An Environmental Planner is a professional who specializes in assessing and addressing environmental issues and concerns within the context of urban, regional, and land use planning. These professionals play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development practices and mitigating environmental impacts. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Environmental Planners.

Get market insights and compare skills for other jobs here.

Main Responsibilities of an Environmental Planner

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of an Environmental Planner:

Advocate

• Advocate for green spaces and urban forestry initiatives.

• Advocate for sustainable transportation and infrastructure solutions.

Analyze

Analyze land use policies and regulations to assess environmental impacts.

Apply

• Apply experience in public and agency consultation.

• Apply project management skills, coordinate work and meet tight schedules / deadlines.

Assess

• Assess the potential effects of development projects on air and water quality.

• Assess the risks associated with climate change and natural disasters.

• Assess the social and economic impacts of environmental planning decisions.

• Assess transportation projects, determine the scope and detailed requirements.

Assist in

• Assist in coordination of Environmental Assessment projects from planning to approval phases.

• Assist in Environmental Assessment of projects.

• Assist in identifying environmental issues and providing overall support to senior staff.

• Assist in project management, resource planning, mentorship to project junior teams.

• Assist with business development and contribute to bookings.

• Assist with implementing, documenting, and coordinating stakeholder consultation programs.

Attend

Attend public meetings and record and document all activities.

Author

• Author deliverables for transportation projects.

• Author Environmental Assessment Reports and environmental documentation.

Build

Build and maintain effective working relationships.

Change

Change and emerging technologies while maintaining an unmatched standard of quality.

Close

Close collaboration with service lines to create integrated project solutions for clients.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate with community organizations to address environmental justice issues.

• Collaborate with engineers and architects to incorporate green design principles.

• Collaborate with technical and professional staff across the company in completing assignments.

Conduct

• Conduct cost-benefit analyses of environmental planning interventions.

• Conduct environmental assessments for proposed development projects.

• Conduct extensive research in specific or general project areas.

• Conduct field surveys and site visits to gather environmental data.

• Conduct project environmental sustainability reviews and documentation.

• Conduct site contamination assessments.

Coordinate

• Coordinate, organize, prepare for, attend, and document project meetings (internal and external).

• Coordinate with government agencies and stakeholders on environmental planning initiatives.

• Coordinate with government / regulatory.

• Coordinate with regional planning agencies on cross-jurisdictional projects.

Develop

• Develop and expand client relationships that generate repeat business.

• Develop and mentor junior and intermediate staff.

• Develop and mentor junior staff.

• Develop business for the ENS Global Practice.

• Develop, cultivate, and strengthen relationships with clients.

• Develop land use plans that prioritize environmental conservation and sustainability.

• Develop long range plans for communities with common developmental issues.

• Develop resilience strategies for communities vulnerable to climate change.

• Develop strategies for managing waste and promoting recycling initiatives.

Educate

Educate policymakers and the public on environmental planning principles.

Engage with

Engage with indigenous communities and traditional knowledge holders.

Evaluate

• Evaluate adequacy of community facilities in meeting current and projected needs.

• Evaluate the ecological integrity of natural habitats and ecosystems.

• Evaluate the feasibility of renewable energy projects and green technologies.

• Evaluate the sustainability of projects.

Facilitate

Facilitate public participation processes in environmental planning efforts.

Follow

Follow quality assurance / quality control, and health and safety requirements.

Help

• Help manage environmental and technical teams as part of the EA process.

• Help mentor less experienced staff.

Identify

• Identify and evaluate alternative solutions.

• Identify and meets the needs of clients within established guidelines.

• Identify environmental impacts of proposed works.

• Identify environmental issues and provide overall support to senior staff.

• Identify environmentally sensitive areas and recommend protective measures.

• Identify issues that warrant escalation.

• Identify mitigation measures.

Incorporate

Incorporate principles of equity and inclusivity in environmental planning processes.

Initiate

Initiate actions necessary to correct deficiencies or violations of regulations.

Interact with

• Interact with Clients on technical tasks as Project Manager and / or Environmental Manager.

• Interact with clients, regulatory agencies, the public and other stakeholders.

Interface with

Interface directly with key clients and help build and maintain great relationships.

Interpret

Interpret and applies applicable government codes, ordinances and regulations.

Lead

• Lead and contribute to the preparation of competitive proposals.

• Lead and support proposal preparation.

• Lead / documents stakeholder consultation programs.

• Lead environmental advice, assessment, approvals and system improvements.

Leverage

Leverage existing industry / client relationships and establish and foster new client relationships.

Liaise with

Liaise with regulatory agencies, clients and other consultants.

Manage

• Manage and author deliverables.

• Manage multidisciplinary teams, including developing and monitoring project budgets and schedules.

• Manage multiple project schedules with competing deadlines and budget constraints.

