Develops, coordinates, and facilitates planning processes for environmental resource plans, programs, policies and/or regulations.

This is the journey level of the environmental planner series. Incumbents develop their own planning processes and require incidental supervision, while: 

• Developing environmental resource plans, programs, and/or projects; 
• Review permit applications and provide recommendation for agency action; OR 
• Conducting research of an environmental, economical, financial or natural resources nature.

Recommends policies, procedures, and standards of adequacy for planning by the agency, by other state agencies, by consultants, and by others performing planning activities over which the agency has supervisory responsibilities; 

Coordinates the administration of contracted planning and other related contract professional services; 

Conducts technical liaison with principal planning personnel in other state agencies and with directors of regional, local, and federal planning agencies; 

Schedules the work of professional staff in carrying out the resource planning and program responsibilities of the agency as a project leader; 

Determines eligibility of consultants to perform work for the agency and recommends the selection of those found qualified for state planning services; 

Coordinates the preparation of plans, reports, documents, administrative regulations, and other informational material designed to encourage and implement the planning objectives of the agency, and to provide information to technicians, planners, government officials, and the public; 

Provides management and oversight of planning grants to local governments, other state agencies, and other organizations; 

Assists in the development of a recommended legislative program; 

Consults with federal, state, and local governmental officials on administrative policy in rendering technical and financial planning assistance; 

Prepares resource management plans, and coordinates these functional components developed by state and federal agencies and by local governmental units; 

Conducts meetings and field trips representing the agency in contacts with the public; local, state, and federal governments; civic and business groups; and other special interest groups; 

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of:  planning principles, techniques, current trends, environmental laws, policies and programs concerning all phases of State resource development; governmental administrative structure at local and State levels; environmental, social and other problems affecting development of local and State resources; methods and objectives of urban regional and natural resources planning. 

Ability to:  accept responsibility for major program activities; interpret and apply agency policy; develop long-range work plans, think conceptually, observe and interpret trends, analyze data, identify key relationships, and make sound decisions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with governmental officials; address large groups and write effectively.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A Master's degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field, and one year of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development. 

OR 

One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 1. 

Two years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development, will substitute for the Master's degree provided a Bachelor's degree in a field listed above or a natural science has been achieved.