Company Description
This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.
Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:
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Application Opening: July 2, 2026
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Application Deadline: July 17, 2026
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Annual Compensation Range: $155,688 - $189,150
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Recruitment ID: PBT-5299-157060
The Port of San Francisco is an enterprise agency of the City and County of San Francisco and is governed by a Commission of five members appointed by the Mayor. The Port Commission is responsible for overseeing a broad range of waterfront commercial, maritime, and public access facilities that are held in public trust for the people of California. The Port’s jurisdiction covers approximately 7.5 miles of waterfront land from Pier 98, near Hunter’s Point in the southern part of San Francisco, to Fisherman’s Wharf in the northern part of the City.
The Port’s diverse business portfolio includes over 550 ground, commercial, retail, office, industrial and maritime industrial leases including cargo shipping, layberthing, excursion boats, ferry boats, fishing and fish processing/distribution, tourism, filming, harbor services, and cruise operations. With some of the most flexible cargo handling facilities on the West Coast, as well as naturally deep water, the Port can handle various types of cargo such as, dry-bulk, neo-bulk, roll-on/roll-off, and project cargoes.
The Port of San Francisco has many internationally recognized landmarks such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, the Exploratorium, the Ferry Building and Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. With its unique and historic properties, the Port is home to a variety of tenants and uses. The Port Commission over the last five decades has led a remarkable transformation of the Port; maintaining its industrial maritime heritage while developing new uses, including commercial and public activities that have helped San Francisco remain one of the most visited and popular cities on the globe.
For more information about the Port of San Francisco, visit SFPort.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Planning & Environment Division
The Planning & Environment Division is responsible for ensuring that the use and development of Port lands is consistent with the Port’s long-term vision and Federal, State and local regulatory requirements. The Division has lead responsibility to promote understanding and compliance with the Port’s Waterfront Plan, and City and regional plans. In this work, Planning & Environment staff carry out Port urban design and historic preservation reviews, and advance environmental sustainability and climate change actions. In addition, this Division leads community planning to define long-term improvements for specified Port areas, in close coordination with the Port’s Waterfront Resilience Program team.
The Planning & Environment Division is also responsible for advancing transportation, public realm, park and open space projects to create a connected public access network along the Port’s 7.5 miles waterfront. Staff assist all Port divisions, tenants and applicants to advise on environmental sustainability, and navigate regulatory approval and compliance requirements. The Division works closely with the Port's community advisory groups on Port projects, and ongoing waterfront land use and environmental issues.
Job Description
Under general supervision, the Port Planner IV-Environmental Review leads environmental planning, permitting, and regulatory compliance activities for a diverse portfolio of Port of San Francisco capital projects, maintenance activities, and operational initiatives. This position serves as a senior environmental planning professional, guiding projects through environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), securing environmental permits and approvals, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations throughout project development and implementation.
Working collaboratively with Port divisions, regulatory agencies, consultants, and external stakeholders, the Port Planner IV provides strategic environmental guidance to support infrastructure improvements, waterfront resiliency, maritime operations, and real estate development while advancing the Port's environmental stewardship and public trust responsibilities.
The position also serves as the Port's lead for obtaining permits from the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and other regulatory agencies, helping to deliver projects that protect natural resources and enhance the San Francisco waterfront.
The essential functions of this position include:
Environmental Planning and Permitting
- Provides planning and environmental review and input to inform Port construction, repair, and maintenance project plans, schedules, and budgets and identify applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
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Coordinates and provides input into environmental studies to support CEQA determinations and agency permitting of Port upland and in-water construction projects including demolition, dredging, environmental site remediation, infrastructure repair and replacement, and hazardous waste abatement.
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Prepares project descriptions and coordinates environmental impact analyses and Port applications to the San Francisco Planning Department for project determination as lead agency for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
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Prepares and submits regulatory agency permit applications for upland and in-water construction projects. Reviews and responds to regulatory agency information requests and negotiate project permit conditions and mitigation requirements.
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Maintains working relationships with personnel from local, state and federal regulatory agencies including the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board.
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Interfaces with other ports, City departments, and local, regional, state, and federal agencies and requires project management skills for project delivery and implementation.
Regulatory Compliance, Monitoring and Reporting
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Interprets permit requirements for Port Maritime, Real Estate and Maintenance personnel, project developers and consultants.
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Develops, monitors, and reports on project implementation and compliance with mitigation monitoring and reporting programs.
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Supports Port projects to ensure environmental and other permit conditions, specifications, and related monitoring and reporting are implemented before, during and after construction.
Resource Management
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Develops scope of work and budget for consultants to support planning and permitting project deliverables.
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Supervises professional technical consultants in the preparation of environmental studies, reports, calculations, proposed mitigation, schedule and cost estimates required to obtain and comply with agency authorizations and permits.
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Assigns tasks, establishes milestones, and monitors progress to assure the quality, timeliness, and cost effectiveness of work performed by professional technical consultants.
