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The Position

Are you interested in improving air quality, protecting public health, reducing historical and current environmental inequities, and mitigating climate change and its impacts? Are you excited about applying your understanding of local and regional planning and policy to develop and implement actionable strategies to meet state and federal air quality standards while also addressing local air quality and health disparities in partnership with communities overburdened by air pollution on the frontlines of climate change? If yes, this role could be a perfect fit for you.


The Air District is conducting an open recruitment for the position of Senior Environmental Planner in the Planning and Climate Protection Division. This is a full-time, represented position for one (1) vacancy. The Air District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next 18 months including Limited Term Contract Positions.


Definition

Under direction, provides lead direction to environmental planning staff and conducts complex long range planning for land use and environmental assessments; performs related work as assigned.


Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the advanced lead level in the professional planning series. Incumbents provide lead direction to environmental planners and perform highly specialized and difficult planning functions. Incumbents are assigned to design and implement programs that require considerable professional knowledge and the use of independent judgement. This class is distinguished from Principal Environmental Planner in that the latter has responsibility for creating projects and new programs, and handling the most difficult, sensitive, novel or critical projects.


What You'll Be Doing

The Senior Environmental Planner will join a high performing and motivated team of professional planners, engineers, technical, and legal experts working on preparing and implementing plans, policies and programs to address regional air quality challenges while also bringing a specific focus on reducing longstanding air pollution and health disparities in the most overburdened communities in the Bay Area. 


In this role, under direction, you will:

  • Be a thought leader using innovation and creativity to integrate air quality, health, equity, and environmental justice.
  • Develop and implement regional and community-based plans to accelerate air pollution and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
  • Support local governments to advance health protective and equitable air quality and climate plans and policy.
  • Cultivate strong working relationships and collaborations with community-based organizations, community members, local governments, regional, state and federal agency partners.


To be successful you will need strong project management, organizational and communication skills; be able to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities; and be willing to work with people of varied backgrounds and perspectives, including low-income communities of color and communities overburdened by air pollution. Experience with organizing and facilitating stakeholder meetings and interpreting, analyzing and visualizing geospatial environmental, health and socio-economic data to support plan and policy development is a plus.


About the Planning and Climate Division

The Planning and Climate Protection Division is responsible for preparing plans to meet state and federal air quality standards and assisting local communities, cities, counties, and regional agencies improve air quality and advance climate protection efforts. Division staff work on the Air District’s Community Health Protection Program implementing Assembly Bill 617; partner with impacted and overburdened communities and their local governments to reduce local air pollution, climate impacts and improve health outcomes; and work collaboratively to integrate air quality, health and climate protection into local and regional air quality plans, projects, and programs. 


The Division is responsible for developing the Air District’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) air quality and climate impact thresholds of significance and for developing and keeping current data, tools and guidelines to assist lead agencies complete air quality and climate impact analyses.


About the Bay Area Air District

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) is a regional government agency committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices.


The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and s

southern Sonoma.


At the Air District, we take pride in our commitment to fostering a workplace that values diversity and promotes cultural awareness. We prioritize employee engagement by providing a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages active participation and open dialogue. Additionally, we believe in pay equity and strive to create an equitable compensation structure. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, we understand the importance of supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside the workplace. Join us in a dynamic and inclusive culture where your contributions are celebrated and your growth is nurtured.


To view more visit: About the Air District


Example of Duties:

Analyzes issues, prepares reports and recommendations relative to land use, regional development and related issues; provides input into planned development's impact on air quality.


Performs research on specified administrative and technical activities necessary to achieve environmental review and planning objectives.


Interfaces with local, state and federal agencies in development of regional development issues.


Confers with personnel from other divisions and agencies in coordinating assigned work; meets with community organizations and other groups to encourage cooperative action or resolve problems.


Upon assignment, provides lead direction, training and work review to professional environmental planners on routine, continuing or well-defined tasks; prioritizes and follows up on work to ensure timely completion.


Upon request, provides input into selection decisions and performance evaluations.


Monitors and evaluates legislation and other governmental actions relating to air quality management planning; develops recommendations for District regulations, policies and programs.


Responds to inquiries from and represents the District with governmental officials, consultants, and the public related to environmental planning issues.


Leads and participates in preparation, review and editing of environmental impact assessment documents from other agencies; prepares District Lead Agency documents in accordance with relevant guidelines.


Participates in the preparation of non-attainment area plans related to assigned work.


Minimum Qualifications


A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:


Equivalent to graduation from a college or university with graduate degree in regional, urban, or environmental planning or a closely related field and three years of professional environmental planning experience. Additional relevant experience may substitute for the graduate degree.


Other Requirements

Must be willing to attend meetings outside of regular working hours.


How to Apply

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21st, 2025. Resumes are encouraged, but not mandatory, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Applications are accepted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply. Postmarks, faxes, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.