Environmental Planner – Project Manager

Stantec; Solana Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Stantec is seeking an Environmental Planner Project Manager to lead NEPA projects for Federally-owned lands from the Solana Beach, CA office. The role includes schedule and budget management, client liaison, and team coordination across field and office staff.

You will mentor junior planners, oversee technical writing, and ensure quality deliverables across EAs, EISs, and related studies, with a flexible hybrid work option.

Qualifications

• 5 years of project management experience with NEPA projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or closely related field.
• Strong technical writing, analytical and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organization, multitasking, and deadline-driven work across time zones.
• Ability to obtain background clearance for military installations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Environmental Planner Project Manager or Deputy PM for NEPA projects on Federally-owned lands, managing schedule and budget.
• Lead technical writing and review of environmental impact documents (EA, EIS) and related mitigation plans.
• Mentor junior environmental planners as SME in NEPA processes.
• Manage project team, contracts, deliverables, safety program, subconsultants, and client expectations.
• Report to Solana Beach, CA office but eligible for remote hybrid work arrangement.

Skills

NEPA project management

Technical writing

Analytical skills

Oral communication

Organizational skills

Time management

Regulatory clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences/engineering/biology/geology/chemistry/planning

Job description

Description

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as Environmental Planner Project Manager or Deputy Project Manager for NEPA projects on Federally-owned lands. This entails schedule and budget management, team coordination and leadership, quality assurance, client interactions, progress reports, meeting summaries, and communications with 10+ person resource authors in adherence to contract scopes of work.
• Serve as a technical writer and team leader; prepare and manage the preparation and review of environmental impact documents and associated mitigation plans in accordance with NEPA such as Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and exemptions/exclusions. Review technical studies and associated field surveys informing NEPA documents such as biological resources surveys and assessments, cultural resources surveys and reports, geotechnical surveys and reports, air quality reports, wetland delineations, etc.
• Mentor junior environmental planners as Subject Matter Expert in regulatory processes and technical analysis for NEPA documents, as well as in client interactions and task management.
• Manage the project team (office- and field-based) and their assignments, deliverables, files and administrative record, safety program, subconsultants and their contracting process, and client and their expectations; and monitor and review project contracts, deliverables, schedule, and budget.
• Candidate will need to report to the Solana Beach, CA office but can be eligible for remote hybrid work arrangement.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• 5 years of related work experience as a project manager, with demonstrated NEPA project management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, geology, chemistry, community/urban planning or a closely related field.
• Strong technical writing, analytical and oral communication skills.
• Good organizational skills, multi-tasking capabilities, attention to detail and quality control.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and shifting priorities.
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet firm deadlines, including working across time zones.
• Ability to acquire background clearance sufficient to gain entry to military installations and/or controlled access facilities.

Desired Qualifications/Experience:

• Experience with environmental analysis and permitting for military projects (Navy, Marine Corps, Air National Guard, Coast Guard, Air Force, etc.) or projects for other federal government entities Federally-owned lands.
• Oversee preparation of environmental permit applications with various federal and state agencies for a variety of project types/sizes.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification or interest in pursuing is preferred.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us.