Senior Urban Planner

Planning Group Leader (Municipal Focus)

Location: Northern California (Bay Area to Sacramento)

Sequence has just been exclusively retained to identify and recruit a new Planning Group Leader for one of the nations most well-respected multi-discipline engineering consulting firms supporting municipal clientele throughout the U.S.

Our client, over three decades old, possesses a strong reputation in the municipal space, and is seeking a proven leader to grow their smaller internal planning practice.

Right now, they’re in a pivotal moment. Their planning group — about 50 personnel currently — needs a steady, experienced hand to step in, lead, and bring both structure and momentum. This is not a "keep things warm" leadership role. It’s about helping develop a team, lead from the front, and grow the practice. They need someone who knows what they’re doing and can walk in, earn trust, and move the needle.

What this role looks like.

This is a multi-faceted role, meaning you’ll lead projects and manage a team, but also be client-facing — managing relationships, attending meetings, and helping drive business. The planning work ranges from short- and long-term urban planning to CEQA/NEPA-related projects, with a strong focus on supporting cities and counties in California.

There are real leadership gaps in the group right now. They’re not looking for someone to just “supervise.” They need a leader who can develop staff, manage personalities, bring accountability, and restore confidence with clients. In short, someone who can own the group and make it better.

You’ll oversee staff, assign and review work, guide efforts, and be the go-to for both technical direction and team coordination.

Key here is more of an emphasis on operations and management than hands on technical activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee planning division operations, staff supervision, and strategic guidance
• Manage and perform high-level long- and short-range planning assignments and CEQA/NEPA documentation
• Serve as primary client liaison and represent the firm before agencies, commissions, and community stakeholders
• Assign work, coach staff, and manage performance to ensure project excellence
• Provide technical guidance on land use, zoning, transportation, and environmental planning
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policy
• Present reports, lead meetings, and participate in public engagement efforts
• Monitor budgets, project timelines, and team deliverables
• Attend client and community meetings as needed (evenings/weekends); travel up to 80% primarily in northern California.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in urban, regional, city planning, landscape architecture, geography, or related field required
• 10+ years of progressive planning experience with demonstrated leadership responsibilities
• Deep understanding of California land use/zoning regulations and CEQA/NEPA processes
• Strong analytical, project management, and client relationship skills
• Familiarity with tools such as Accela, GIS, Microsoft Office, and modeling platforms
• Prior experience supervising large, cross-functional planning teams highly desired

This is an excellent opportunity to join an innovative and progressive organization and grow it as your own. A place where a motivated self-starter interested in advancing their career would find a long-term home. The right individual could think of this almost like a franchise opportunity in that the organization has all the support resources of the larger organization to allow the right person to continue to build a very robust practice; also share in the rewards of that success.

The position offers competitive compensation, bonuses, vehicle, and a very strong benefits package, including health/vision/dental insurance, holiday/vacation, performance bonuses, 401k with match, life insurance, disability insurance, wellness programs, etc. Progression and other profit opportunities would also be available.

The position is ideally slated to be based anywhere in Northern California (Hybrid work schedule, home based with extensive travel to client locations) but would ideally be in the San Francisco Bay Area region, Central Valley, or even Sacramento.

The organization would be open to relocating a capable professional into the area from another region of California (essentially anything of reason can be structured for the right individual).

Apply here, through our corporate website at: or submit to:

Sequence Staffing

2008 Opportunity Drive, Suite 140

Roseville, CA 95678

Phone: 916-782-6900

Email:

“Sequence: Where a handshake still means everything.”