Entry-level Climate Action Planner

Job Description:

PlaceWorks has an immediate need for a full-time, entry-level planner to join our Climate Action and Resilience team in one of the following offices: Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, or Santa Ana. This position requires a minimum of two in-office days per week. We are looking for an individual with 2 – 4 years of professional experience related to planning, who is creative, outgoing, self-starting, and passionate about helping shape and improve communities through their work.

Working in a collaborative, casual, and professional work environment under the guidance of skilled project managers and other senior staff, this planner will assist project teams by applying planning knowledge and technical skills to contribute to the successful completion of projects at a variety of scales, often working concurrently on more than one project. Typical projects of our Climate Action and Resilience Practice include climate action and adaptation plans, sustainability plans, carbon neutral plan, and energy action plans. In addition, our team supports broader projects of our planning, environmental, and design practices, including general plan updates, environmental impact reports, park planning, and similar projects.

You’re most likely a fit if:

• You love planning for the future of communities and making a difference with your work.
• You have a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in city and regional planning, environmental planning or policy, or a related field.
• You have an understanding of the science of climate change and experience, familiarity, or interest with preparation of community-wide and municipal greenhouse gas emissions inventories, development and quantification of GHG emissions reduction strategies, preparation of climate change vulnerability assessments, and preparation of climate action plans, or similar documents.
• You have excellent writing, research, and analytical skills with high attention to detail.
• You have strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills and aren’t afraid to ask questions or provide contributions, ideas or insights that will help move projects forward.
• You enjoy analyzing and compiling research and data as required by a project.
• You can manage your time to complete tasks and products by stated deadlines and are able to work on multiple projects concurrently.
• Supporting authentic engagement with diverse communities excites you, and you’re willing to jump in to help with outreach efforts. You may be asked to coordinate meetings, prepare and assemble materials/supplies, give presentations, and/or facilitate discussions at workshops.
• You enjoy using your technical skills to create graphics, maps, plan documents, proposals, and presentations that communicate ideas simply and clearly.
• You’re able to attend and travel to client meetings and community workshops which may occur on weekday nights and weekends.
• You’re interested in assisting with marketing, business development, and proposal efforts for planning and outreach work.
• You have professional acumen to cultivate working relationships with clients, community-based organizations, and other firms.
• You navigate the digital world with solid, intermediate-level computer skills, learn new tools quickly, and have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• You’re experienced with ArcGIS and/or Adobe Creative Suite (not required, but these skills are a huge plus!)
• You have a reliable means of transportation to and from work, and to perform site visits and attend meetings when needed.

For a Project Planner position, the pay range is $31.25 – $41.83 per hour, dependent upon experience and other relevant factors.

Application Instructions:

When applying, attach your cover letter, resume, and a writing sample as three (3) separate PDF attachments. Each attachment must be under 500KB. Alternatively, include a link to your writing sample if it exceeds 500KB. In your cover letter, please specify which office location you are interested in.

Job Requirements:

(see above job description)

About PlaceWorks:

Based in California, PlaceWorks is a 100% employee-owned planning, design, and environmental consulting firm. The firm’s expertise and services span a wide range of practices, including city planning, urban design, landscape architecture, environmental review, GIS, and community participation. Our interdisciplinary, holistic approach integrates sustainability, economic vitality, community goals, and collaboration with our clients in the planning and design process. With a 50-year history of providing award-winning projects, we are passionate about our work and together with our clients, will continue to create great places. Learn more about the work we do and how we do it at: https://placeworks.com/.

PlaceWorks’ mission is to envision and create great places, and that includes our own workplace. You can view the perks and benefits we offer our employees at: https://placeworks.com/our-culture/.

PlaceWorks is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at PlaceWorks are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military and veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other status covered by applicable federal, state, or local law.