Environmental Planning Project Manager

Terracon Consultants, Inc.; Concord (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon is seeking an experienced professional in California to manage all aspects of environmental planning projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget while coordinating teams and communicating effectively with clients.

The ideal applicant will have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of experience in environmental planning, alongside excellent project management and technical writing abilities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in environmental planning-related projects.
• Strong project management skills, handling budgets and schedules.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of an environmental planning project.
• Design, communicate, and implement a project plan.
• Conduct meetings and prepare reports to communicate project status.

Skills

Project management

Technical writing

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Environmental Science or Geology

Tools

GIS tools (ArcGIS Pro, Collector)

Job description

General Responsibilities

Manage all aspects of an environmental planning-related project to ensure that it is safely completed on time and within scope and budget. Responsible for completing the project as per its contracted scope; monitor progress and performance against the project plan. Troubleshoot and recommend or resolve operational problems and minimize delays. May be responsible for resource management, project scheduling, budgets and forecasts, and working with external vendors, subcontractors or contractors. Conduct meetings and prepare reports to communicate the status of the project to project team and client. Set priorities, assign tasks, and coordinate project staff to meet project targets and milestones. Coordinate with the Approved Project Reviewer and Subject Matter Expert (APR/SME) throughout the lifecycle of a project. Support general project management and administrative tasks including approving invoices, preparing change orders, contracting, and AR collections.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of an Environmental Planning project.
• Works with client or National Account Manager to define project scope, schedule and budget.
• Design, communicate, and implement a project plan for completing the project.
• Leads safety efforts including preparation and compliance with approved safety plan. Ensure team follows safety rules and guidelines. Responsible for creating and modeling a safe work environment; demonstrates safety practices. Promote pre-task planning for all projects.
• Take action to resolve operational problems and minimize delays.
• Identify, develop, and gather the resources to complete the project. This may include preparing calculations, designs, reports and work specifications; developing project schedules, budgets and forecasts; and selecting materials, equipment, project staff, and external contractors.
• Partner with other departments or offices to secure specialized resources for the project.
• Conduct meetings and prepare reports to communicate the status of the project.
• Set priorities, assign tasks, and coordinate project staff to meet project targets and milestones.
• Coordinates with APR to ensure appropriate oversight is in place and sufficient time allowed for review of all critical junctures.
• Coordinates with accounting for financial management of business intelligence, invoicing and collections.
• Develop understanding and be aware of project-related risk. Be familiar with what could go wrong on a project and how to protect the Company. Be familiar with company risk policies.
• Responsible for continuous quality monitoring and improvement on projects. Monitor and promote quality standards and practices.
• Responsible for providing consistent quality standards on project and proposal delivery. Engage APRs on projects at their onset.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline practices by the Firm including Engineering, Environmental Science or Geology and a minimum of 5 years’ related experience. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 9 years’ related experience.
• A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE), Professional Geologist (PG) or similar professional registration/certification relevant to the type of services and projects being managed.
• Familiarity with CEQA/NEPA processes, including environmental documentation and compliance, along with working knowledge of related California and federal permitting (401/404, ESA, CESA, LSAA).
• Experience supporting CEQA/NEPA compliance, including coordination of environmental documentation and mitigation implementation.
• Strong project management skills, with experience managing projects from initiation through completion, including budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment with strong organization and attention to detail.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills, including preparation of environmental reports and coordination with teams, clients, and agencies.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting technical documents, such as sampling data, engineering plans, construction specifications, and environmental reports.
• Collaborative team player who can work independently, support junior staff, and contribute to a knowledge-sharing environment.
• Professional judgment and discretion, with the ability to handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Positive, self-motivated approach with a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
• Familiarity with GIS tools (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, Collector) and geospatial data management is a plus.