Whitebark Institute is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to addressing environmental challenges and fostering resilient communities in California’s Eastern Sierra. Our work prioritizes landscape and community adaptation to climate change, particularly wildfire risk reduction. We play a key role in advancing the region’s wildfire resilience efforts in communities throughout the Eastern Sierra by bringing together local scientists, environmental planners, government agencies, educators, communities, and businesses to collaboratively develop, plan, finance, and restore healthy landscapes in Inyo, Mono, and Alpine Counties.
Whitebark Institute makes an impact in our communities and provides a great place to work. We are a small, growing organization with a skilled staff that brings experience from a multitude of scientific disciplines and applied areas of expertise. With an indescribable passion for this place, Whitebark is made up of talented outdoor enthusiasts who care deeply about where we work and live. Collaboration is one of our core values, and we recognize that a healthy work-life balance is essential to our long-term success.
About the Position:
The Environmental Planner will use their expertise in environmental law and public land policy to manage the preparation of environmental compliance documents and plan projects aimed at increasing the resilience of communities and ecosystems to wildfire and climate change. This position will help lead project development and environmental planning efforts on projects of low to high complexity and provide essential support to the Environmental Planning team on programs and projects designed to enhance resilience to wildfire and community engagement on a regional scale. This position will work closely with our current Environmental Planner and will report directly to the Environmental Planning Program Director. The candidate will also work closely with various teams within Whitebark Institute. The title and responsibilities will be tailored to the experience and leadership capacity of the selected candidate.
Highly qualified candidates with exceptional experience may be considered for the Senior Environmental Planner role.
Key Responsibilities (All Candidates)
Project Development & Coordination
- Lead and support planning and develop projects for wildfire resilience, ecosystem restoration, and related initiatives.
- Facilitate project scoping, partner engagement, and inclusive planning processes involving agency staff, community members, Tribal partners, and other stakeholders.
- Coordinate internal and external planning teams to ensure alignment with community and regional goals and timelines.
- Utilize GIS and other tools to facilitate project identification and planning; support GIS-based project identification, mapping, and data management.
- Maintain thorough and organized records of project data, community input, meeting notes, and other materials essential to project advancement.
- Conduct literature reviews, background research, and project documentation to support planning and decision-making.
- Support the Environmental Planning Program Director in partner outreach and ongoing relationship stewardship, ensuring projects reflect diverse community and ecological needs.
- Provide technical advice and collaborate with community engagement and forest health teams to support outreach, education, and forestry-related program areas.
- Perform other programmatic and organizational duties as required.