Environmental Planning Director

Socket.dev; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an Environmental Planning Director to drive NEPA/impact assessment work across the Midwest region, based in St. Louis, MO or remote within the region.

You will lead complex studies, develop client relationships, and deliver high-quality permits and licensing support. The role requires a strong background in NEPA, energy/nuclear projects, and proposal leadership, with mentoring responsibilities and a focus on on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in environmental/biological science, planning, engineering, or related discipline.
• 12+ years leading NEPA/ESIA efforts for energy or nuclear projects, including proposal leadership and client-facing delivery.
• Strong command of NEPA and implementing regulations/guidance.
• Experience supporting nuclear licensing reviews; NRC Environmental Reports (ER) experience preferred.
• Excellent writing, facilitation, and presentation skills; able to translate complex topics for varied audiences.
• Ability to synthesize diverse inputs into clear, defensible documents suitable for public review.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage projects to scope, schedule, and budget.
• Demonstrated success developing winning proposals and growing client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify, pursue, and secure opportunities across KS, MO, NE, IA, SD, ND, MN, OK, and AR; build pipeline and drive capture plans.
• Lead client outreach, relationship management, and positioning strategies with key accounts, partners, and agencies.
• Own and/or support proposal development from start to finish (strategy, teaming, scope/technical approach, pricing, schedule, and reviews).
• Plan and direct defensible NEPA and ER deliverables for nuclear and other energy projects, including EAs, EISs, and supporting technical studies.
• Provide quality oversight and regulatory compliance review for submittals to clients and agencies.
• Lead interdisciplinary teams and manage scope, schedule, budget, and risk from kickoff through closeout.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients on NEPA strategy and compliance with related requirements (e.g., ESA, NHPA, CWA).
• Mentor and develop staff; set expectations, provide technical direction, and ensure consistent delivery standards.
• Make sound, independent decisions on technical approaches, documentation, and risk mitigation for complex assignments.

Skills

Writing

Facilitation

Presentation

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor-level in environmental/biological science, planning or engineering

Master’s degree in environmental planning/science

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is seeking an Environmental Planning Director to proactively identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities across our Midwest Region (KS, MO, NE, IA, SD, ND, MN, OK, AR) in the commercial, industrial, utility, energy, transmission, development, and/or transportation markets. Based in St. Louis, MO (Creve Coeur) or remote within the region, this role combines business development leadership with delivery of high-quality NEPA/impact assessment, nuclear licensing, and permitting work.

You will build and expand client relationships, lead outreach and account positioning strategies, and serve as a key proposal leader (capture planning, win themes, teaming, scope/approach, schedule, and budget). You will also direct and deliver complex NEPA environmental assessments, EISs, and related studies in coordination with interdisciplinary teams, managing scope, schedule, budget, and quality from pursuit through execution.

The ideal candidate has a strong record of winning and delivering impact assessment and permitting work, with deep NEPA expertise and experience supporting nuclear licensing and other energy projects. You will provide technical and administrative leadership on complex studies, mentor teams, and ensure regulatory compliance and on-time/on-budget delivery. Experience with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license applications/Environmental Reports (ER) and nuclear licensing reviews is highly desirable. Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.

Your Impact

• Proactively identify, pursue, and secure new opportunities across KS, MO, NE, IA, SD, ND, MN, OK, and AR; build pipeline and drive capture plans
• Lead client outreach, relationship management, and positioning strategies with key accounts, partners, and agencies
• Own and/or support proposal development from start to finish (strategy, teaming, scope/technical approach, pricing, schedule, and reviews)
• Plan and direct defensible NEPA and ER deliverables for nuclear and other energy projects, including EAs, EISs, and supporting technical studies
• Provide quality oversight and regulatory compliance review for submittals to clients and agencies
• Lead interdisciplinary teams and manage scope, schedule, budget, and risk from kickoff through closeout
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients on NEPA strategy and compliance with related requirements (e.g., ESA, NHPA, CWA)
• Mentor and develop staff; set expectations, provide technical direction, and ensure consistent delivery standards
• Make sound, independent decisions on technical approaches, documentation, and risk mitigation for complex assignments

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• BS/BA in environmental/biological science, planning, engineering, or related discipline
• 12+ years leading NEPA/ESIA efforts for energy or nuclear projects, including proposal leadership and client-facing delivery
• Strong command of NEPA and implementing regulations/guidance
• Experience supporting nuclear licensing reviews; NRC Environmental Reports (ER) experience preferred
• Excellent writing, facilitation, and presentation skills; able to translate complex topics for varied audiences
• Ability to synthesize diverse inputs into clear, defensible documents suitable for public review
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage projects to scope, schedule, and budget
• Demonstrated success developing winning proposals and growing client relationships

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in environmental planning/science, ecology, geography, or related field
• PMP and/or other relevant professional certifications
• Contract negotiation and management experience

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About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.