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Meets with consultants to review progress, provide direction, and assist with resolution to staffing, project issues and change order management.
Environmental Policy and Advocacy
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Prepares materials and/or represent the Port at stakeholder meetings including the Port Commission, regulatory agency boards and commissions, and citizens’ advisory groups.
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Participates in stakeholder groups pertaining to the implementation of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, particularly those pertaining to waterfront construction, resiliency, and environmental issues.
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Advises Port staff on environmental regulatory issues.
General Land Use Planning Functions
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Assists in reviewing leasing and license applications to confirm use are consistent with the Port’s Waterfront Land Use Plan, the City’s General Plan and zoning.
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Facilitates Port Community Advisory Committees.
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Assists in reviewing and planning Port's initiated projects.
Qualifications
Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in environmental studies, law, earth sciences, geography, economics, architecture, civil engineering, urban studies, public administration, or a related field; AND
Experience
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the areas of planning, environmental review, or environmental law, of which at least 4 years must be in environmental review or environmental law, including management and scheduling experience; AND
License
Possession of a valid California driver’s license (to be presented at time of appointment). Employees must be insurable under the Port’s automobile liability insurance. Insurability must be maintained throughout employment; AND
Special Condition
Within the required five (5) years of experience, applicants must possess three (3) years of recent and verifiable experience administering waterfront policies and regulations on behalf of a port or waterfront authority, or another public agency responsible for compliance with waterfront regulations.
The above minimum qualifications reflect special conditions associated with the position(s) to be filled. They may differ from the standard minimum qualifications associated with this classification.
Substitution
Possession of advanced degrees in related fields of planning, science or law may be substituted for up to two (2) of the required experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Desirable Qualifications (Ideal Candidate)
The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
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Knowledge of the principles and practices of environmental law and its implementation.
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Knowledge of techniques of researching and analyzing environmental and planning issues.
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Experience working with other agencies, project management and the public.
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Experience in environmental regulations and permitting processes, particularly as applicable to construction in the San Francisco Waterfront environments.
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Experience working with local, state, and federal agencies with jurisdiction over Port of San Francisco Bay waters and lands.
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Experience developing environmental projects and program procedures.
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Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data pertaining to environmental impacts of proposed projects.
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Ability to write clear and concise technical documents.
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Ability to develop procedures and effectively lead, supervise, and review the work of employees and consultants.
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Ability to communicate effectively and establish and maintain tactful, professional working relationships with the general public, governmental officials, professional and technical personnel, and employees.
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Card
This position requires that the incumbent be qualified for unescorted access to the Port’s Maritime Transportation System (MTS). An application for a TWIC card may be submitted after employment has commenced. Employment in this position requires that the incumbent undergo a criminal history check, immigration check and terrorist threat assessment, including FBI fingerprints, in order to determine eligibility for security clearance.
The incumbent must submit an application for, successfully acquire and maintain a TWIC card. Per Civil Service Rule 110.9.1, every applicant must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the announcement for this examination. Failure to acquire or maintain a TWIC card, a requirement for this position, may be the basis for termination from employment with the Port Commission.
Note: TWIC requirements and procedures are located in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 49 U.S.C. 114, 40113, and 49 U.S.C. 5103a.
Verification
Please make sure it is clear on your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications. Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.
Important Note(s):
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Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.
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One-year full-time employment is considered equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.
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Applicants must meet minimum qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
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Please be aware that any misrepresentation of this information may disqualify you from this recruitment or future job opportunities.
Additional Information
Selection Procedures: After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:
Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation: (Weight: 100%)
Qualified candidates will be sent a link to complete Supplemental Questionnaire via email after the closing of this filing period. Applicants will be given a deadline to return the Supplemental Questionnaire. The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to measure knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in job-related areas which have been identified as critical for positions in class 5299 Planner IV - Environmental Review, Port of San Francisco.
Note: Only those applicants meeting the minimum qualifications requirement and special condition will be sent an email with the link to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications requirement and special condition are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process. Additional mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidate’s qualifications.
Failure to complete these steps by the established deadlines will result in disqualification. All applicants’ responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are subject to verification.
A passing score on the Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation must be achieved in order to be placed/ranked on the Eligible List. Candidates will be placed on the eligible list in rank order according to their final score.
Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.
Certification Rule:
The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of Ten (10).
The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be twelve (12) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.
Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. To find other Departments which use this classification, please see: Position Counts by Job Codes and Department.
Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.
The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is 'abuse of discretion' or 'no rational basis' for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process.
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Select the “Apply Now" button and follow instructions on the screen
Recruitment Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact Victor Mena at [email protected].
Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
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Information About the Hiring Process
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Conviction History
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Employee Benefits Overview
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Equal Employment Opportunity
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Disaster Service Worker
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ADA Accommodation
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Veterans Preference
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Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
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Right to Work
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Copies of Application Documents
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Diversity Statement
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
