Entry-Level Community Planner

About Us

We are an award-winning California-based environmental consulting firm with 550+ professionals and more than 30 years of diverse experience serving clients in transportation, energy, water, infrastructure, private development, and government sectors. Our mission is to deliver practical, science-based environmental and planning solutions that support communities, infrastructure, and natural systems.

As a people-centric organization, we value collaboration, fairness, and transparency, and are committed to fostering a workplace that supports both personal and professional growth while offering robust career opportunities. We are especially proud of our recent Great Place To Work® certification, which reflects an independent assessment of our culture and our team member experiences.

Rincon Consultants, Inc. is seeking enthusiastic Entry-Level Community Planners to join our growing team. This is an opportunity for early-career professionals passionate about community planning, land use policy, housing, and sustainable development to gain hands‑on experience and build their careers in environmental consulting.

In this role, you’ll support the preparation of General Plans, Community Plans, Specific and Master Plans, Housing Elements, Zoning Code updates, and land use analyses. You’ll also contribute to environmental compliance efforts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including analyzing environmental impacts associated with planning and development projects.

Working alongside experienced planners and multidisciplinary project teams, you’ll gain exposure to a variety of community planning, housing, land use, environmental compliance, and public engagement projects throughout California.

This role may offer a hybrid work setup, blending time in the office with remote work as business needs evolve. We enjoy coming together in person to collaborate, connect with teammates, and partner with clients. We may prioritize candidates who live within 50 miles of a Rincon office.

Eligible office locations for this role include Carlsbad, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Palm Springs, Riverside, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

• Assist with preparing General Plans, Community Plans, Housing Elements, Specific and Master Plans, and other comprehensive planning documents under the guidance of experienced team members.
• Support the development and updating of zoning codes, permitting policies, development standards, and other land use regulations, with a particular focus on housing and community development.
• Conduct research and data analysis to support recommendations related to land use, housing, transportation, community facilities, and community development.
• Collaborate with clients, public agencies, and interdisciplinary teams to advance project goals and support alignment with applicable local policies and regulations.
• Assist with preparing CEQA documents and analyses evaluating environmental impacts associated with planning and development projects.
• Support the preparation, coordination, and facilitation of public meetings, workshops, and consensus‑building sessions to gather stakeholder and community input.
• Review project plans and development proposals for consistency with applicable local codes, policies, plans, and regulations.
• Assist with tracking assignments, schedules, and deliverables to help projects remain on time and within budget.
• Conduct site visits to gather information and support planning and project development efforts.
• Support project managers and team members with additional planning, research, analysis, and project needs as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to technical documents and deliver presentations.
• A collaborative mindset and eagerness to learn from experienced planners and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to support multiple assignments and…