Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist

WSP USA; St. Catharines; Hybrid; CAD 93,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist to lead permitting strategies for large Ontario infrastructure projects from design through construction. You will guide regulatory pathways, engage regulators and Indigenous communities, and manage compliance obligations.

With 10+ years in environmental permitting, you will provide strategic advice, track approvals, and support multidisciplinary teams to ensure project delivery and environmental commitments are met.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading environmental permitting and approvals programs in Ontario.
• Knowledge of provincial and federal environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience delivering permitting strategies for major infrastructure projects (transportation, energy, mining).
• Ability to provide strategic regulatory advice and manage approvals tracking systems.
• Experience coordinating with contractors and supporting construction-phase environmental compliance.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Degree in environmental science, planning, engineering, or related field required.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in Ontario.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental permitting and approvals strategies for large infrastructure projects from design through construction.
• Provide strategic regulatory advice on pathways, risks, sequencing, and timelines.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate permitting and compliance risks.
• Oversee identification, tracking, and acquisition of permits, licenses, approvals, and agreements.
• Develop and implement permitting plans, matrices, and tracking tools.
• Serve as primary contact with regulators, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders.
• Support construction-phase compliance and implement permit conditions.
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary teams and review permitting deliverables.

Skills

Environmental permitting

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory strategy

Ontario experience

Construction phase

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in environmental science/engineering

Job description

What if you could redefine what’s possible? With us, you can.

With us, you can. You want Purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it.

We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers.

With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory and science‑based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions.

We are pathfinders and impact makers.

We are Visioneers.

We are WSP

The Opportunity

Build the Future with Us

As a Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist , you will play a leadership role in advancing complex infrastructure projects across Ontario. You will lead permitting and approvals strategies, guide regulatory processes from detailed design through construction, and ensure projects meet all environmental and regulatory commitments. Your expertise will directly support the successful delivery of sustainable infrastructure while strengthening relationships with regulators, Indigenous communities, and key stakeholders.

Your Impact

• Lead environmental permitting and approvals strategies for large, multi‑disciplinary infrastructure projects from detailed design through construction.

• Provide strategic advice to clients and project teams on regulatory pathways, permitting risks, approvals sequencing, and timelines.

• Identify, assess, and manage permitting and compliance risks, developing effective mitigation strategies.

• Oversee the identification, tracking, and acquisition of environmental permits, licenses, approvals, and agreements.

• Develop and implement permitting plans, approvals matrices, and tracking tools to support project delivery.

• Act as the primary point of contact with regulators, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders throughout the approvals process.

• Support construction‑phase compliance, including interpretation and implementation of permit conditions and commitments.

• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary teams and contribute to quality reviews of permitting and compliance deliverables.

The Skills That Set You Apart

• Extensive experience leading environmental permitting and approvals programs in Ontario.

• Strong working knowledge of key provincial and federal environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks.

• Demonstrated success delivering permitting strategies for major infrastructure projects (e.g., transportation, energy, mining).

• Proven ability to provide strategic regulatory advice, manage approvals tracking systems, and navigate complex approvals processes.

• Experience coordinating with contractors and supporting construction‑phase environmental compliance.

• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental science, planning, engineering, or a related field.

• 10+ years of experience in environmental permitting, approvals, and regulatory compliance in Ontario.

Why Choose WSP?

Why Choose WSP? We exist to shape communities to advance humanity. The brightest engineers, advisors and scientists from across the globe call WSP home.

• Proudly Canadian – we are a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026.

• A global community of brilliant minds – your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always within reach.

• Limitless opportunities start here. Whether it’s across the country or around the globe, we help you tailor your role to match your ambition — because your growth drives ours.

• Flexible work, real balance – we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours.

#WeAreWSP

Compensation

AB, BC, NT, NU, SK & YT: $96,200 – $132,300

MB & ON: $93,100 – $128,100

NB, NL, NS, PE & QC: $88,900 – $122,400

Disclosure:

The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

Ready to Shape the Future?

Join WSP and be part of a team that is redefining what’s possible — for communities, the environment, and your career.

At WSP , we exist to shape communities to advance humanity.

It’s why we bring people together who are wired to solve complex challenges - engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts who are driven by a common passion - to redefine what’s possible and shape what comes next. We are Visioneers.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact.

At WSP , you’ll join a community of brilliant minds that push boundaries every day - applying deep expertise and fuelling innovation to help create a more connected and resilient future. Here, your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and you are encouraged to bring your authentic self to work. We empower our people to collaborate across disciplines, challenge the status quo, and shape a career with purpose.

Join us.

Please Note:

Health and Safety is a core paramount value of WSP. Given the importance of keeping one another safe it is expected that you comply with our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) policy at all times as well as client HSE policies when working at client locations. Full details here (https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/corporate/ca/health-safety) .

Some safety-sensitive positions involve fieldwork and may include work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as remote or isolated areas, working alone, and in inclement weather (within safe and reasonable limits).

WSP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Full details here (https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/careers/notice-to-staffing-agencies) .