Environmental Planner

Do you have SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) experience and are an energetic and skilled Environmental Planner? If so, you could be exactly who we're looking for to join our growing team. With offices in Lacey, Seattle, Gig Harbor, Wenatchee, and Spokane, our planning work is varied, and we embrace projects that bring new opportunities and challenges. Most of our work is tailored to the individual needs of our clients and their communities; it often entails inquiry and exploration to identify optimal strategies, recommendations, and outcomes.

Who we are

Our mission is to serve our clients, communities, and each other with creativity, knowledge, insight, and perspective. As a 100% employee-owned company, at SCJ, we value trust, compassion, freedom, stewardship, and integrity. We routinely and easily cross job description lines in order to be part of getting something done. Our fast-paced, fun, and flexible atmosphere offers the opportunity for meaningful work that challenges you, makes a difference, and improves communities. We specialize in transportation planning & design, environmental & urban planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture & design, and public outreach. With great projects and a fun-loving team, our firm has been named as both one of the nation’s fastest-growing and best places to work multiple times.

The ideal candidate will have experience preparing and managing SEPA documentation for a range of projects. They will have experience coordinating with state agencies, including WA Departments of Transportation, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, as well as Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture, and Federal Housing Administration (Housing and Urban Development). Experience preparing NEPA documentation would be a plus. The position will be based in one of our Western Washington offices.

What you’ll be doing:

• SEPA compliance as you support planners and engineers on long-range and current projects, including research, impact analysis, technical writing, and public outreach.
• Project management, including strategizing and scoping, participating in conference calls/meetings, interfacing with clients, agencies, and sub-consultants, and preparing and managing project schedules and budgets.
• Technical writing to support compliance documentation and the administrative record.
• Leading or assisting in the preparation of local, state and federal permit application packages.
• Collaborating with SCJ’s planners and engineers on a wide variety of projects throughout the Western United States, including transportation, housing developments, and natural resource management for commercial, tribal, and mixed-use projects.
• Working with our Marketing team to assist with proposals and other documents.
• Being part of a team that conducts interesting and challenging work that builds communities.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you bring:

• Experience with SEPA (and ideally NEPA) compliance requirements, processes, and documentation.
• A bachelor’s degree in environmental planning or a related field is required.
• Master’s Degree is desirable.
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in managing and preparing environmental documentation pursuant to SEPA and/or NEPA.
• Working knowledge of the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and other state and federal environmental laws and regulations.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, ability to collaboratively work in a team setting, and professionally represent SCJ in client/agency interactions.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Ability to travel for business as needed, reliable transportation, and a valid driver’s license.

What we bring:

• An unbeatable culture: In recent employee satisfaction surveys, "the people at work" and "culture" are consistently identified as the top two things people love about working at SCJ. We are proud of our autonomous and collaborative work environment, exceptional operational support, creative and supportive co-workers, and compassionate leadership team.
• Collaborative energy that supports independent work in a team environment.
• Quality projects: We pursue work that improves communities, challenges us, and makes a difference.
• Community involvement opportunities and a charitable matching program.
• Paid time off: vacation/sick time, holidays, personal floating holiday.
• Retirement benefits: 401(k) plan & employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
• Health, disability, and other insurance plan options to fit your needs, including HSA & FSA.

This position will be filled by someone who can work in one of SCJ’s physical offices. We offer flexibility, but in-person office time is required.