Land Planner, Senior

Requisition ID # 167818 

Job Category: Real Estate / Facilities 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Engineering, Planning & Strategy

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

Department Overview

Land, Environmental, and Permitting Services (LEAPS) is focused on protecting and managing PG&E’s land rights and rights-of-way (ROW), environmental permitting, and compliance by engaging our employees to better understand our clients' businesses and provide superior customer service. Aligning our operations and team with the client organizations we support with: planning, execution and overall service delivery.

The Land, Environmental, and Permitting Services (LEAPS), Long Cycle Land Planning team is responsible for providing land and environmental support primarily to the Company’s electric transmission facilities and substations. We establish goals related to safety, customer service, affordability, and environmental compliance that require a collaborative, cross-functional effort of employees across the company. Together, we will become the leading corporate services organization and the leading utility in U.S.

Position Summary

This job is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) and is subject to collective bargaining.

The Senior Land Planner is responsible for providing land-related technical project support for the construction, operation, and maintenance of PG&E facilities, typically working on projects of a more complex nature. As a senior member of multi-disciplinary project teams, the position is responsible for, but not limited to, the following: provide technical support for FERC relicensing, recreation facility operation and maintenance, perform property management of hydroelectric watershed lands, and license compliance for PG&E hydroelectric facilities; perform feasibility studies and ensure ESA/CESA compliance and cultural resource compliance for complex gas and electric projects; perform routing and siting for PG&E facilities; develop and monitor land related project budgets and schedules; support land project teams responsible for the land component of regulatory filings; perform environmental assessments of project alternatives; negotiate the acquisition of complicated or sensitive permits and clearances from regulatory agencies; research and analyze PG&E/public records to develop strategies for the construction, operation, and maintenance of PG&E facilities; present projects to the public via information programs or public hearings; provide guidance, technical direction, and legal liaison to system operator staff on land issues; and analyze federal and state legislation and local development plans and policies for impacts on PG&E operations; and monitor the work of contractors.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. 

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job.  The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.  Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.

A reasonable salary range is:

California Minimum: $143,064
California Maximum: $179,676

Job Responsibilities

• Routing/Siting and Feasibility Studies: Perform routing and siting for new/relocated gas and electric transmission facilities and fee properties. Develop alternatives for siting and locating electric and gas transmission facilities utilizing environmental and regulatory planning documentation and consultation with local planning agencies. Perform necessary studies to incorporate engineering requirements, environmental constraints, public concerns, and existing and proposed land uses into an alternative site analysis. Develop alternative site costs and schedules and assist in the evaluation of site risks including anticipated regulatory approval processes and timelines.
• Regulatory Filings: Support environmental, land, engineering, and acquisition teams responsible for completing land and environmental components of CPUC/CEQA compatible filings for electric and gas transmission construction projects. Negotiate project scope of work with the project sponsor or project manager. Prepare contract Specifications and/or Request for Proposals (RFP) to contract the performance of environmental studies, investigations, and preparation of the Proponents Environmental Assessment (PEA) for inclusion with PG&E's application to the CPUC. Monitor the work of the Consultant. Responsible for cost and schedule performance of land and environmental project team.
• Permitting/Notifications: Obtain all discretionary permits and clearances required for the construction, operation and maintenance of PG&E’s facilities. Contribute to the development of project descriptions. Coordinate cultural and ES studies for permit acquisition and work with environmenal scientists to develop protection and mitigation measures. Work with revegetation contractor and construction to implement permit conditions. Acquire permissions from landowners or coordinate with R/W Agents to negotiate for new rights. Work with Land Engineering for survey and document preparation. During and upon project completion, ensure permit conditions have been met.
• Review and Compliance: Review complex gas and electric projects in regard to permitting issues and/or ESA/CESA and cultural resource compliance. As necessary, coordinate ESA/CESA studies and recommendations with ES. Review complex electric transmission projects to ensure compliance with GO 131-D, including the preparation and filing of Notice of Constructions (NOC). As necessary, consult with Law Department regarding GO 131-E compliance.
• Research and Analysis: Research and analyze PG&E and public records to assess land rights, land uses, and constraints, regulatory jurisdictions, and local, state, and federal permit requirements. Develop strategies to mitigate public concerns regarding the construction, operation, and maintenance of PG&E facilities. Provide assistance to Real Estate Strategy relative to local approvals required for the sale and purchase of PG&E properties.
• Relicensing: Represent the company in negotiations with governmental agencies and NGO’s on FERC relicensing and Recreation Settlement Agreements. Develop and coordinate the design and construction of new or upgraded facilities as defined in the Recreation Plan. Review and comment on draft EIS on land and recreation issues. Responsible for coordinating preparation of FERC Exhibit G maps. Prepare cost estimates on land and recreation issues as proposed in the new license. Monitor work of consultants. Prepare study plans and Exhibit E, Exhibit R Recreation Resource and Land Management Reports and mitigation or enhancement plans (e.g., Transportation and Circulation Plans, Water Surface Management Plans, Shoreline Management Plans, etc.)
• Land Rights: Investigate and provide guidance and technical direction and legal liaison to LSO staff on land issues. Ensure adherence to company policy regarding development and uses within the FERC boundaries. Represent the company at public meetings regarding company policies. Ensure adherence to company policies regarding development and uses within the FERC boundaries.
• Miscellaneous: Consults with Technical Services clients such as, but not limited to, General Construction, Gas Transmission, Transmission Engineering, Transmission Planning, Hydro Generation, and Law Department to determine the appropriate level of Technical Services involvement. May be required to monitor the work of contractors performing any of the job duties listed above. May perform the duties of lower classifications.
  

Qualifications

Minimum:

• BA/BS with emphasis in Land Use/Environmental Planning, Land Surveying, Business, Recreation Management or related resource field, or the equivalent in education and/or experience*.
•  *If qualifying education is not in Land/Environmental Planning the candidate shall have successfully completed the core courses for the Land Use and Environmental Planning certificate program or equivalent in content and hours of continuing education courses or seminars; or possess a certificate in Land/Environmental Planning; or have an AICP certification; or PLS License.
• 2.5 years of experience in Land Planning, Environmental Analysis, Resource Management or equivalent. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills; strong team building and facilitation skills; strong organization skills; goal oriented, ability to manage concurrent responsibilities. Applied knowledge of CEQA/NEPA and the CESA/ESA, FERC and other resource laws.

Desired:

• California PLS license, AICP certification, or certificate from a Land Use/Environmental Planning program.
• 10 years of experience in environmental permitting field
• Lean Six Sigma Trained
• Certified Professional Wetland Scientist
• Certified Wildlife Biologist