Environmental Land Use Planner I, II, III or Senior

We are seeking an experienced Environmental & Land Use Planner to join our dynamic team in the energy industry. This position is based in Prescott, Flagstaff, or Kingman, Arizona.

About the role

Secure environmental permits and land use approvals for distribution, transmission, and generation projects.

Navigate local, state, and federal regulations to support project development from siting through closeout.

Manage consultants and coordinate cross-functional teams to meet project timelines and requirements.

Partner with regulators, agencies, and internal stakeholders to drive project success.

Develop project scopes, schedules, and budgets; track progress and provide updates.

Prepare and maintain GIS data, maps, and exhibits to support planning and permitting efforts.

Responsibilities

• Secure environmental permits and land use approvals for distribution, transmission, and generation projects.
• Navigate local, state, and federal regulations to support project development from siting through closeout.
• Manage consultants and direct their efforts to secure environmental permits and land use authorizations that meet internal and external requirements throughout all phases of project work from initial site selection to post construction close out.
• Develop and maintain business relationships with internal departments, jurisdictions, regulators, and other key stakeholders on behalf of the company.
• Provide technical guidance and permitting assistance in response to general land use questions.
• Provide planning and permitting input for right-of-way project research.
• Review, develop, and manage requests for proposals, project scopes, and budgets.
• Work with TEP GIS staff to acquire and maintain Land Resources' geospatial data layers.
• Provide GIS support within the Land Resources department, including preparation of maps, exhibits, and maintaining related database information.
• Work closely with the project manager on overall project management from inception to completion.
• Develop O&M and Capital budget forecasts, track expenditures, and provide variance explanations at the project level.
• Develop schedules and monitor progress to ensure proper coordination throughout all project phases.
• Lead formal and informal meetings concerning assigned projects.
• Work across departments to identify project needs and requirements.

Requirements

• Experience with environmental permitting and land use/zoning processes (utility or infrastructure projects preferred).
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and ability to work with agencies and stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills including budgeting, scheduling, and coordination.
• Proficiency in GIS and standard business software tools.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor degree in Environmental Planning or closely related field with one (1) year of related experience performing environmental and land use planning work.
• Requires minimum qualifications of ELUP I with three (3) or more years of professional experience in an Environmental and Land Planning role, or a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning or related field with at least one (1) year of experience.
• Requires minimum qualifications of ELUP II with five (5) or more years of professional experience in an Environmental and Land Planning role, or a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning or related field with at least three (3) years of experience.
• Requires minimum qualifications of ELUP III with ten (10) or more years of professional experience in environmental and land use planning, or a Master’s degree in Environmental Planning or related field with at least five (5) years of environmental and land use planning experience.