Environmental Due Diligence Practice Leader

EKI Environment & Water, Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock ownership (ESOP)

Bonus opportunities

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

EKI Environment & Water, Inc. is seeking a Practice Leader to drive its environmental due diligence program across California and beyond. The role blends technical leadership, project oversight, and business development to expand Phase I ESA services while mentoring staff and delivering defensible findings to clients.

You will lead program standards, pricing approaches, and collaboration with directors and staff to improve quality, profitability, and client satisfaction within a growing practice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, geology or related field.
• At least 10 years in environmental consulting with Phase I ESAs experience.
• Experience advising on real estate transactions and due-diligence implications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop EKI’s environmental due diligence practice (Phase I ESAs).
• Maintain pricing, staffing, training, and QA/QC across offices.
• Provide senior technical leadership and client guidance on investigations.
• Mentor staff and grow client relationships and opportunities.

Skills

Phase I ESAs

Environmental due diligence

ASTM E1527

Regulatory compliance

Client advisory

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Environmental Science/Engineering/Geology

Job description

Company Overview

EKI Environment & Water, Inc. (EKI) is an employee-owned, full service, engineering and environmental sciences consulting firm serving private- and public-sector clients throughout the United States. If you are interested in improving the environment and advancing your career, then EKI is the place for you.

Company Overview

EKI Environment & Water, Inc. (EKI) is an employee-owned, full service, engineering and environmental sciences consulting firm serving private- and public-sector clients throughout the United States. If you are interested in improving the environment and advancing your career, then EKI is the place for you.

The Environmental Due Diligence Practice Leader position reports to the Northern or Southern California Regional Director and is responsible for leading, developing, and improving EKI’s company-wide environmental due diligence practice, with particular emphasis on Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs). Working collaboratively with Regional Directors, Technical Directors, principals, project managers, and technical staff, the Practice Leader will advance practice area growth, strengthen technical quality, improve operations efficiency and profitability, and establish consistent approaches to pricing, staffing, training, project execution, QA/QC, and use of technology across EKI’s offices. The Practice Leader will develop EKI’s environmental due diligence and compliance support capabilities by mentoring staff, strengthening technical judgment and writing skills, developing and maintaining client relationships, and creating new business opportunities. The position combines technical and operational leadership, client engagement, business development, and staff development, with accountability for the continued growth and success of the practice.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Company-Wide Phase I Program Leadership And Execution

• Lead, continue to develop, and execute EKI’s company-wide environmental due diligence practice, with particular emphasis on Phase I ESAs
• Establish and continuously improve consistent approaches to pricing, staffing, project execution, training, standardized delivery, QA/QC, project management, templates, procedures, technology, and performance measures
• Collaborate with Regional Directors, Technical Directors, principals, project managers, and technical staff to implement program standards across EKI’s offices
• Monitor ASTM, EPA All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI), and relevant regulatory developments and incorporate changes into EKI’s firmwide procedures and practices

Technical and Delivery Leadership

• Provide senior technical leadership for Phase I ESAs and related environmental due-diligence assignments
• Guide defensible determinations of Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), Controlled RECs (CRECs), Historical RECs (HRECs), Business Environmental Risks, de minimis conditions, and communicate appropriate recommendations to clients
• Establish and maintain scalable delivery standards that improve technical quality, efficiency, consistency, and reproducibility across reports and project workflows
• Assess the accuracy and thoroughness of the work produced prior to client delivery
• Lead and provide technical oversight for complex, high-risk, or high-profile due diligence assignments
• Support project teams in developing appropriate scopes of work, budgets, investigation and risk-management strategies, recommendations, and clear communication of findings to clients

People and Client Development

• Build EKI’s environmental due diligence capabilities by coaching principals, project managers, and technical staff in technical judgment, project execution, client communication, and decision-making
• Develop and implement training programs that strengthen staff proficiency, technical writing, project management capabilities, and succession
• Use Phase I work deliberately as opportunities to develop staff technical judgement, writing skills, project management capabilities, and client relationships
• Advise clients on transaction risk, due-diligence findings, next steps, and practical pathways for additional assessment, compliance support, remediation, closure, or risk management
• Lead case-study discussions and targeted technical coaching that reinforce consistent judgment and professional standards

Practice Growth and Collaboration

• Develop and implement strategies to grow EKI's environmental due diligence and compliance practice, including expanding services with existing clients and developing new client relationships
• Cultivate relationships with clients and referral sources, including real estate, legal, lending, development, investment, and corporate stakeholders
• Lead and support proposals, statements of qualifications, interviews, presentations, and strategic business development pursuits
• Collaborate with environmental, water, engineering, and other practices at EKI to identify and pursue opportunities for integrated services
• Monitor market developments, client needs, and competitive conditions to identify opportunities for new or refined service offerings and practice-growth priorities
• Strengthen EKI's visibility in environmental due diligence and compliance support through participation in relevant industry organizations, conferences, presentations, and other professional activities

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology, or a related discipline required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in environmental consulting required, including substantial experience conducting and/or reviewing Phase I ESAs and environmental due diligence assignments
• Demonstrated expertise with ASTM E1527, EPA AAI rule, environmental due diligence standards, and defensible REC, CREC, HREC, BER, and de minimis condition
• Experience advising clients on the potential implications of environmental conditions on real estate transactions, acquisitions, refinancing, redevelopment, property disposition, Phase II investigations, remediation, regulatory closure, costs, timing, and risk-management strategies
• Demonstrated ability to develop business opportunities, expand environmental consulting services, and build and maintain client relationships
• Proven project management experience, including managing project budgets, schedules, scope, and quality
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement standardized procedures, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen technical quality across project teams
• Ability to organize and lead collaborative initiatives across offices, including influencing and building alignment without direct supervisory authority
• Professional registration or certification such as Professional Engineer (PE), Professional Geologist (PG), or other applicable professional credential strongly preferred
• OSHA HAZWOPER training preferred but not required

Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and review high-quality technical reports, proposals, and client deliverables
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and coordinate multiple project teams
• Initiative, sound professional judgement, and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Current valid driver’s license

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with high-volume workload and frequent short deadlines
• Must have the ability to obtain medical clearance to work on hazardous waste site(s)
• Must be able to lift up to 10 lbs
• Must be able to work 10-hour days
• Must be able to work remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Must be able to communicate with others to exchange information

Travel Requirements

• Must be able to travel occasionally, possibly overnight for client meetings, site visits, and attendance and/or participation in professional conferences up to 15% of the time.

As an employee-owned firm, EKI offers a unique company culture with a corporate commitment to maintaining a positive work/life experience. EKI provides excellent compensation and comprehensive benefits packages, including career advancement opportunities, outstanding training opportunities, incentive compensation including bonuses, retirement benefits through an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) and 401(k) profit-sharing contributions, and group medical, vision, and dental benefits.

EKI Environment & Water, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, marital status, political affiliation, or military service.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and is not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. This description may be amended at any time and employee may be assigned other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.