Urban Planner jobs in Oakland, CA

frofrom froUrban Planning Partners (UPP) is hiring full-time Planners and/ or Assistant Planners to provide project planning support across our service areas with Graphics, GIS, planning research, writing and analysis, community engagement, and environmental/CEQA analysis.

Salary Range:

$35-$45/hr for Planner depending on experience

$30-$37/hr for Assistant Planner depending on experience

Urban Planning Partners is working on an amazing mix of projects with a strong focus on housing policy and community engagement work in addition to our other service areas including CEQA review, contract planning, and land use and planning entitlement processing.

Our Assistant Planners and Planners typically work across most of our service areas; no silos here. Typical work for each position will include, but is not limited to the following:

• Housing Policy Assistance to jurisdictions adopting policies and processes to become pro-housing (e.g., objective standards, residential zoning, and ADU ordinances).
• GIS Mapping and Graphics for a variety of different projects (e.g., housing, CEQA, and/or community engagement). This could include performing spatial analysis and geoprocessing or creating visuals for presentations and materials.
• Policy and Entitlement Management including determining the maximum development potential for a site and preparing assessments of applicable planning policies and development standards, applications, and streamlined schedules.
• CEQA Analysis includes preparing CEQA documents and conducting associated analysis primarily for mixed-use, infill and transit projects ranging from exemptions to EIRs.
• Contract Planning for jurisdictions which could include design review, use permits, plan checks and responding to inquiries from the public. This could include working with applicants to meet development and design standards, coordinating interdepartmental and interjurisdictional review, and preparing staff reports and public notices.
• Community Engagement from administering online surveys to hosting large community workshops, we’re on the cusp of innovative practices and methods to capture a truly representative cross-section of stakeholder input.
• Marketing and Social Media may include tracking new project leads, coordinating marketing and proposal efforts, managing our relationships with professional organizations, and tracking and positing social media. 

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's or master's degree, preferably from an accredited planning program. Alternatively, a degree focused on city/urban planning, housing policy, community development, environmental studies, or related field.
• For Assistant Planner at least one related internship is required. For Planner one to three years full-time experience is desired related to city planning, housing and community development, policy analysis, and a demonstrated understanding of the planning process.
• Excellent writing/editing, research, and analysis (qualitative and quantitative), and communication skills.
• Flexible, detail-oriented, with excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to take initiative, be a problem solver, and work in a fast-paced and professional environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively and willingness to do what is needed to get the job done—this is critical in a small boutique firm; we are all in it together.
• Creativity, an ability to think creatively and be comfortable with ambiguity as we often work on things that are not well defined or that we have not done before.
• Legal eligibility to work in the U.S. and a current driver’s license.
• Ability and willingness to work in office. This position is primarily on-site with four days (Mon-Thu) in our Oakland office.
• Ability to occasionally travel and attend evening and weekend meetings. 

Desired Qualification and Skills

• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Graphics/GIS experience, passion, and skill to become our graphics and GIS wizard.
• Policy and research experience, someone who is curious and loves the art of research and problem solving.

Urban Planning Partners

At UPP, we help create better places in partnership with our clients and the communities where we work. We are actively seeking talented people to join an empowered and collaborative employee environment. Located in downtown Oakland, we provide land use planning policy, community engagement, municipal planning, and environmental review consulting services on large complex projects throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.

We credit the success of our projects and the satisfaction of clients to our amazing staff and commitment to our core values: We Care, Collaborate, and Reach, and We are Real. UPP has become – and remains – a vital and respected firm, despite our comparatively small size (staff of 10). Come join our team!

UPP offers excellent benefits (vacation, sick, and holiday pay; medical, dental, group life, and long-term disability insurance plans; reimbursement for all public transit costs; 401k with 3% company contribution; profit sharing (5%); and employee referral bonus program. UPP also offers employee perks including a wellness stipend, peer-to-peer stipend, and charitable matching. UPP is an equal opportunity employer.

In your cover letter, express why you are interested in UPP and are a great fit for this position. No phone calls please.

Thanks, and we look forward to reviewing your application!