Senior Principal Planner

Concord, Sacramento, Salinas, Irvine, or San Diego, CA
Full Time
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING + COMPLIANCE
Experienced
SENIOR/PRINCIPAL PLANNER: Environmental Planning + Consulting

Harris & Associates is a 100% employee-owned company focused on solving today's complex challenges in planning, design, and construction of public infrastructure. We focus on serving clients in the municipal, water, transportation, and education markets. If you're a driven professional looking for a collaborative environment, work that makes a difference, and a firm that invests heavily in your growth, you could be a perfect fit for Harris.

Harris & Associates is seeking a passionate and motivated Senior/Principal Planner to support our Environmental Planning + Consulting team. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing programs, planning and processing tasks for various public agencies, managing complex long-range and current planning issues, writing staff reports, and preparing/presenting presentations to decision makers (Design Review Board, Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission and/or Board of Supervisors/City Council). Successful candidates will have a background in land use planning, understanding of environmental review, and project management and a demonstrated ability to communicate verbally and in writing. The ideal candidate would work a hybrid schedule and live within a commutable distance from one of our main offices in California (Concord, Sacramento, Salinas, Irvine, or San Diego). Fully remote options could be considered for the right candidate. 

Our mission is to partner with municipalities to build equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a highly collaborative and creative team with tremendous growth potential. The successful candidate will embody Harris’ shared values to Develop and Exhibit Trust; Work Smarter, Together; Invest in Our People; Think and Act Inclusively; and Model the Harris Way.

Responsibilities and Duties:
•    Work closely with Director, Planning Manager and/or Senior Project Managers, and other planners on a wide range of planning and development projects including discretionary permits, ministerial permits, development code and General Plan analysis/consistency determinations, conditional use permits, General Plan and zoning amendments, and reviewing technical reports.
•    Conduct site analysis and project research and prepare well-written reports.
•    Prepare project summary briefing reports and presentations to internal public agency executive teams.
•    Brief executive leadership, appointed, and elected officials.
•    Prepare and participate in virtual community and stakeholder engagement activities, such as stakeholder meetings and workshops. 
•    Analyze workflow and create systems improvements for public agency clients.
•    Manage projects/case load on behalf of public agency clients.
•    Manage multiple planning and development applications and projects through the entitlement process.
•    Contribute to current and long-range planning growth through business development and networking.
•    Work on long-range planning projects, such as general plan elements, master plans, and adaptation and resilience plans.
Qualifications and Skills: 
•    Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Planning, Environmental, Architecture, or related field.
•    10-plus years of experience in planning, development review, and project management.
•    Must be a team-player with a positive attitude.
•    Ability to work and collaborate remotely with clients and other team members from other Harris office locations.
•    Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
•    Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex ideas into simplified concepts and graphical representation.
•    Eager to learn and values the opportunity for professional development through collaboration on multi-disciplinary teams.
•    Comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously is a must.
•    Ability to apply technology and software applications to effectively manage projects.
•    Understanding of environmental compliance and the California Environmental Quality Act process.
•    Strong computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
•    The position will require some travel throughout California with advance notice
Compensation and Benefits
The starting salary range for this position is $135,000 - $155,000. This will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate.

We offer competitive salaries and benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k match, and Employee Stock Ownership program. Harris & Associates is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an EEO/AA employer.  We invite resumes from all interested and qualified candidates including women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities.

Harris & Associates is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital status, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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