Associate Planner – Housing Policy

Community Planning Collaborative is seeking a motivated full-time associate or senior associate planner to assist with planning projects throughout California and beyond. You will be an integral member of our small team, supporting leading-edge housing and planning initiatives that advance affordability, community engagement, and equity. Common projects include creating housing plans and strategies, assisting with the coordination and product development for a variety of projects, from anti-displacement to multi-jurisdictional housing collaboratives, promoting Accessory Dwelling Units, and facilitating the creation of affordable housing through land use policies and programs.

You are a skilled researcher and writer who is self-directed, proactive, and experienced at translating technical information into easy-to-read narrative summaries and graphics. You are an organized and detail-oriented individual who will help our team, clients and projects stay organized too. You are unflappable, good humored and enjoy being part of a high performing team. You can track tasks over time and manage task prioritization for multiple products and/or projects at once. You are proud of your work, responsive to feedback and committed to high-quality outcomes. Typical activities might be to summarize development standards, compile research or analyze data and draft memos to highlight key takeaways, and prepare for and assist during public participation events (virtual and in person).

Initially, you will work closely with the principals and project managers to learn about housing policy and planning in California, but eventually will be expected to undertake work independently with oversight. This is a flexible, hybrid position but you need to be located in the San Francisco Bay Area or willing to relocate. You will work in our Berkeley office at least two days a week after being onboarded, plus attend in-person client meetings when needed (occasional but can include some evenings), and have the option to work remotely the rest of the week.

Full-time availability is required. Generally, we maintain a healthy work/life balance and do not work more than 40 hours per week, but occasionally there are deadlines that require pushes. 

Required skills:

• Clear and concise writing about policy or laws that is easy to understand for the general public
• Comfort collecting, analyzing and writing about basic data (demographics, housing statistics, etc.)
• Excellent verbal communication skills with both colleagues and clients
• Attention to detail, with strong organizational and project planning skills
• Skilled in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and ability to learn new software like Asana and Salesforce
• Demonstrated ability to provide consistent project support, including but not limited to client communications, note taking, meeting scheduling, drafting summary memos, and tracking details
• Excellent time management skills and ability to manage, track, and prioritize tasks across projects
• Entrepreneurial attitude and strong independent problem-solving abilities
• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Policy or related field (Master’s Degree in City Planning or related field preferred; or equivalent work experience)

Desired skills:

• Spanish speaker with cultural competencies (ability to facilitate, capture notes during in-language small group discussions, and/or draft and proofread outreach collateral highly desired, however, all levels are encouraged to apply)
• Comfort leading small group discussions and engaging members of the public
• Knowledge of housing planning and policy
• Proficiency with Adobe Design Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) and/or GIS

Other Requirements:

• Located in the SF Bay Area with ability to commute to work in Berkeley half the week

About Community Planning Collaborative: Community Planning Collaborative is a small consulting practice specializing in housing policy, public participation, multi-jurisdictional collaboration, strategic planning, and sustainability planning. We combine strong technical skills with a long-standing commitment to inclusive engagement, helping our clients develop responsive and responsible solutions to complex challenges. Our team is kind, supportive, and mission-driven, and deeply values collaboration. Learn more at planningcollaborative.com. 

Compensation: The hourly compensation for this full-time position will be $37 to $45 per hour, plus benefits (health, dental, vision, 401k) depending on knowledge, skills, education, and experience. 

Expected Schedule: 

• Wed, October 16th, 5pm   Soft deadline to apply (accepting applications until position filled)
• Week of October 21st Phone Screening/Interviews
• Week of October 28th Call references and decision (start within 2 weeks or as soon as possible)

How to Apply:  Email the following materials to jobs@planningcollaborative.com: 

1. Cover letter (tip: explain why you’re interested in the role and what you believe your greatest strengths are that you can bring to the team)
2. Resume 
3. Professional writing sample (not academic) demonstrating ability to translate technical information to easy-to-understand language