Associate Planner

About UPP

At Urban Planning Partners (UPP), we help create better places as partners with our clients and the communities where we work. Our projects are dynamic, complex, and rooted in real places and real people—spanning housing policy, CEQA review, land-use approvals, municipal planning, and community engagement throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.

We’re a small, savvy team known for designing a way forward when the path isn’t obvious. We innovate within existing policy, set new precedents thoughtfully, and bring clarity to the trickiest planning codes. We care about impact and about how we get there: with curiosity, rigor, collaboration, and a healthy dose of fun. Our culture values flexibility, work-life balance, and showing up for one another.

The Role

This is a mid-level, longer-term role for a planner who’s ready to lead. As an Associate Planner, you’ve already managed smaller projects and supported big, complicated work. At UPP, you’ll grow into fuller project management, mentoring, and proposal leadership—shaping both our projects and the firm alongside us.

You’ll help deliver high-quality planning and CEQA work across Northern and Central California, with increasing responsibility for strategy, client relationships, and deliverables that move projects from vision to implementation.

What You’ll Do

(Responsibilities vary by experience and project needs.)

Project Management & Entitlements

Lead small and medium planning/environmental projects as PM or Deputy PM

Draft and manage project descriptions, entitlement pathways, and CEQA topic sections

Coordinate streamlined reviews and approvals for commercial, mixed-use, and multifamily projects

CEQA Analysis & Environmental Review

Prepare CEQA documents (exemptions → EIRs) for infill, TOD, mixed-use, and policy projects

Conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis with clear logic and defensible conclusions

Coordinate subconsultants and maintain strong QA/QC across deliverables

Housing Policy & Objective Design Standards

Support jurisdictions adopting pro-housing policies and objective design standards

Review, refine, and propose ordinance updates that are implementable and durable

Turn complex policy into clear tools that communities and staff can use

GIS, Graphics & Technical Research

Pull GIS data, perform spatial analysis, and create maps/visuals that tell the story

Develop graphics for reports and engagement

Research codes, ordinances, and official records to build sound planning pathways

Use Adobe/SketchUp as needed to translate ideas into accessible visuals

Contract Planning / Municipal Services

Support Bay Area jurisdictions as an extension of staff

Review applications for completeness, coordinate department feedback

Write staff reports and present clearly to Planning Commissions/City Councils

Community Engagement

Design and facilitate engagement—from surveys to workshops to focus groups

Use inclusive, innovative approaches to reach representative voices

Translate community insight into planning outcomes people can see themselves in

Marketing & Firm Development

Lead/co-lead proposals and interview prep

Support social media/marketing as needed

Lead a long-term internal project (website, graphics, BD, etc.)

Play an active role in professional organizations and the planning community

Required Qualifications

Experience

3–6 years of professional planning experience with progressive responsibility

Education

Bachelor’s in planning, community development, environmental science, public administration, or related field

Master’s degree may substitute for 1 year of experience

Project Management Background

Managed 2–3 small projects ( and/or

Served as assistant/deputy PM on 2–3 medium/large projects ($100K–$1M+)

Skills & Working Style

Excellent writing/editing, research, and analytical skills

Strong understanding of planning process, land use policy, and/or CEQA foundation

Organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment

Confident navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities

Proactive, discerning problem-solver who knows when to ask questions and who to pull in

Professional Engagement

Active membership in a professional organization (APA, SPUR, AEP, ULI, etc.) or clear commitment to professional development

Other Requirements

Eligible to work in the U.S.

Valid California driver’s license and ability to drive for company business

Extra Credit

Advanced GIS and graphic design (InDesign, Illustrator, SketchUp, etc.)

Strong policy/research orientation; curiosity and love of problem solving

Bilingual (spoken/written) relevant to local communities

Who You Are

You’re the kind of planner who doesn’t wait for perfect clarity to move a project forward—you help create it. You bring both independence and a collaborative instinct, and you know how to build momentum across teams, clients, and communities. You care about doing great work and doing it in a way that feels good to the people around you.

Adaptable, Entrepreneurial Problem-Solver

You take initiative in uncertain or evolving planning environments, confidently identifying creative, code-aligned solutions. Ambiguity energizes you—whether it’s a zoning puzzle, a fast-moving entitlement pathway, or a CEQA question with no tidy precedent.

Independent and Collaborative Project Leader

You’ve delivered shared goals within diverse teams. You manage multiple priorities, track deliverables, and help everyone stay on course for deadlines. You know when to run with a task and when to pull in principals, peers, or subconsultants for the strongest result.

Committed to Excellence

You welcome feedback and continuously sharpen both your work and your process. Your deliverables are not only accurate—they’re clear, persuasive, and built to last.

Relational, Trust-Building Communicator

You build authentic relationships across stakeholders—clients, agency staff, community members, and teammates. You listen well, communicate clearly, and approach engagement with respect, inclusivity, and care.

Detail-Oriented and Results-Focused

You take pride in thorough, accurate work and don’t lose sight of outcomes: approvals secured, policies adopted, and communities better served.

Connector and Big-Picture Thinker

You connect community needs, planning policy, feasibility, and environmental constraints into actionable pathways. You synthesize qualitative and quantitative insight into recommendations that move ideas into implementation.

Why UPP

We’re small enough that your work will matter right away—and big enough in impact that you’ll keep learning. We care deeply about the places we shape and the way we show up with clients and communities. Our core values guide how we work together:

We Care. We Collaborate. We Reach. We Are Real.

Our Oakland office is one block from 19th St BART on a quiet, tree-lined street. We’re on-site Mon–Thu in a fun, collegial environment fueled by snacks and coffee (or tea!).

Benefits

Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

Medical, dental, group life, long-term disability

Transit reimbursement + monthly wellness stipend

401k with 3% company contribution + profit sharing

Charitable donation matching + referral bonus

UPP is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply.

How to Apply

Submit your resume and cover letter describing your interest in UPP and why you’re a great fit.

No phone calls please.

Thanks — we’re excited to read your application!