Planner III

Position Overview

Do you have a passion for outdoor recreation and open space planning? Do you seek an opportunity to work on planning projects that focus on land use, public access improvements and staff facilities? Midpen has an excellent opportunity for an experienced Planner III who will manage complex planning projects facilitating public access and outdoor recreation in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

The ideal candidate will be an organized, creative, and energetic self-starter with excellent communication, leadership and project management skills, and enjoys working with people. Top-level candidates are experienced with environmental review processes, feasibility studies, public outreach and engagement, design project management, and local, state, and federal land use laws and permitting processes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHP), etc.

Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with over 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact.

If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like‑minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position! Midpen aims to recruit and retain employees who embody professionalism, accountability, and respect, who value working in a purpose‑driven agency that aspires to contribute to an inclusive, diverse and equitable community.

The Planner III focuses on a wide variety of planning and capital improvement projects that include long‑range planning; land use planning; site design; and environmental review to increase public access, outdoor recreation, and enjoyment of Midpen’s lands. The Planner III is tasked with performing complex professional‑level planning, analysis, and design; developing and administering project scopes, schedules and budgets; analyzing project risks and environmental issues related to public access and natural and cultural resources;

directing the feasibility and early design phase of capital improvement projects that include trails, trailhead staging/parking areas and staff facilities; developing recommendations for land use policies; preparing long‑range plans to guide the use and management of Midpen lands; conducting public outreach and engagement; preparing requests for proposals; assisting in development of grant applications; preparing environmental review documents; and obtaining planning permits and initial approvals for projects.

The Planner III also provides project presentations to senior management, the Board of Directors, and Committees, and at public meetings, that may be held in the evenings and weekends. The Planner III also oversees and participates in the work of junior staff and has experience providing a high level of customer service with the public, vendors, contractors, and Midpen staff.

The ideal candidate is a self‑starter who works independently with some supervision; possesses supervisory experience over other staff; communicates well and collaborates closely with internal team members from other departments to complete project requirements; works with local jurisdictional agencies to coordinate planning and permitting efforts; directs multidisciplinary teams of consultants; coordinates with in‑house designers; prepares and presents clear and concise oral and written communications to senior staff and management, the Board of Directors and public;

keeps projects on schedule and on budget while remaining flexible to adjust priorities as needed; maintains well‑organized and complete project documentation; and builds trust with peers, community members, stakeholders, and…