We are the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. Our mission is to conserve the natural environment, support agriculture and connect people to nature by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and working farms and ranches for future generations.

We have protected nearly 18,000 acres of natural and agricultural lands in Santa Clara County. Our agency operates a network of open space lands to manage and conserve natural resources and provide compatible opportunities for hiking, biking, and equestrian uses. With new funding, we are expanding our operations from top to bottom.

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is pleased to announce an opening for the position of Planning Technician. This position is a unique opportunity for a highly skilled and organized professional to contribute to the quality of life in the Santa Clara Valley.

Working under the Conservation GIS Coordinator and with planning department staff, this full-time position will support a variety of GIS and planning efforts, including GIS administration; evaluation of potential land acquisitions; conservation easement monitoring; natural resource or capital improvement project planning, grant writing, permitting, and implementation. Typical duties will include: editing and maintaining GIS data, creating maps; conducting property research and evaluations;  preparing reports and presentation-quality graphics; collecting field data; assisting with project permit preparation; maintaining property records; and general Planning Department support, including small-scale capital project management.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
You are excited at the opportunity to be a part of the Open Space Authority – a small, vibrant and dynamic public agency that conserves open space in and around the Santa Clara Valley. You are an enthusiastic and detail oriented individual that is passionate about land conservation, has a strong work ethic, and brings creativity and precision to bear on your work.

You are a university graduate with strong working knowledge of GIS, with major coursework in natural resource management, planning, or landscape architecture and are capable of performing a variety of work in support of the Authority’s planning efforts. You have excellent communication and project management skills and work effectively both independently and in team environments. You are proficient with ESRI ArcGIS software, familiar with principles of research and data collection pertaining to open space, natural resources, or landscape conservation; familiar with basic site plans, property descriptions, deeds, and survey data; understand modern office practices, methods, and use of computer equipment and applications. You will have opportunities to work outdoors in remote locations in steep and rugged terrain. You take great pride in your work and are passionate about conservation and protection of the environment.

You have the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with major coursework in natural resource management, planning, landscape architecture or related field, and at least one (1) year college-level GIS coursework.

The Open Space Authority provides a fun and challenging position, a team of highly committed individuals, and a rewarding working environment.

The salary range for this position is between $28.43 and $34.56 per hour.

This recruitment closes on October 9 at 5 p.m. We anticipate interviews will take place the second half of October into November, with an estimated start date in December.

NO AGENCIES are needed in recruiting for this job.