Environmental Planner jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

Who We Are

Dudek is a leading environmental, planning, and engineering firm that helps public and private clients achieve compliance, practicality, and innovation through our project work. Founded in 1980, Dudek has grown steadily to more than 800 professionals across the U.S. and received the Top Workplace Award for 2023.

As a 100% employee-owned company, Dudek’s culture rewards smart, productive team members with ownership, professional development, and financial benefits. Our work communities are designed to encourage collaboration, sustainability, and connectivity with the surrounding communities.

We invest in our Employees and communities through various initiatives that make Dudek a great place to work! Dudek makes it a priority to DuGood by giving back to the communities in which we live and work, and offer Dudekians the opportunity to take a paid volunteer day each year. Our experts are encouraged to eDUcate school groups about planning, engineering, and preserving the natural and built environments. We promote environmental sustainability through our DuGreen initiative by working to improve our environmental footprint. We also DuWell to educate our associates on their health and wellness. And our Du Something Fun team brings everyone at Dudek together to balance our hard work with exciting activities.

At Dudek, we understand the best problem solving happens when diverse viewpoints and experiences are shared. We recognize that different perspectives, inclusivity, and trust build a stronger culture and add value to our firm. We celebrate our differences and strive to make meaningful progress toward becoming a more diverse company.

Learn more about our culture.

About The Job

We are seeking a mid-level environmental planner/analyst to assist with the preparation and management of the full range of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents. The individual chosen for this position will work closely and collaboratively with Dudek’s environmental team in one of our northern California offices (Sacramento, Oakland, Auburn or Santa Cruz) to provide consulting services to clients throughout northern California on a wide variety of projects including infill/mixed-use development, renewable energy, institutional, medical, commercial, recreational, and/or utility infrastructure projects.

Learn more about the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.

Who You Are

To thrive at Dudek, you should be comfortable with freedom and accountability. We value collaborative, resourceful, and independent thinkers. We look for curious, solution-focused people who are able to adapt quickly to an ever-changing industry. There is no single way to solve a problem, so we support your creative approaches to solve problems.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Preparation of CEQA documentation, including Categorical Exemptions, Initial Studies, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and Environment Impact Reports
• Daily tasks include researching, reviewing technical analyses/reports, and/or technical writing to support CEQA documents
• Project coordination and management assistance, developing and tracking schedules, coordinating public noticing, and communicating with technical staff and clients.
• Coordinating with professional technical editing staff for document QA/QC
• Coordinating with administrative staff for document reproduction and distribution
• Attend project meetings and prepare meeting agendas/notes

Potential Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Assistance in the preparation of NEPA documentation, including Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, Findings of No Significant Impacts, and Environment Impact Statements
• Attend, prepare for, and/or present at public meetings.
• Occasional travel for site visits, client meetings, etc.
• Assist and work with marketing staff to prepare proposals
• Other duties, as assigned and self-directed, to promote project success and provide excellent client service and support

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 4 years of experience in preparing CEQA documents.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, urban studies, environmental science, geography, environmental planning, or a related field
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by first day of employment

* As a federal contractor, successful candidates are required to pass the following pre-employment requirements prior to beginning employment: pre - employment drug test and background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree is a plus.
• Knowledge of NEPA fundamentals is a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Highly organized with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Self-motivated with an interest to learn and grow as a project team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel software
• Ability to travel regionally for business; reliable transportation, and a valid driver’s license.

Physical Requirements

Working Conditions:

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• This job requires occasional project site visits-based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met in order to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

• This job requires working on a computer, sitting or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.
• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc. Speaking, hearing and listening are required.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Proposed Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000* annually

*Final agreed upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including but not limited to an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location.

Perks of Being a Dudekian

Not only will Dudek provide you with a competitive salary, but we also strive to create an environment that promotes growth, career development, and a flexible work–life balance. Dudek is structured with excellent professional editing, publications, and marketing groups to support you and allow you to focus on the important technical and client-service aspects of your job. Dudek offers an array of benefits, from your typical medical, dental, and vision coverage to the opportunity to share in Dudek’s success through discretionary bonuses, based on firmwide, divisional, and individual performance. We also offer a yearly merit review, an employee stock ownership program, and dog friendly offices! Since we encourage our colleagues to take time off when needed, Dudek also provides a generous vacation package. If you’re tired of an overly structured environment and decision-making process to get your job done, Dudek is a place where your ideas are heard and your initiative is rewarded. Speak with your recruiter to learn more about the great perks of being a Dudekian.

Dudek is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.