Senior/Principal Planner

About CCWD

Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) provides safe, reliable, high-quality water and related services that support the health and vitality of the communities it serves. Through responsible stewardship of both its infrastructure and its people, CCWD is committed to building and sustaining a skilled workforce prepared to meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.

Why Work Here

• Meaningful Public Service
  Play a direct role in supporting safe, reliable water service that protects public health and strengthens the communities we serve.
• Collaborative, Mission-Driven Culture
  Work alongside dedicated professionals who value integrity, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement in service to the public.
• Competitive Total Rewards & Professional Growth
  CCWD offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including competitive pay, medical/dental/vision coverage, retirement benefits, paid leave, and opportunities that support ongoing professional growth.

The Opportunity

Contra Costa Water District is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Senior/Principal Planner in the Environmental Planning section and will be an integral member of the team within the Planning Department. The selected candidate will lead and be responsible for completing complex environmental and natural resource planning and permitting activities in support of CCWD capital improvement projects, operations and maintenance of systems and facilities, and management of watershed and conservation properties.

The position is an advanced journey-level role and is responsible for overseeing and managing diverse tasks while using independent judgment to establish objectives, timelines, and approaches to complete assignments. The person will serve as a liaison with the Operations and Maintenance Department and the Engineering Department to support projects and activities necessary to maintain system operations. The selected candidate may directly supervise Assistant and/or Associate Planners as well as be responsible for administering consultant contracts including the preparation of requests for qualifications/proposals, performing project management activities, and for the coordination of consultant duties with staff.

Why You’ll Enjoy This Role

• You enjoy working on a range of large and small projects with complex regulatory and permitting requirements
• You thrive when working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams with diverse experience and skills.
• You enjoy leading projects that involve cooperation and consensus from internal and external stakeholders.

• Your desire to make a positive difference in the lives of the Contra Costa Water District community and to ensure CCWD remains a good steward of the environment.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinating the environmental review and determining the permitting needs for capital projects ranging in size and complexity.
• Coordinating and implementing permits to support operations and maintenance needs as well as completing required reports.
• Serving as the main contact and CCWD liaison with resource and environmental permitting agencies and other related stakeholders.

• Senior Planner
• Principal Planner

• Senior Planner
• Principal Planner

Preferred skills

• Strong technical expertise and ability to engage in diverse groups of stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Strong project management skills with experience procuring and managing consultants.
• Experienced with CEQA and NEPA practitioner on large capital projects.
• Expertise engaging with resource and regulatory agencies such as US Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries Services, Regional Water Quality Control Board, US Army Corps of Engineers
• Experience working with US Bureau of Reclamation

Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to the next step in the selection process. All candidate materials will be carefully evaluated and only those considered best qualified will be invited to the next step in the selection process. The Tentative Virtual Oral Panel Interview is scheduled for the week of May 11, 2026. The Tentative Department Panel Interview is scheduled for the week of May 18, 2026.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
When working in an office environment, must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone; ability to stand and walk between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach to push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. When working in the field, must possess strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light physical work; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, stoop, squat, and crouch in conducting inspections; to operate a motor vehicle and visit various District and meeting sites; and vision to conduct inspections. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS
Employees primarily work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees also work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances and fumes, dust, and air contaminants.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Employees may be required to work various shifts and outside of normal shift hours on evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Contra Costa Water District is committed to equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination based upon race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other actual or perceived status protected under federal, state, or local law. Employment decisions are based on individual qualifications and performance.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
One of the many CCWD goals is to pursue organizational excellence through diversity, equity, inclusivity, leadership, and professionalism. We recognize the strengths of staff creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and improved decision-making resulting from diverse perspectives, and we strive to be a culturally diverse organization that values, recognizes, and supports inclusion.

CONVICTION HISTORY
A condition of employment for all CCWD positions includes successfully passing a Department of Justice Live Scan fingerprint check and completion of the federal Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. Additionally, in compliance with federal law, CCWD participates in E-Verify.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All CCWD employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. As such, CCWD employees may be called upon to support the activities of CCWD during an emergency situation.

Applicants requesting reasonable accommodation during any phase of the recruitment process should contact Human Resources at 925-688-8002.