Coastal Resilience Designer — Nature‑Based Solutions

Straughan Environmental, Inc.; Newark (DE); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Tuition assistance

PTO

8 paid holidays

Parental Leave

HSA/FSA

Flexible work schedule

Short- and long-term disability

Job summary

Straughan Environmental, Inc. is seeking a highly motivated Mid-Level Coastal Resilience Specialist to support planning, design, and implementation of NbS-based coastal projects.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, perform modeling and field assessments, and help develop living shorelines, wetlands restoration, and green infrastructure solutions; occasional travel is required. Preference for candidates in Delaware, Maryland, or Virginia with a hybrid work arrangement and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in ecological restoration, water resources, coastal resilience, or resilience planning.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with design deliverables using AutoCAD or MicroStation.
• Experience with coastal modeling tools (HEC-RAS, SWMM, ADCIRC, Delft3D or similar).
• Experience conducting field work and site evaluations.
• Familiarity with nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, or ecosystem-based design.
• Environmental permitting experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead tasks or components of projects focused on nature-based and hybrid infrastructure solutions.
• Support planning, budgeting, and execution of coastal and water resources projects.
• Perform hydrologic and hydraulic modeling (e.g., HEC-RAS, SWMM, coastal/storm surge models).
• Design and support development of living shorelines.
• Design and support development of coastal and upland wetland and floodplain restoration projects.
• Design and support development of green stormwater infrastructure (bioswales, buffers, BMPs).
• Conduct alternatives analyses comparing gray and nature-based solutions.
• Integrate climate resilience considerations (sea level rise, extreme precipitation, flood risk).
• Perform field assessments, site investigations, and data collection.
• Prepare plans, specifications, reports, and visualizations.
• Coordinate with ecologists, planners, GIS specialists, and stakeholders.
• Support environmental permitting at local, state, and federal levels.
• Participate in stakeholder and client meetings, presenting technical findings.
• Mentor junior staff and support their development.
• Support proposal development, cost estimating, and business development efforts.
• Assist with construction phase services, including submittal review and site visits.

Skills

Strong communication

Project coordination

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biological/Ecological Science or Civil, Environmental, Coastal, or Water Resources Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

HEC-RAS

SWMM

ADCIRC

Delft3D

ArcGIS Pro

Job description

Straughan Environmental, Inc. is seeking a highly motivated Mid-Level Coastal Resilience Specialist to support planning, design, and implementation of NbS-based coastal projects.

You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, perform modeling and field assessments, and help develop living shorelines, wetlands restoration, and green infrastructure solutions; occasional travel is required. Preference for candidates in Delaware, Maryland, or Virginia with a hybrid work arrangement and