Environmental Planner/Senior Environmental Planner

Environmental Planner?/ Senior Environmental Planner?

About Whitebark??

Whitebark Institute is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to addressing environmental challenges and fostering resilient communities in California’s Eastern Sierra. Our work prioritizes landscape and community adaptation to climate change, particularly wildfire risk reduction. We play a key role in advancing the region’s wildfire resilience efforts in communities throughout the Eastern Sierra by bringing together local scientists, environmental planners, government agencies, educators, communities, and businesses to collaboratively develop, 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 use their?expertise?in environmental law and public land policy to manage the preparation of environmental compliance documents and plan projects aimed at increasing the resilience of communities and ecosystems to wildfire and climate change. This position will help lead project development and environmental planning efforts on projects of low to high?complexity and provide essential support to the Environmental Planning team on programs and projects designed to enhance resilience to wildfire and community engagement on a regional scale. This position will work closely with our current Environmental Planner and will report directly to the Environmental Planning Program Director. The candidate will also work closely with various teams within?Whitebark?Institute. The title and responsibilities will be tailored to the experience and leadership capacity of the selected candidate.?

Highly qualified candidates with exceptional experience may be considered for the Senior Environmental Planner role.?

Key?Responsibilities?(All Candidates)??

Project Development?& Coordination?

• Lead?and?support?planning and?develop?projects?for wildfire resilience, ecosystem restoration, and related initiatives.?

• Facilitate project scoping, partner engagement, and inclusive planning processes involving agency staff, community members,?Tribal partners, and other stakeholders.?

• Coordinate internal and external planning teams to ensure alignment with?community and???regional goals and timelines.?

• Utilize GIS?and other?tools?to?facilitate?project identification and planning; support GIS-based project identification, mapping, and data management.?

• Maintain thorough and organized records of project data, community input, meeting notes, and other materials essential to project advancement.?

• Conduct literature reviews, background research, and project documentation to support planning and decision-making.?

• Support the Environmental Planning Program Director in partner outreach and ongoing relationship?stewardship, ensuring projects reflect diverse community and ecological needs.?

• Provide?technical?advice and collaborate with community engagement and forest health?teams?to support outreach, education, and forestry-related program areas.?

• Perform other programmatic and organizational duties as?required.?

Environmental Planning/ Technical Support:??

• Lead the development and implementation of high-quality CEQA/NEPA documents for projects of low to?high?complexity.??

• Work alongside the?Environmental Planner and under the?Environmental Planning Program Director and agency partners to manage environmental compliance for complex, landscape scale projects.??

• Oversee the preparation of work plans,?coordinate?required?technical?studies,?and?manage the development of supporting documentation and reports.??

• Define and manage project?objectives, scope, schedule, budget, contracts,?and expectations, in collaboration with other staff and partners,?while?maintaining?high-quality standards.?

• Utilize GIS?and?spatial analysis?to support environmental?review and?technical?documentation.?

Grant & Budget Management?

• Work with?internal teams?to?track?grant?deliverables, timelines, reporting requirements,?ensuring compliance with?funder obligations.?

• Support?ongoing?budget management, including?monitoring project expenses, updating financial trackers, and providing regular updates?to Whitebark leadership.?

• Coordinate?with subcontractors?and vendors?to?review deliverables and?facilitate?timely?approval and payment of invoices.? 

• Prepare?timely,?accurate?narrative and financial?reports to support grants and?related?project awards.?

Additional Responsibilities for Senior-Level Candidates?

• Lead CEQA/NEPA compliance on complex and landscape-scale projects.?

• Supervise and mentor junior staff and technical consultants.?

• Develop programmatic strategy and?explore opportunities for?expanding capacity?

• Represent Whitebark at interagency meetings and regional forums.?

• Support strategic planning and project prioritization aligned with organizational goals.?

Qualifications??

?Minimum Qualifications (All Candidates):?

• Bachelor’s degree?in?Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or a related field?

• 5–8?years of experience in environmental planning, permitting, or related fields, including project management responsibilities.?An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.??

• Working knowledge of CEQA and NEPA compliance processes and demonstrated experience preparing environmental documents.?

• Proficiency?in GIS and spatial analysis tools to support environmental planning.?

• Strong technical writing and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences?

• Ability to independently manage tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt to shifting priorities across multiple projects?

• Experience collaborating with cross-sector partners including agencies, community organizations, and contractors?

• Familiarity with budget tracking, grant deliverables, and funder reporting requirements?

?Preferred Qualifications (for Senior-Level Consideration or Added Value):?

• Advanced degree or specialized training in environmental planning, public policy, ecology, or related field?

• 8+ years of progressive experience with increasing responsibility in environmental planning and compliance.?

• Demonstrated ability to lead CEQA/NEPA processes for complex or landscape-scale projects.?

• Experience supervising staff, managing consultants, or mentoring early-career professionals.?

• Technical?expertise?in one or more environmental resource areas (e.g., botany, hydrology, air quality, cultural resources).?

• Local knowledge of the Eastern Sierra region and existing relationships with agency or tribal partners.?

• Experience working with and engaging underrepresented communities in planning processes.?

Compensation?&?Benefits??

This is a full-time, year-round position?with a?salary range?of?$80,000 - $110,000,?commensurate?with experience and qualifications.??

Benefits include:?

• Health Insurance:?75% employer-paid medical, plus 100% employer-paid dental, vision, and life insurance.?

• Retirement:?Employer-contributed retirement program.?

• Paid Time Off:?Generous Vacation Time Policy and an?additional?11 paid holidays per year.?

• Work Environment:?Hybrid work options and flexible scheduling, provided client, subcontractor, and Whitebark team needs are met.?

How to Apply?

Interested candidates should?submit?a?resume, cover letter, and references?to?administrator@whitebarkinstitute.org. Application review will begin April 1,?2026?and the position will remain open until filled.?Whitebark Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.?We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all employees.?