Associate/Senior Planner

Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) provides water utility services to approximately 500,000 residents in Central and Eastern Contra Costa County and provides employees with a stable work environment that encourages professional growth and development.

CCWD is seeking a skilled, motivated, and team-oriented Associate/Senior Planner in the Planning Department.  This position will be located at our Administrative Office in Concord, CA. We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, plus a great working environment!

The position will help protect existing water district facilities from new development, support access to water supply for new developments requiring water entitlements including annexation to the District service area and United States Bureau of Reclamation environmental review for access to Central Valley Project Water supply. The position will support new system-wide maintenance and project improvements to District facilities by preparing environmental documentation and obtaining permit coverages. The position will also have the opportunity to focus on supporting large capital projects starting with the environmental review and permits for ensuring that environmental compliance requirements are completed. This position will also be involved with procuring environmental consultants to support ongoing maintenance and new capital projects. The position may also be involved with the District’s efforts to transfer title of untreated water system assets from the Bureau of Reclamation to the District.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Has an interest and knowledge of utility infrastructure and what is required to plan, construct, and maintain existing and new utility infrastructure.
• Understands environmental requirements and how best these can be used to efficiently support the environmental review and permit requirements for water utility projects.
• Focused on building and assisting with the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Has experience working with environmental consultants and experts and can help secure necessary consultant services for specialized water utility requirements. 
• Understands that the District is a rate and fee-funded enterprise and is comfortable communicating with new customers and developments to collect necessary fees per the District’s Code of Regulations. 
• Can translate complex Engineering projects into well-organized environmental documents that are understandable by the public and regulatory agencies.
• Can work independently with limited direction to ensure that project and District requirements are completed on time and under budget. 
• Committed to continuous growth and improvement. 
• Experienced with principles and practices of land use planning, land conservation, and natural resource management.
• A clear and concise communicator, both orally and in writing,
• A leader that exemplifies personal integrity, political savvy, strong management skills and is dedicated to public service.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Reviewing third party projects to determine if there are impacts to District facilities through interdepartmental coordination with Engineering, Construction, and Operations and Maintenance.
• Working with new customers to obtain new water utility service through Local Agency Annexation and United States Bureau of Reclamation environmental review.
• Preparing environmental reports on a wide range of Engineering, Construction, and Operations and Maintenance projects; including project conceptualization and scope development; gathering and analyzing data; providing project management oversight to professional, technical, and clerical staff and consultants; developing alternatives and recommendations; and writing and editing draft and final environmental reports.
• As required, representing the District in public forums and agency meetings.
• As required, supporting the development and implementation of departmental budgets.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Applying the principles of prevention through design to prioritize safety in all designs. 
• Developing and managing requests for proposals for professional and/or contracted services.

A few reasons you might enjoy this job: 

• Your desire to support water utility services for Contra Costa Water District retail and wholesale customers.
• You will have an opportunity to learn how water utilities function and the complexity of importing, treating, and serving water from the California Delta.
• You will have an opportunity to help implement improvements and replacements of aging infrastructure and to be a key team member supporting this effort over time.
• You will have an opportunity to learn and implement very complex and unique environmental reviews and permit requirements. 
• Working with highly effective and collaborative teams, governmental agencies, consultants, co-workers, or professional and technical associations. 
• Negotiating scopes of work, schedules, budgets and agreements with consultants and other stakeholders.
• Every day brings a variety of work challenges, opportunities, and rewards.

The following will also benefit candidates with a few of the unique challenges related to this job:

• You will need to work independently with limited direction but with a firm understanding of the objectives and priorities of the District.
• You will work on water infrastructure improvement projects that can be complex and require attention to detail of the many updates and adjustments that are required. 
• Environmental review documents must be carefully considered to stand the test of time. 
• Managing and ensuring compliance with the District’s multitude of environmental maintenance permits and work windows.
• Being familiar with both National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes and requirements.
• Acquiring intimate knowledge of both Federal and State Endangered Species Acts and how they can be managed to support the District’s water operations and land management.

Salary: $107,702.40 - $163,529.60 Annually

Close Date: Feb. 6, 2023, 5:00 p.m.

Apply: https://www.ccwater.com/601/Employment-Opportunities