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Assistant Planner or Planner

Urban Planning Partners (UPP) seeks a full-time Assistant Planner or Planner to provide project support across our service areas with Graphics, GIS, planning research, writing and analysis, and community engagement.

Salary Range:

$30-$37/hr for Assistant Planner DOE

$35-$42/hr for Planner DOE

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 all our service areas; no silos here. Typical work for each position will include, but is not limited to the following:

- Outreach and Education to collect input from stakeholders and educate jurisdictions and communities around housing issues.

- 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.

- 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.

- 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 Review for primarily mixed-use, infill and transit projects ranging from exemptions to EIRs.

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.

- 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. At least one internship completed is required.

- Excellent writing/editing, research, and analysis (qualitative and quantitative), and communication skills.

- Flexible, detail-oriented, with excellent time management and organizational skills. They should have the 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.

- Legal eligibility to work in the U.S. and a current driver’s license.

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.

- Creativity, an ability to think creatively and be comfortable with ambiguity.

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; transit subsidy; 401k with 3% company contribution, profit sharing, and employee referral bonus program. UPP is an equal opportunity employer.

To be considered, apply here: https://uppartners.bamboohr.com/careers/24?source=aWQ9MTk%3D.

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!