Cassidy McSurdy
State of California - Department of Conservation
Los Osos,CA
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Environmental Planner – Grant Manager
2 Years 5 Months- Planning Grant Program Team Lead, including oversight of 2-3 grant managers and 15-20 grant projects at any given time, including maintaining program records, reporting, forecasting, strategic planning, and developing policy and program documents.
- Subcontractor management, including negotiating agreements, tracking deliverables, maintaining financial records, regular coordination, and supervision to ensure all outcomes are met on time and within budget.
- Management of the Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation Program’s (SALC) Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP), including participation in working groups, reporting, and development of policies/procedures.
- Authored a white paper that now informs department policies and guidelines for the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation program; specifically, for tribal notification and engagement. This paper also became a reference for other state divisions trying to increase their tribal engagement (won a State Superior Accomplishment Award).
- Administration of a variety of State grants, including management of public processes for their drafting, public comment, and approval. This also included providing formal presentations, leading workshops, working with various decision makers, and stakeholder engagement.
Environmental Planner – Grant Manager
1 Year 7 Months- Land Conservation Grant Management for various grant programs offered by the Division of Land Resource Protection including for land acquisition, planning, capacity building, and improvement, and block grants.
- Reviewed grant applications for completeness and scoring, and made formal recommendations to our boards and directors. Entered into formal grant agreements with awarded projects.
- Invoice and financial tracking/analysis, including budget advising, project monitoring/deliverable tracking, and amendment review, in addition to maintaining ongoing communication and coordination with grantees to ensure timely and efficient grant administration.
- Reviewed all title, easement, technical report, and escrow documents for adherence to guidelines, and to ensure all legal statutes were met.
- Participated in various trainings on grant management, land conservation, communications, real estate transactions, diversity equity and inclusion, priority populations, climate action, and tribal affairs.
Planner II
2 Years 6 Months- Processed complex land use permits including all stages of project management culminating in environmental review and presentation to various hearing bodies.
- Worked with partner agencies such as Resource Conservation Districts, Fish and Wildlife, Land Conservancy on area wide and project specific conservation and environmental policy programs.
- Created and reviewed consultant contracts, logistical planning, support and supervision of consultant staff, report review and final reports, liaison with applicants.
- Developed Mitigation and Monitoring Plans and audited plan adherence.
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis and research, including interpretation of regulations and data to prepare reports and illustrate findings.
Assistant Planner – Planning
8 Months- Public-facing role, which included providing interpretation of complex zoning, design, and municipal code requirements for various entitlements, as well as permit intake and business license review/issuance.
- Processed moderately complex architectural and use permits, including all stages of project management culminating in environmental review and presentation to various hearing bodies.
- Designed and implemented division- and department-wide process improvements related to general project management, logistical planning, records management, and environmental documentation.
Planner I
7 Months- Processed land use permits for all project stages, culminating in environmental review and presentation to various hearing bodies.
- Advised the public and County administration staff on the effects of regulations/policies on proposed projects and communities.
- Conducted research, logistical planning, and data analysis to craft ordinance amendments and policies in accordance with evolving state legislation.
- Environmental analysis, including the interpretation of data to prepare reports and illustrate findings.
Land Use Technician – Planning
8 Months- Processed simple to moderately complex land use permits.
- Presented findings to various hearing bodies.
- Performed intake of applications and permits, database management, and audited adherence with conditions of approval.
- Performed research and data analysis to assist with policy development.
Administrative Assistant III
9 Months- Acted as the direct County contact for all cannabis, environmental, and code related land use inquiries.
- Performed intake for all cannabis land use permits, file make-up, and referrals, as well as assessment of code violations.
- Managed administrative workload for the Code Enforcement Department.
- Managed and maintained technical and administrative databases.
Education
B.S. - Human Services (Policy Concentration)
Magna Cum Laude
Skills
CEQA Essentials and Advanced Workshop Completion; UC Davis
Financial tracking
Microsoft and Adobe Suites
Basic ArcGIS Pro functions
Planning and environmental law proficiency
Technical report writing
Database administration
Grant writing
management
and administration
Data analysis
Interpersonal communications and customer service
and
Conversational Spanish
Timeline
Associate Environmental Planner – Grant Manager
State of California - Department of Conservation
05.2024 - CurrentRead More
Environmental Planner – Grant Manager
State of California - Department of Conservation
10.2022 - 05.2024Read More
Planner II
San Luis Obispo County – Department of Planning and Building
04.2020 - 10.2022Read More
Assistant Planner – Planning
City of San Luis Obispo – Community Development
08.2019 - 04.2020Read More
Planner I
San Luis Obispo County – Department of Planning and Building
01.2019 - 08.2019Read More
Land Use Technician – Planning
San Luis Obispo County – Department of Planning and Building
10.2018 - 06.2019Read More
Administrative Assistant III
San Luis Obispo County – Department of Planning and Building
01.2018 - 10.2018Read More
Northeastern University
B.S. from Human Services (Policy Concentration)
Read More