Application Window Extended: February 4, 2019 at 5:00 PM

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority seeks an Associate Open Space Planner to connect people and communities to nature through open space public access planning. We are looking for a nimble, enthusiastic, and creative planning professional to execute multifaceted open space planning projects.

Our mission is to conserve the natural environment, support agriculture and connect people to nature by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and working farms and ranches for future generations. We have protected 25,000 acres of natural and agricultural lands in Santa Clara County. Our agency operates a network of open space lands to manage and conserve natural resources and provide compatible opportunities for hiking, biking, and equestrian uses.

We know our continued success depends on our employees and the work they do. We are committed to providing a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages growth and development and acknowledges individual and team achievements.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a detail oriented and experienced planner with passion and enthusiasm for land conservation, your personal drive will be enhanced by a mission and values focused work environment. We are seeking a resourceful planner to plan and design small to medium scale capital improvement projects; to analyze and synthesize data to support the development of conservation policy and master plans; and to ensure project compliance with regulatory agencies and statutes.  You are confident to lead project teams and work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, partners, political boards and committees, and colleagues. 

You are a highly skilled and discerning professional looking for a unique opportunity to contribute to the quality of life in the Santa Clara Valley by engaging in the planning for new open space preserves, creating public access facilities, and designing ecological restoration projects. You have outstanding written and verbal communication skills; additionally, you have the ability to visually relay information using your critical thinking, creativity, and software, such as the Adobe Creative Suite, ESRI products, and 3-D visualization programs.

You have earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental/Land Use Planning, Conservation Planning, Natural Resources Management, Landscape Architecture, or a closely related field. You bring a minimum of three to five years’ professional experience, where you have broadened your skills and knowledge in the areas of land planning, design, and resource management for public open space and parks.

You possess demonstrated experience with CEQA compliance, local permitting requirements, and the regulatory agency approvals process. Data gathering and analysis are critical functions that allow your work style to support the conservation initiatives of the Open Space Authority. Your outstanding project management skills facilitate completion of high-quality projects that connect people to nature. 

Please review the complete position classification here: https://bit.ly/2rqua3I

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this full-time, non-exempt position is $44.04 to $53.54 hourly, depending on experience and qualifications. To compliment this salary, we offer a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents – we cover 100% of the cost for these premiums. We participate in CalPERS retirement programs as well as offering a separate 457 Plan for tax deferred retirement savings. A basic life insurance policy is provided to all eligible employees with the option to purchase additional personal insurance benefits.

The ideal candidate will possess no less than the following skills, education, and experience:

·         BA or BS required in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, or related field;

·         Three to five years of increasingly responsible experience in land planning, design and resource management for public open space and parks;

·         Knowledge of ESRI products, Adobe Creative Suite, and 3-d visualization software.

·         Experience or interest in planning and design for climate resilience and adaptation useful.

This position is required to take and pass a pre-employment background check.

All application materials must be received prior to February 4, 2019, at 5:00 PM. To be considered for this opportunity, submit your application materials including cover letter and resume at the application link provided below. Resume should reflect years and months of employment. Qualified applicants will be asked to submit a professional portfolio of work samples.

NO AGENCIES are needed in recruiting for this job.