Urban Planner - Community Planning

ESA is seeking an Urban Planner - Community Planning to join our Northern California Community Development team, with 2-7 years of professional experience. Strong preference for candidates with 3+ years' experience who are ready to take on increasing responsibility in project delivery while learning from experienced planners, scientists, and designers.

This is an exempt, full-time, salaried position that follows a hybrid work model, combining in-office collaboration with flexible remote work, and offers opportunities to work on projects both in-office and off-site throughout the region. Qualified candidates must be within a commutable distance to one of our NorCal ESA Offices including: San Francisco, Sacramento, Petaluma, Oakland, & San Jose. Preference given to candidates able to work hybrid in our San Francisco office.

This role may involve some travel for site visits, projects, and in-person team collaboration as needed. Please note, writing samples may be requested as a step in the interview process.

Who You Are

Are you ready to take the next step in your planning career and help shape communities across Northern California? Do you enjoy working on meaningful land use and community planning projects alongside multidisciplinary teams, while continuing to grow your technical and project management skills? If so, ESA invites you to chart your professional journey with us.

• Growing Community Planning Professional: You have a solid foundation in land use and community planning and are excited to continue developing your technical expertise across related disciplines, including climate resilience, transportation planning, and urban design. You are comfortable supporting and leading planning tasks, conducting research and analysis, and contributing to high-quality planning documents. You are a strong technical writer, able to translate complex ideas, data, and policy frameworks into clear, well-organized, and accessible written materials.
• Organized and Reliable Project Contributor: You enjoy managing your work, meeting deadlines, and coordinating with project managers and teammates. You are ready to lead defined work tasks and support project schedules, budgets, and deliverables, and you are comfortable collaborating with colleagues across multiple offices and locations.
• Collaborative and Curious Team Player: You thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and enjoy working with people from different disciplines and backgrounds. You value learning from others, adapting to evolving project needs, and contributing ideas that strengthen project outcomes.
• Equity-Minded Planner: You are committed to equity, inclusion, and community impact and want to be an active participant in building ESA's Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) culture. You value collaboration, mentorship, sponsorship, and supportive team environments and are eager to contribute to and grow within a workplace that prioritizes inclusive practices, shared learning, and professional development.
• Must hold a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, Geography, Public Policy, or a related field. Master's degree is a plus
• Previous experience with project management, entitlement support and applications, urban design, climate/resilience planning is a plus, not required
• You are open to fieldwork if needed and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required.

What You Will Do for ESA

As an Urban Planner - Community Planning, you will contribute to and help lead planning work across a variety of community-focused projects while continuing to grow your skills through mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on experience.

• Technical Planning and Task Leadership
  
  
  
  • Perform land use and community planning research and analysis, including zoning interpretation, policy review, demographic and spatial analysis.
  • Serve as a contributing author of planning documents such as Specific Plans, Area Plans, Master Plans, General Plan updates, zoning and design standards, technical memoranda.
  • Prepare clear, concise, and well-supported draft documents and graphics.
  • Lead assigned planning tasks with guidance from senior staff, applying standard planning methods and sound judgment.
  
  
  
  

• Project Coordination and Support
  
  
  
  • Support project managers with task tracking, schedules, and coordination of deliverables.
  • Assist with scope, schedule, and budget tracking for assigned tasks.
  • Deliver work on time and within budget, communicating proactively about progress and challenges.
  • Participate in quality control and peer review to ensure accuracy and consistency.
  
  
  
  

• Collaboration and Engagement
  
  
  
  • Work closely with interdisciplinary teams, including planners, scientists, engineers, and designers, across ESA's business lines and offices.
  • Participate in public outreach and engagement efforts, including facilitation assistance, coordination, and preparation of materials for public meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities.
  • Attend and participate in client and agency meetings as appropriate.
  
  
  
  

• Additional Opportunities
  
  
  
  • In addition to core project responsibilities, this role offers opportunities to grow professionally and engage more broadly across the firm.
    
    
    
    • Demonstrate a growing interest in business development, including learning how client relationships are built and maintained and supporting efforts to grow ESA's client base.
    • May participate in proposal development activities, such as assisting with scope development, budgeting, and scheduling, under the guidance of senior staff.
    • Engage in ESA initiatives and internal programs, including those focused on innovation, digital tools, and responsible use of AI, that support collaboration, efficiency, and professional growth.
    • Show a growing interest in project management, including learning about project delivery, coordination, and financial tracking.
    • Participate in professional organizations, conferences, and industry events to support professional development and broaden planning knowledge.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

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  Other ad-hoc tasks as needed

  
  

What's Special About Our Team

This position will sit within ESA's Northern California Community Development business group. Our Community Development team has built a legacy of success providing planning services, environmental compliance and clearance, and advancement. We combine our firm's technical depth in natural resources science and environmental planning with deep knowledge of local regulatory practices and procedures, including the most current legislation and case law, to create value-added, cost-effective, and legally defensible solutions for our clients.

ESA is unique in that we have a deep scientific, technical, and regulatory expertise, which we apply to our planning and environmental review projects. We keep project approval and implementation at the forefront, balancing long-term planning, community attributes, stakeholder objectives, and cost. Our focus is on our clients' needs and delivering high quality planning, CEQA, and NEPA documents. We prioritize comprehensiveness and clarity, and the result is that our documents are frequently recognized by professional organizations with awards for creative approach and quality. We maintain strong, lasting relationships with the clients we serve.

What's Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.