Environmental Planner

About Whitebark 

Whitebark Institute is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to addressing environmental challenges and supporting resilient communities in California’s Eastern Sierra. Adaptation to the changing climate, specifically the proactive management of landscapes and communities to mitigate the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires, are a top environmental priority. Whitebark is taking the lead in wildfire resilience work in communities throughout the Eastern Sierra by bringing together local scientists, environmental planners, government agencies, educators, communities, and businesses to actively plan, finance, and restore healthy landscapes in Inyo, Mono, and Alpine Counties.  

Whitebark Institute makes an impact in our communities and provides a great place to work.  We are a small, growing organization with a skilled staff that brings experience from a multitude of scientific disciplines and applied areas of expertise. With an indescribable passion for this place, Whitebark is made up of talented outdoor enthusiasts who care deeply about where we work and live. Collaboration is one of our core values, and we recognize that a healthy work-life balance is essential to our long-term success.  

About the Position:

The Environmental Planner will assist with the planning and development of community and wildfire resilience projects within the Eastern Sierra and the completion of relevant environmental planning documents.  This position will lead project development and environmental planning efforts on projects of low to medium complexity and provide essential support to the Environmental Planning Program Manager and the Community Engagement Program Manager with programs and projects designed to enhance resilience to wildfire and community engagement on a regional scale.  This position will report directly to the Environmental Planning Program Manager and will work closely with various teams within the Whitebark Institute.

Specific job duties include, but are not limited to, the following. Estimates of FTE% hours within each area of work may change over time.  

Project Development 50% FTE

• Convene partners for project development efforts, ensuring broad representation and engagement.
• Coordinate partners including Whitebark staff, the Inyo National Forest (INF), other agency staff, community members, and others to identify projects that advance community and ecosystem resilience in the Eastern Sierra.
• With guidance and support from Community Resilience Program Manager and Whitebark Leadership Team, manage the planning and development of community and ecosystem resilience projects within the Eastern Sierra.
• Utilize GIS to facilitate project identification and planning
• Work with the Resilience Director and Environmental Planning Program Manager to foster relationships with partners, tribal members, small businesses, regional experts, and other relevant entities to solicit input, gather feedback, and foster community engagement in project planning and implementation efforts that reflect the interests and needs of the community and environment.
• Provide administrative support for project-related activities, including preparing materials, organizing resources, taking detailed meeting notes, following up, advancing and tracking action items, and maintaining project files.
• Organize and maintain project-related data, including survey results, community feedback, and other relevant information to support decision-making and reporting processes.
• Conduct literature reviews, archive reviews, and background research on existing plans to gather relevant project development information for Whitebark Leadership.

Outreach Collaboration (5%)

• Collaborate with the Outreach and Education team to develop materials that address gaps in knowledge and effectively communicate the rationale and needs for project implementation to various audiences, including visitors and community members.

Environmental Planning/ Technical Support: 35% FTE

• Provide technical analysis support, including survey support and preparation of specialist reports and environmental analysis in hydrology, botany, biology, and other relevant fields. Technical experience in range management and/or botany is preferred.
• Utilize GIS to conduct spatial analysis to support environmental analysis
• Assist in the preparation of environmental compliance documents including NEPA and CEQA environmental documents. Prepare supporting documentation such as technical reports for wildlife, botany, hydrology, and/or air quality and greenhouse gas analysis.
• Provide technical document support, including reviewing, editing, conducting reference checks, and formatting, for documents related to environmental planning, such as technical reports and California Environmental Quality Act/National Environmental Policy Act documents.
• With support from the Environmental Planning Program Manager, manage the preparation of NEPA and CEQA documents for projects of low to medium complexity.

Grant & Budget Management: 10% FTE

• Work with Whitebark Administrator to complete grant tracking and reporting, ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
• Support budget management tasks, including maintaining up-to-date budgets and providing accurate reports to Whitebark Institute leadership.
• Communicate with subcontractors to facilitate timely payment of invoices and approval of work submitted under grants.

Qualifications

If you’re excited about this position but are concerned that your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification within the job description, we encourage you to apply or reach out to us to discuss. You might just be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 4-7 years applied experience working in environmental planning or related field.
• Ability to work independently, establish work priorities, manage time effectively, well organized, self-starter, detail-oriented, and adaptable with the ability to manage both routine and complex time-sensitive tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to manage projects of low to medium complexity including the planning and development of resilience projects and the management of environmental document preparation.
• Experience with environmental compliance processes including NEPA and CEQA.
• Experience using GIS to support environmental analysis and planning efforts
• Demonstrated proficiency in fostering effective collaboration across various teams.
• Competence in Microsoft Office, with specialized competency in Excel.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to manage grants, including grant tracking, reporting, and compliance with funding requirements.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Commitment to environmental conservation and community driven climate resilience efforts

Preferred:

• Local roots and passionate about the Eastern Sierra region and its communities.
• Specialized training or experience in project management, environmental compliance, or community engagement methodologies.
• Resource specific knowledge and expertise in botany, wildlife biology, hydrology, archaeology, and/or air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Specialized training or experience in range management or botany preferred.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and fostering productive relationships with a wide range of community members, governmental agencies, local communities, and academic institutions.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, year-round position. The salary range for this role is estimated to be $60-80k/year, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

This position will be eligible for Whitebark Institute benefits including medical (75% employer contribution), 100% dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, a retirement program, hybrid work environment, and a flexible work schedule so long as client, subcontractor and Whitebark team needs are met.