Assistant Planner

BKF Engineers

Assistant Planner supports public-sector planning departments by assisting on various planning functions. BKF provides civil engineering and planning services across California with a collaborative culture.

Posted 6/29/2026full-timeRedwood City • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesJunior💰 $29 - $42 per hourWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Manages and supports front counter planning efforts with various public planning departments
Writes staff reports, resolutions, ordinances, and presents them to commissions, boards, and councils
Assists in support of a range of planning projects and/or multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional planning efforts
Support the development of long-term and short-term plans, programs, goals, and policies involving city/region wide planning initiatives, public transportation systems, economic development, etc.
Participates in the development and maintenance of the General Plan and other specialized city plans and ensures planning programs/projects are consistent with city planning principles/criteria, applicable regulations, and other relevant factors
Serves as a consultant to citizen groups, and other stakeholders related to planning policies/standards, issues, processes, procedures, zoning/rezoning issues, ordinance changes, and environmental regulations
Facilitates meetings and/or presentations to bring together interested stakeholders to discuss proposed planning initiatives, assess obstacles, evaluate opposing views and interests, and determine areas of support
Designs and conducts research to collect and assemble original data from land use maps, plans, reports, and surveys and uses data to define issues, assess trends, make recommendations, and identify relationships among disparate data, issues, and positions

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Biology, or a related field
Minimum of 1 year of experience in planning
A high energy, passionate, results-oriented team player
Ability to handle critical conversations with internal staff, managers and leaders
Anticipative and forward thinking
Valid California Class C driver's license and an acceptable driver’s record are required
Physical Demands: Must be able to regularly talk, hear and operate a computer, keyboard and mouse and occasionally lift, pull/push and carry up to 20 pounds with accommodations.
Work Conditions: Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds at a low or moderate level consistent with an office setting. Exposure to high-stress, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Travel to other BKF locations and client sites may be required.

Benefits

Comp & perks

The typical base salary range for this position is $29.00 - $42.00 per hour and will vary depending on skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is an hourly position, paid biweekly.
Competitive salaries, profit sharing, and 401k.
Generous paid time off packages.
9 Paid Holidays.
Flexible schedules.
Education reimbursement, Paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
BKF offers competitive and award-winning benefits and perks. To learn more click here.
BKF provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
BKF does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF, BKF reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.
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Hard Skills & Tools

Urban PlanningData AnalysisReport WritingResearch DesignPolicy Development

Soft Skills

Team PlayerCritical Conversation HandlingAnticipative ThinkingResults-Oriented

Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Urban PlanningValid California Class C Driver's License