Senior Planners work alongside other planners in providing site-specific analyses and geographic resources for development in urban and rural areas. They assist in land-use and infrastructure planning. Senior Planners think analytically about the best way to use and develop urban resources, maintain the health of communities and work to protect the environment from serious hazards. The Senior Planner most often requires advanced professional planning experience of high complexity and variety. Some functions are similar to those of the Senior Associate level, though the Senior Planner often leads or is significantly involved with larger, more complex planning assignments. Planners at this level exercise greater independence and judgment, receiving general supervision from senior management. This position is a professional position with responsibility for oversight and management of environmental planning projects and coordinating environmental planning aspects of projects as a part of more complex engineering projects. This position is one of a team or department leader who works confers with his/her supervisor on difficult or complex planning projects and generally works with minimal direction.
ESSENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Oversight of all aspects of projects, including monitoring contracts, creating budgets, monitoring timelines, developing
schedules, and enduring quality deliverables
• Formulate and conduct technical planning studies
• Maintain communication with client and/or other project managers from project conception through completion
• Manage, lead, train, develop, and mentor other technical and professional staff and/or Planning workload
• Manage project plans, budgets, timelines, and ensure quality deliverables
• Prepare and oversee research, field work, legal regulations, and documentation in support of Planning reports and
documentation
• Read, interpret, compose, and review Categorical Exclusions, EAs, EIRs, and other technical documents
• Prepare, coordinate, and facilitate public involvement meetings and workshops
• Prepare and/or coordinate preparation of winning proposals and lead proposal presentations
• Develop recommendations affecting land use, public utilities, community facilities, housing, and transportation to control
and guide development
• Generate creative solutions to issues that may conflict with the client’s initial project plans
• Visit field sites to gather facts and data, and conduct investigations
• Prepare technical studies and documents, with emphasis on NEPA and CEQA documents
• Prepare and oversee research, field work, legal regulations, and documentation in support of NEPA and CEQA document
preparation
• Read, interpret, compose, and review Categorical Exclusions, EAs, EIRs, and other technical documents
• Lead and manage work of other planning staff
• Attend meetings inside and outside of the firm
• Familiarity with, and assistance to senior staff for monitoring contracts and budgets
• Other duties as assigned or as needed in order to successfully complete project deliverables or meet internal goals
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Strong technical writing, analytic, and problem-solving skills
• Strong project management skills (e.g., organizational, leadership, communication, critical thinking, financial, time
management, etc.)
• Ability to find creative solutions to complex environmental and planning issues, which may include political and
socioeconomic issues, while meeting the needs of the client
• Ability to mentor others in organizing, collecting, and analyzing data, generating and evaluating alternatives, reaching
logical conclusions and formulating consistent recommendations.
• Quantitative analysis skills
• Ability to work in a team environment, lead teams, and lead, mentor, and supervise staff
• Ability to sit and stand for long periods
• Strong ability to communicate well (in writing and verbally) with other staff, clients, and agencies to accomplish team goals
• Visual acuity and manual dexterity.
• Ability to perform repetitive wrist and hand motions required
• Ability to travel to field sites and walk long distances may be required on occasion
EDUCATION
• Bachelor’s or Master’s (preferred) degree in land use, environmental, urban, regional or city planning, community
planning, landscape architecture, geography, or related field. AICP required.
EXPERIENCE
• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in planning, environmental, transportation, and/or socioeconomics (or
Bachelor’s degree and ten (10) years general planning experience)
QK understands that solutions for today’s challenges require innovation created by sharing diverse perspectives openly and safely, which is why we celebrate and cultivate diversity and our inclusive environment.
QK is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination of any kind. QK provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, etc. All employment decisions are based on qualification, merit, and business needs. QK encourages all qualified applicants to apply.
Applicants must be fully authorized to work in the U.S. and physically be in the U.S.
Please no calls, emails, or additional contact for inquiry. Our HR team will be in contact with you if we need additional information or wish to schedule an interview with you.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES
Please note that QK does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, QK will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, QK explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of QK.