Bay Area Conservation Analyst

Host: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Region: Bay Area
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Adaptation, Ecosystem / Habitat Conservation, Urban Planning
Skills Needed: Research, Data Analysis, Self-Motivated

Service Needs & Plans

In fall 2021, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) adopted Plan Bay Area 2050 (Plan), the next 30-year vision for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. It was the first time the Plan included strategies to advance state 30-by-30 goals, and local 50-by-50 conservation goals. The CivicSpark Fellow will join the MTC and ABAG regional planning team as they work to implement the Plan adopted in 2021 and begin early-stage pre-planning work to support the next update slated for 2025 adoption.

The CivicSpark Fellow will support the region on two major conservation and resilience projects:

  1. Develop a Needs and Revenue Assessment for Plan Bay Area 2050 conservation strategies.
  2. Support the development of an integrated Regional Adaptation Plan.
Project Description

Project success will require strong analytical and communication skills. The Fellow will be expected to lead research tasks, develop insights, and share findings with the planning team and project partners. In addition to working closely with MTC and ABAG staff, the Fellow will have an opportunity to build relationships with Bay Area organizations who advance conservation and resilience initiatives in the region.

Support Plan Bay Area 2050 Conservation Strategies

The Fellow will help MTC and ABAG planners advance the implementation actions for Plan Bay Area 2050 conservation strategies. The strategies ensure high-value conservation areas within the nine-county region are protected and that funding is identified to modernize, maintain, and adapt open space. Importantly, the strategies call out the need to ensure equitable access to the region’s current and future parks and open space.

To support the implementation of the conservation strategies, the Fellow will lead the development of a Needs and Revenue Assessment. The Assessment will forecast the financial cost associated with the strategies and inventory funding sources that can be used to advance the conservation strategies. The fellow will also support an ongoing effort to reform how the region prioritizes conservation areas, engaging with conservation, equity, and resilience stakeholders in the region and working with staff to research and analyze different approaches to conservation. The Priority Conservation Area reform effort will influence the Bay Area’s regional land use framework and inform how the agency supports implementation.

The Fellow will have an opportunity to grow technical skills and will be exposed to equity analysis methodologies and conservation financing tools. The project will have many interim deliverables, likely culminating in a report. This product will be shared with partner agencies and will help inform next steps for the Bay Area to advance conservation strategies.

Support the Development of an Integrated Regional Adaptation Plan

The nine-county Bay Area will begin a process to develop components of a Regional Adaptation Plan (RAP) during the Fellow service year. Working with partner agencies like the Bay Conservation Development Commission and Bay Area Regional Collaborative, the fellow will support a multi-agency team produce the first of its kind RAP.

To support the development of the RAP, the fellow will perform research on a range of climate impacts. Specific tasks could include researching varying drought and water reliability conditions in the Bay Area region, updating wildfire exposure analysis using updated severity maps, and supporting outreach efforts with local governments on sea level rise adaptation planning. The exact tasks will not be determined until later in 2022 as the RAP effort is scoped. The fellow will have an opportunity to network with Bay Area adaptation planning professionals, and will have the opportunity to help shape the direction of a new adaptation plan.

Desired Skills

Candidates will have an opportunity to work directly with multiple MTC and ABAG staff as well as with partner regional agencies. The Fellow will work with regional planners with environmental, resilience, transportation, and land use backgrounds and will support research, analysis, and planning tasks.

The position will require strong analytical skills with an acute attention to detail. Ideal candidates will have an interest in the conservation field and course work on environmental systems and or environmental justice. Some entry level experience using tabular data is helpful; attention to detail and critical thinking will be key. In addition to having an interest in conservation the Fellow must also enjoy working in a project and team environment. The project will require meeting and co-developing approaches with partner organizations. Candidates who are both curious and enthusiastic about the planning discipline and show initiative and a willingness to learn will get the most out of a Fellowship with MTC/ABAG.

Organization & Community Highlights

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are deeply engaged in core planning challenges facing the San Francisco Bay Area region. The agency supports the Bay Area region on a range of planning topics like housing affordability, climate resilience and emerging mobility. Most efforts led by the agencies require strong partnerships with local jurisdictions and other regional and state agencies. This partnership-based approach provides ample exposure into different levels of government and the opportunity to plan in a variety of different contexts and scales.

The work led by MTC and ABAG is often at the cutting edge of the state of planning practice in California. For those interested in growing technical research and planning skills, the fellowship will provide an opportunity to learn by doing with mentorship and support from a supervisor and staff across the regional planning department.

MTC and ABAG plan to work in a hybrid in-person and remote environment that is responsive to public health policies. When public health guidelines allow, the fellow can expect to work in-person at least once per week in the Bay Area Metro Center in downtown San Francisco. The Bay Area Metro Center was renovated in 2016 with ample hybrid-working space which supports the collaborative work of the agency. Whether it is in the many Metro Center conference rooms or virtual ones, the Fellow can expect to spend a good portion of the week problem-solving with other planners. As a physical and virtual coordinating hub for the region, MTC/ABAG is often in the host role for regional conversations where staff and elected officials gather frequently to discuss planning challenges. The Fellow can expect to participate in workshops, committee meetings, and networking events relevant to the projects they work on as well as others that interest them.

Remote or On-Site Placement

MTC has implemented a hybrid work policy that will adjust based on direction from San Francisco County public health officials. When conditions allow it is anticipated that the Fellow will serve in-person at the offices in San Francisco at least one day per week, with flexibility throughout the service year.

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