Description
Mark Thomas is hiring an Environmental Planner to join our collaborative and growing team! We are seeking an experienced professional who is passionate about delivering high-quality environmental work while partnering closely with engineers, planners, and technical specialists. The Environmental Planner supports environmental review, documentation, permitting, and compliance for public and private projects. The ideal candidate will have strong working knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), excellent research and technical writing skills, and the ability to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, agencies, clients, and community stakeholders. Mark Thomas is a great place to grow your career - join us!
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepares, coordinates, and reviews environmental documents in compliance with CEQA and NEPA, including Initial Studies, Mitigated Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements.
- Conducts environmental impact analyses across all CEQA checklist topics and coordinates technical studies related to biological resources, cultural resources, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, transportation, hydrology, land use, and other environmental topics.
- Supports project scoping, alternatives analysis, mitigation planning, and development of findings and environmental compliance strategies.
- With direction, coordinates with public agencies, regulatory agencies, consultants, project teams, community stakeholders, and clients throughout the environmental review process.
- Tracks project schedules, budgets, deliverables, and regulatory milestones to support timely and accurate environmental documentation.
- With direction, reviews technical reports, plans, permit applications, and consultant work products for accuracy, completeness, and consistency with CEQA, NEPA, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements, and uses these reports to draft CEQA and NEPA documents.
- Participates in QA/QC processes of colleague and subconsultant deliverables to ensure accuracy, consistency, and technical excellence across work products.
- Attends and participates in project meetings, public meetings, hearings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning, Urban or Regional Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Public Policy, Natural Resources, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
- A minimum of 3-5 years of environmental planning experience, preferably with a consulting firm, working on infrastructure, transportation, or utility projects.
- Demonstrated experience preparing, reviewing, or managing CEQA and NEPA environmental documents.
- Excellent technical writing, editing, research, analytical, and verbal communication skills.
- Strong understanding of California environmental regulations, federal environmental review procedures, and the relationship between CEQA and NEPA compliance processes.
- Familiarity with permitting and consultation processes involving agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, State Historic Preservation Office, or local planning agencies preferred.
- Ability to interpret environmental regulations, technical studies, project plans, and agency guidance.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and comfort working with project management, document review, and collaboration tools.
- Ability to develop clear, well-supported, and defensible environmental analysis for a range of project types.
- Ability to validate and accurately analyze information and make sound decisions within a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to manage unexpected project issues appropriately, manage information, and provide exceptional service to internal and external clients.
- Ability to prioritize and balance workloads to achieve goals.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality documentation.
- Sound judgment in identifying environmental risks, compliance issues, and practical mitigation strategies.
- Ability to work independently while contributing to a team-oriented project environment.
BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION
Mark Thomas offers fantastic benefits and compensation package to include:
- Competitive salary and incentives to include employee referral bonuses, and eligibility for year-end performance incentives
- 401k and ESOP retirement benefits to include profit sharing and a 401k match
- Paid time off benefits to include PTO, public holidays + additional holidays, bereavement leave, jury/civic time, licensing & certification exam time
- Employer-paid vision insurance, basic life insurance, short-term & long-term disability, long-term care insurance, inclusive family planning & fertility resources, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), travel insurance, and in-house wellness education & challenges
- Voluntary medical and dental insurance, life insurance, and pet insurance
- FSA programs for medical, dependent care, commuter & parking
- Reimbursements for certification and licensing exams and study classes and materials
- Tuition reimbursement, paid annual dues for industry professional/societal organizations, memberships, and events
- Budgeted time for training and career development
- Flexible schedules and hybrid and primarily remote work environments
*The offered base rate of compensation (California locations only) will be based on individual education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and geographic location.
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. The successful candidate selected for hire will need to submit to a background check due to client relationship responsibilities and interactions required for this position following the extension of a conditional offer.
Mark Thomas is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. Mark Thomas welcomes all.