• Manage numerous complex projects simultaneously with tight and conflicting deadlines.

• Manage projects including all financial aspects of project execution.

Mentor

Mentor less experienced staff.

Monitor

• Monitor compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

• Monitor construction activities.

• Monitor trends in environmental policy and regulatory frameworks.

Negotiate

Negotiate consultants' work scope, budget and schedule.

Participate in

• Participate in consultation with regulatory agencies.

• Participate in interdisciplinary research projects on environmental sustainability.

• Participate in public sessions / meetings, including those which deal with controversial issues.

• Participate in stakeholder consultation.

• Participate in team and independent based work.

Plan

Plan, conduct and report on multifaceted, complex assignments with minimal supervision.

Prepare

• Prepare and audit waste management plans.

• Prepare and coordinate public, regulatory agency and Indigenous Community consultation programs.

• Prepare and make presentations.

• Prepare EA documentation (e.g., reports, notices, consultation materials, etc.).

• Prepare environmental impact assessments and establish mitigation measures.

• Prepare environmental impact statements and reports for regulatory review.

• Prepare environmental management plans.

• Prepare environmental reports, meeting materials, meeting minutes and presentations.

• Prepare proposals, project work planning and project management.

• Prepare proposals, workplans and reports using Stantec templates and quality standards.

• Prepare Request for Proposals and evaluate bids.

Promote

Promote a multimodal transportation network to support the efficient movement of people and goods.

Provide

• Provide advanced technical advice regarding environmental assessments.

• Provide advanced technical advice regarding the environmental assessment process.

• Provide advice and guidance to team members, including document review.

• Provide excellent project management, including scope, budget, and quality control.

• Provide expertise on environmental zoning and land use regulations.

• Provide ongoing management of consultants' work.

Recommend

• Recommend priorities, schedules and funding sources to implement public improvements plan.

• Recommend strategies for mitigating environmental risks and hazards.

Recruit

Recruit and manage consultants.

Review

Review, interpret and summarize input from technical specialists, subconsultants and regulators.

Set

Set challenging and measurable and sustainable goals in collaboration with manager(s).

Support

• Support business development efforts, including proposal writing.

• Support senior staff with proposal preparation and project work planning.

• Support the preparation of environmental documents and deliver submissions within short timelines.

Travel

Travel as required (10%) for site visits, client meetings and public consultation events.

Understand

• Understand and manage a diverse array of technical disciplines and subcontractors.

• Understand task expectations and how tasks fit in the overall project.

Undertake

Undertake quality and independent reviews of project deliverables.

Utilize

Utilize geographic information systems (GIS) for spatial analysis.

Work

• Work collaboratively with project team and client to achieve established goals.

• Work independently and provide accurate advice with minimal supervision.

• Work on multiple projects and manage and prioritise their own time to meet agreed delivery dates.

Write

Write and present formal and technical reports, working papers and correspondence.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of an Environmental Planner:

1. Proficiency in environmental impact assessment methodologies.

2. Knowledge of urban and regional planning principles and practices.

3. Familiarity with environmental modeling software (e.g., ArcGIS, R).

4. Understanding of environmental laws and regulations (e.g., NEPA, CEQA).

5. Skill in conducting environmental risk assessments and analyses.

6. Experience with land use planning and zoning regulations.

7. Ability to interpret scientific data and research findings.

8. Knowledge of climate change science and adaptation strategies.

9. Competence in project management and coordination.

10. Understanding of environmental economics and cost-benefit analysis.

11. Proficiency in environmental policy analysis and development.

12. Skill in conducting environmental justice assessments.

13. Familiarity with sustainable development goals and indicators.

14. Experience with community engagement and stakeholder consultation.

15. Ability to utilize remote sensing technologies for environmental monitoring.

16. Knowledge of environmental management systems (e.g., ISO 14001).

17. Competence in environmental health and risk assessment.

18. Understanding of ecosystem services and natural resource management.

19. Experience with environmental impact mitigation and management techniques.

20. Proficiency in technical writing and report preparation.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of an Environmental Planner:

1. Effective communication skills for engaging with diverse stakeholders.

2. Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in complex environmental contexts.

3. Collaboration and teamwork in interdisciplinary settings.

4. Adaptability to changing environmental conditions and priorities.

5. Leadership and advocacy for sustainable development principles.

6. Attention to detail in environmental analysis and planning processes.

7. Empathy and cultural competence in working with diverse communities.

8. Conflict resolution and negotiation skills in stakeholder engagements.

9. Time management and organizational skills to meet project deadlines.

10. Ethical decision-making in environmental planning and policy development.

Conclusion

Environmental Planners play a critical role in shaping sustainable and resilient communities for future generations. By possessing a blend of technical expertise and soft skills, these professionals contribute to the advancement of environmental stewardship and social equity in planning processes.