more sustainable future.
Join a people-first culture that values your well-being, empowers your growth, and amplifies your impact. At Verdantas, your career goes beyond the expected, and your work helps build a better world.
Ready to shape the future of resilient communities?
We are seeking an experienced Planner III to join our Environmental Planning & Permitting team. This role is essential for supporting complex utility-sector projects, coordinating cross-disciplinary technical teams, and ensuring the successful delivery of environmental planning, permitting, and compliance.
The Planner III will serve as a key point of coordination between project managers, environmental Subject Matter Experts (biology, cultural resources, environmental field specialists), and our utility clients. This position is well-suited for someone who excels in managing multiple active projects, thrives in collaborative environments, and can navigate fast-paced, technical workflows.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead environmental planning tasks from early site evaluation through construction support
- Coordinate with technical specialists to develop avoidance, minimization, and permitting strategies
- Prepare and manage environmental documentation, including permits, biological assessments, and compliance deliverables
- Manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and permitting requirements while communicating risks to teams and clients
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permit conditions
- Lead municipal planning projects, including long-range plans, zoning updates, feasibility studies, and development reviews
- Serve as primary contact for municipal clients, providing high-level planning guidance and interpretation
- Conduct and oversee land‑use impact analyses, constraints assessments, GIS-based analyses, and QA/QC of planning and environmental documents
- Facilitate public meetings, charrettes, and stakeholder engagement processes
- Mentor junior staff and support training, proposals, and client presentations
- Collaborate across engineering, environmental, transportation, and natural resources teams to deliver integrated solutions
What You’ll Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Natural Resources, Wildlife Biology, Planning, or a related field
- AICP certification is preferred
- 5+ years of experience in environmental planning, permitting, project coordination, or related environmental/utility/infrastructure work
- Deep knowledge of zoning, land‑use regulations, municipal planning processes, and development review procedures
- Strong understanding of environmental regulations, including CEQA/NEPA, ESA/CESA, and the Clean Water Act
- Experience supporting or managing complex utility, infrastructure, or environmental compliance projects
- Proficient in drafting and supporting permits with major federal, state, and regional regulatory agencies (e.g., USACE, RWQCB, CDFW, NOAA Fisheries, BLM, USFS, California Coastal Commission) and permitting pathways (e.g., 404/401 permits, LSAA, S10 permits, Coastal Development Permits)
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly convey technical information to interdisciplinary teams and external partners
- Strong public speaking, facilitation, and client‑relationship-building skills
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities
- Strong initiative with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel for fieldwork or client meetings
Salary Range:
At Verdantas, we offer comprehensive benefits packages for our employees. Actual salary is based on the circumstances of each position and candidate, such as geographic location, skills, and certifications. We recognize and reward exceptional performance and strive to ensure fair compensation across all roles and departments within the company. The minimum salary for this position is $98,500 (negotiable based on the criteria presented above).
Benefits:
- Flexible Work Environment
- Paid Parental Leave
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Paid Time Off + Holidays
Verdantas strives to develop new ways to increase diversity awareness within our organization. We recruit and reward our employees based on capability and performance — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability. For us, it is imperative to build balanced teams from all walks of life and we believe that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce.
Verdantas is an EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet
