Environmental Compliance Senior Project Manager / Principal

ECS Group of Companies; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Job summary

ECS Group of Companies seeks an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead and grow an Environmental Compliance practice centered in Virginia, with expansion across the Mid-Atlantic. You will guide air permitting, SPCC, and SWPPP programs while mentoring a team and shaping future offerings.

Ideal candidates bring hands-on expertise in air permitting and regulatory coordination, plus a track record in business development and client relationship management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, Chemical Engineering, or related environmental discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in environmental compliance with direct air permitting, SPCC, and SWPPP experience.
• Certifications preferred (CHMM, CEP, CIH, CSP, PE, PG or equivalent).
• Strong client relationship management and business development experience.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental compliance projects from scoping to delivery and mentor staff.
• Grow the compliance service line, revenue, client base, and offerings.
• Develop proposals, scopes, and fee estimates; protect margins.
• Build and maintain client relationships leading to repeat engagements.
• Lead and grow a team of compliance-focused project managers and staff.
• Coordinate with regulators and ensure on-time project execution within budgets.

Skills

Project management

Client relations

Mentoring

Business development

Leadership

Air permitting

SPCC

SWPPP

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Engineering/Environmental Science/Geology/Chemical Engineering

Professional certifications preferred (CHMM/CEP/CIH/CSP/PE/PG)

Job description

ECS is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager, with a clear path to Principal, to lead and grow our Environmental Compliance practice centered in Virginia, but expandable across the Mid-Atlantic. This role is built for a technically strong compliance professional who is equally energized by developing new business, mentoring a team, and shaping the future direction of our service offerings.

You will bring deep, hands-on expertise in air permitting, SPCC plans, and SWPPPs, and you will use that credibility to win new work, build client relationships, and expand what our compliance practice can offer. This is a role for someone ready to grow beyond individual project delivery into practice leadership, without losing touch with the technical work that got them here.

What You'll Own

• Day-to-day leadership of environmental compliance projects, from scoping through delivery
• Growth of the compliance service line; revenue, client base, and breadth of offerings
• Mentorship and development of project managers, engineers, and field staff
• A seat at the table in shaping practice strategy as you move toward a Principal role

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead air permitting efforts, including Title V, NSR/PSD, and state minor-source permits, from application through agency negotiation
• Prepare, implement, and audit Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans
• Direct Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) development, field inspections, and reporting
• Serve as a technical resource on related programs; SPCC/FRP, RCRA, and multimedia compliance audits
• Coordinate directly with state and federal regulators to resolve compliance issues and keep clients ahead of enforcement risk
• Review technical reports, permits, and compliance documentation as appropriate
• Identify and pursue new compliance work with existing and prospective clients
• Build and maintain client relationships that lead to repeat and expanded engagements
• Develop proposals, scopes, and fee estimates that win work and protect margins
• Help identify and stand up new or adjacent service offerings for the compliance practice
• Represent ECS at industry associations, agency meetings, and client events
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of compliance-focused project managers and staff
• Provide oversight of project execution, quality, budgets, and schedules across the practice
• Build internal training and career paths that strengthen bench depth for the practice
• Collaborate with firm leadership to set goals and track performance for the compliance practice

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology, Chemical Engineering, or a related environmental discipline
• 7+ years of experience in environmental compliance, with direct experience in air permitting, SPCC, and SWPPP programs
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Professional Engineer (PE) license, Professional Geologist (PG) license or comparable professional certification preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing client relationships and/or supporting business development
• Prior experience mentoring or supervising junior staff
• Strong technical foundation in air permitting, SPCC, and SWPPP compliance, with the judgment to lead complex, multi-site programs
• Genuine interest in business development and strategic planning in addition to technical delivery
• Track record of building and leading teams, with a mentoring mindset
• Entrepreneurial outlook, with ideas for where the practice's service offerings could grow
• Comfortable operating at both the technical, in-the-weeds level and the strategic, client-facing level

Military Qualifications

• The following US Military ranks will qualify for this position IF they also meet the education and licenses requirements from the above section titled "Required Qualifications":
• E-7

The expected pay range for this role and location is $80,000 - $120,000/year. The final agreed-upon compensation will be determined based on specific location and other individual qualifications.

ECS Group of Companies (ECS) was founded in 1988 with the goal to raise the standards of professional engineering consulting. Today, we are a leader in geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and building science + infrastructure consulting services. We are employee-owned with more than 3,200 employees in 125 offices and testing facilities coast to coast. ECS is currently ranked #60 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms (April 2026), #148 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms (October 2025) and #38 in Zweig Group’s Hot Firm List (June 2026).

For additional information about ECS, visit: www.ecslimited.com.

ECS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more, click here.