Placer County

Receives general direction from supervisory or management staff as assigned.

May exercise direct supervision over less experienced professional, technical and clerical personnel.

• Coordinate the environmental and land use review process for categorically exempt, ministerial, emergency and discretionary projects, and work with a variety of expert consultants in specialized environmental disciplines. 
• Review the environmental impact of private and public projects within Placer County and its cities and adjoining counties and their cities to ensure the inclusion of mitigation measures for any adverse environmental impacts upon Placer County and its cities; work with applicants and consultants. 
• Coordinate environmental impact studies, including preparation of federal documents; participate in coordinating County environmental planning and review activities with other departments and divisions. 
• May prepare negative declarations, exemptions, draft and final environmental impact reports, environmental assessments, and other environmental documents, pursuant to CEQA and NEPA for County projects; function as the specialist in the preparation of complex environmental documents including EIRs. 
• Prepare and administer contracts; assist in the preparation of requests for proposals, review bids, interview and recommend consultants; coordinate workflow, set expectations and priorities, and monitor outcomes; negotiate contracts; prepare and maintain a list of environmental consultants. 
• Recommend fees according to estimated costs sufficient to defray the expenses of preparing an EIR; review draft reports and adds comments and rebuttals received in the review and hearing process; prepare findings of fact and statements of overriding consideration for adoption of environmental impact reports; file notices of completion of draft EIRs with the State Secretary of Resources; make copies of draft reports available to the public, and give notice of completion and availability by press release to the media within the county; present final EIRs to decision-making groups at public hearings; file final decisions as to approval or denial of projects with the County Clerk.
• May prepare environmental permit applications for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Reclamation Board, and Regional Water Quality Control Board, notification of the State Historic Preservation Office, and other environmental permits and approvals.
• Prepare Board of Supervisors’ communications, staff reports, and general informational memos; represent the Agency and deliver oral presentations at public hearings before the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commissions, community meetings, meetings with county, city, state and federal agencies, workshops and conferences. 
• Prepare miscellaneous information as part of the environmental review process; prepare and update various environmental forms; review, evaluate, and draft responses to proposed environmental legislation, amendments to Acts, and other changes in laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; update County environmental regulations; disseminate information on changes in environmental regulations; recommend implementation of federal, state and local environmental laws and policies; comment on other agencies’ environmental documents and plans. 
• Learn to negotiate mitigation requirements with federal and state agencies; serve as a consultant to other County departments in the design of projects to reduce environmental impacts and suggest cost-effective mitigation measures; prepare and implement mitigation monitoring plans. 
• Serve as a liaison between the County and outside community groups or individuals concerned with the balance between development projects and the environment; make recommendations to resolve difficult environmental and planning problems; assist citizens with complaints relating to environmental issues. 
• Review, coordinate and monitor the work performed by staff.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and managers, and the community utilizing accepted principles of effective customer service; represent the County of Placer and its Community Development/Resource Agency to the public and to other agencies in a positive and productive manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience and Training: 
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible planning and development, permitting, environmental planning, or public works experience including two years of project management experience.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in environmental studies, environmental science, biology, environmental engineering, ecology planning, forestry, geography, political science, urban and regional planning, geology, or closely related field.

Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid California driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of: 

• Principles and practices of environmental land use planning and development. 
• Current literature, information services, and research techniques in the field of environmental coordination. 
• Federal, State and local environmental laws and regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act; state land use planning laws; Subdivision Map Act; County Zoning Code; applicable County Ordinance. 
• Principles and practices of environmental impact analysis in urban, urbanizing, and rural areas; trends and statistics affecting the scope, content, and processing of environmental documents. 
• Technical, geographical, and scientific terms used to define environmental conditions, substance or species. 
• Preparation of EIRs and negative declarations, federal environmental documents, or land development reports. 
• Zoning and subdivision principles and regulations. 
• Legal basis for land use planning, zoning, subdivision, environmental management and land development. 
• The role of local, State, and Federal government in environmental/land use matters; federal and state agency permit processing. 
• Public infrastructure facilities planning and financing. 
• Regulatory requirements and programs of federal and state agencies charged with the protection of wildlife and natural resources. 
• County customer service objectives and strategies.
• Research practices applicable to data collection and data analysis. 
• Contract preparation, negotiation and administration. 
• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building, consensus building and conflict resolution.
• Communication techniques required for gathering, evaluating and transmitting information and directing group discussions; oral and written communication skills.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management.
• Computer software, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database applications.
• English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Ability to: 

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations; interpret and explain environmental programs to the general public.
• Perform professional environmental work with minimal supervision; develop program plans and anticipate alternatives for program adjustments.
• Effectively and critically evaluate complex discretionary cases and other development projects. Prepare general and technical reports, graphic displays, forms, questionnaires and surveys.
• Learn to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Prepare requests for proposals; analyze, review and interpret bids, contracts, laws, and regulations; prepare and learn to negotiate contracts.
• Evaluate program goals and establish priorities; organize and handle multiple projects simultaneously; prioritize complex workload; meet deadlines under challenging conditions.
• Plan, coordinate and monitor the work of multi-disciplinary staff and consultants; act as a resource to staff, provide input to staff regarding sensitive and/or complex issues; provide assistance, goals, suggestions and guidance to staff.
• Apply the principles and practices of motivation and team building.
• Assist in resolving conflict; build consensus between diverse parties; demonstrate sensitivity and astuteness in political situations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; prepare and deliver effective oral presentations on complex issues and recommendations; maintain composure during presentations opposed by others.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively, apply appropriate elements of decision-making and determine the proper course of action; make appropriate decisions under duress.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Assess the customer’s immediate needs and ensure customer’s receipt of needed services through personal service or referral; provide prompt, efficient and responsive service.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk or in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; walk, stand, bend, squat, kneel, or twist, perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone, and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means or enter/retrieve data from computer; and lift light weight.
• Use a computer, calculator, telephone, facsimile machine, and photocopy machine.