Restoration Project Coordinator / Environmental Planner

position Title: Restoration Project Coordinator / Environmental PlannerApplication period: DATE – Until Position is Filled

Cannabis for jobshiringnearme.org is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit whose mission is to conserve persisting natural resources, restore degraded ecosystems, and educate communities to prevent further impacts from unsustainable cannabis cultivation. Our focus is on enhancing and restoring landscapes that have been impacted by cannabis cultivation, and transitioning monocrop cannabis farms to functional agroecosystems for the benefit of wildlife, land, water, and our communities. Briefly, we manage a variety of grant-funded projects that include watershed enhancement and restoration, rare and declining pollinator research, wildfire resilience and forest management, aquatic invasive species management, and environmental compliance and education.

We are seeking to immediately hire a dynamic Restoration Project Coordinator/Environmental Planner. To apply for this position, please read the following position description and use the Google form (linked below) to submit your application materials. Send questions or issues with the application process to janelle [at] cannabisforconservation.org:

Link Applicant Form: Restoration Project Coordinator/Environmental Planner

Or copy and paste this link: www.cannabisforconservation.org/careers

Position Overview: The primary role of the Restoration Project Coordinator/Environmental Planner is to lead or support the environmental review, permitting, and planning phases of Cannabis for jobshiringnearme.org’s watershed and habitat restoration projects. This includes preparing CEQA/NEPA documentation, LSAAs, 401/404 applications, Coastal Commission review processes, drafting and coordinating ministerial permit applications, conducting desk review environmental assessments (e.g., through BIOS or CNDDB), and ensuring regulatory compliance for a range of projects such as stream restoration, road decommissioning, sediment reduction, and fish passage improvements.

This position requires a strong foundation in environmental planning and regulatory frameworks in California, with the ability to translate ecological and engineering concepts into compliant and effective planning documents. The Restoration Project Coordinator/Environmental Planner will collaborate closely with internal staff, engineers, biologists, landowners, subcontractors, and permitting agencies to ensure projects advance smoothly from concept to implementation. The role involves a mix of office-based environmental analysis and writing, project tracking, and occasional field assessments to ground-truth environmental conditions. The Project Coordinator aspect of this position will conduct and coordinate day-to-day tasks required to plan and execute restoration projects, monitoring and reporting on restoration project status and deliverables, coordinating scheduling, communicating with subcontractors, and conducting site visits to collect and inform documentation.

Required Skills: 

• Strong understanding of CEQA, NEPA, LSAAs, 401/404 applications, Coastal Commission review processes, drafting and coordinating ministerial permit applications, conducting desk review environmental assessments (e.g., through BIOS or CNDDB), Section 7/10 ESA consultations, and related environmental planning laws and processes;
• Demonstrated experience preparing permit applications and supporting documentation (e.g., LSAA, 401/404 permits, cultural resource compliance, biological assessments);
• Familiarity with environmental compliance monitoring during construction projects;
• Ability to integrate biological, ecological, hydrologic, and cultural resource information into environmental documents;
• Ability to interpret GIS maps, planning documents, and technical reports;
• Strong computer skills, including Google Workspace and Microsoft applications;
• Excellent organization and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and project components simultaneously;
• Experience with large-scale project management and coordination, deliverable tracking, and task management with staff, subcontractors, and landowners;
• Ability to work collaboratively with engineers and construction staff to translate environmental conditions into feasible designs;
• Familiarity and comfort with communicating design plans to a variety of audiences including biologists, consultants, landowners, agency staff, restoration crew members, construction operators and members of the public;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with regulatory agencies, landowners, and technical partners;
• Strong ability to develop relationships and partnerships with agencies and conservation organizations for future watershed restoration projects;
• Strong desire to be part of a growing, highly collaborative, and results-driven team; and
• Ability to work independently in the office and in the field, and to contribute as part of a multidisciplinary project team.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to begin part-time work (minimum of 20 hours per week) by Dec 1, 2025, and full time work by January 2, 2026.
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning, Environmental Studies, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field;
• At least 4 years of professional experience in environmental planning, permitting, or compliance, preferably in California;
• Demonstrated knowledge of CEQA (Initial Studies, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and Environmental Impact Reports), NEPA, and California state/federal permitting requirements;
• Experience preparing environmental documents, technical reports, and/or permit applications.
• Familiarity with GIS mapping and database management for environmental planning;
• Experience conducting field work in remote, rugged environments;
• Familiarity with Northern California, particularly Humboldt, Trinity, or Mendocino areas; preference will also be given to applicants with diverse employment experience, e.g., experience with agencies, private industry, and nonprofit organizations;
• Willing to use personal vehicle for field travel with mileage reimbursement; and
• Ability to work in remote settings for field work, including rugged terrain with limited cell or internet service, ability to safely operate 4WD vehicles, use field equipment and power tools, navigate using phone/notebook apps, and knowledge of and experience with field safety.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or a related field;
• AICP certification or ability to obtain within 2 years;
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in environmental planning, permitting, or compliance work;
• Experience with natural resource planning and species in Northern California, particularly in Humboldt, Trinity, or Mendocino Counties;
• Knowledge of cultural resource compliance requirements and coordination with Tribal partners;
• Familiarity with hydrology, stream geomorphology, and watershed processes to inform environmental review;
• Experience collaborating with state and federal agencies, local governments, and community partners;
• Comfort with data collection tools (GPS, drone surveys, or mobile field apps) and integrating findings into planning documents; and
• Passion for ecological restoration, watershed health, and community-driven conservation.

Supervision and Coordination 

The Restoration Project Coordinator/Environmental Planner will report directly to the Project Manager at CFC and will collaborate closely with all consultants and subcontractors with whom we work. Regular weekly check-ins and updates will be required to ensure alignment with project goals and timelines, with tasks and progress tracked in Asana to enhance coordination and accountability. 

Location and Work Environment

This position is based out of Cannabis for jobshiringnearme.org’s office in McKinleyville, California. The Restoration Project Coordinator/Environmental Planner must reside within or be willing to relocate to the North Coast region and be available for frequent in-person fieldwork across Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties.

While some flexible scheduling is allowed, this is not a remote position. Regular site visits, team meetings, and collaboration with local partners will require consistent on-the-ground presence.

Compensation

This is an hourly position. Compensation can range between $39 – $51/hr DOE, with annual raises with sufficient performance. 

Benefits

Benefits included with this position are: two weeks paid vacation plus specific federal holidays (vacation accrual increases with years of employment); paid sick, bereavement, and 3 months paid parental leave; healthcare plan reimbursement for employee and families (QSEHRA rates apply); 403(b) retirement plan; flexible schedule; and opportunities for paid professional development. 

Application Process

Interested candidates should fill out the Google Form linked at the top of this page, which includes a number of long answer questions and requests the following: 

• One-page cover letter
• One-page CV/resume
• Transcripts
• Name and contact information for two professional references