Environmental Planning Senior Team Lead

HNTB Corporation; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure firm in Columbia, SC is seeking a planning leader with extensive experience to oversee and manage complex transportation projects. The ideal candidate must have a strong background in transportation planning principles and demonstrated leadership abilities. This role involves mentoring junior staff, monitoring project continuity, and developing solutions using various planning tools. Candidates should possess a relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree along with significant professional experience in planning. This is a full-time position offering an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on community projects.

Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant experience after a Bachelor's or 9 years with a Master's degree.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary planning teams on complex projects.
• Strong problem-solving skills with proactive approach to challenges.

Responsibilities

• Oversees research on environmental planning issues and formulates recommendations.
• Monitors design and technical continuity throughout projects.
• Directs teams on large-scale projects in area of expertise.

Skills

Transportation planning principles

Project management

Coaching and mentorship

Education

Bachelor's Degree in relevant field

Master's Degree in relevant field

Tools

GIS software

Traffic software

Job description

What We're Looking For

At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our growing South Caroline team of employee-owners.

This opportunity entails being responsible for applying planning strategies utilizing various technologies and tools to gather and analyze data, assess outcomes, and develop reporting and visuals to effectively communicate findings. This position performs tasks for planning projects including research, studies, and documentation, coordinating with multi-discipline team members, from concept development through project completion. This position develops technical solutions and strategies for planning projects may serve as a task leader or project manager on a limited basis for select small scale project. This is a lead role to direct, mentor, and train earlier career staff.

What You'll Do:

• Monitors internal and external coordination aspects with project team members, including other discipline areas involved with the project.
• Oversees research on issues, policies, and concepts pertaining to planning and environmental planning. Reviews findings and formulates recommendations.
• Develops conceptual planning alternatives for urban and transportation planning projects.
• Oversees tasks related to preparing and producing technical plans, studies, written reports, and environmental documents.
• Coordinates with clients, sub-consultants, and in-house personnel regularly to complete assigned tasks.
• Monitors design and technical continuity throughout projects in area of expertise.
• Directs teams on projects of large scale.
• Writes major sections of and leads production of plans, studies, reports, and environmental documents for transportation and infrastructure projects. Also coordinates and synthesizes the contributions of others.
• Prepares graphics, technical reports, fee proposals, scope of work, and responses to Request for Proposals for planning and environmental projects.
• Creates project presentation materials, concepts, graphics, and reports to the client and community groups.
• Develops planning and analysis strategies using tools such as GIS, traffic, or safety software to manipulate data, assess scenarios, and perform project analysis.
• Supports department managers and office leadership with strategic planning, staffing/training, and other special projects.
• Recruits, hires, develops and retains staff, including development of plan for staff reporting, performance and compensation reviews, and succession. Coordinates schedules and approves timecards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture, Planning, Environmental Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Geography, or related field and 10 years of relevant experience, or
• Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture, Planning, Environmental Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Geography, or related field and 9 years of relevant experience

What We Prefer:

• Master's degree in Planning or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE), American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP), Professional Transportation Planner (PTP), Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), Envision, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
• Strong understanding of transportation planning principles, including corridor studies, transit planning, multimodal planning, scenario analysis, and system planning.
• Experience with federal, state, and local transportation planning processes, including NEPA, long-range plans, and funding programs.
• Familiarity with infrastructure planning for DOTs, MPOs, transit agencies, or municipal clients.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary planning teams on complex projects.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, including scope, schedule, and budget management.
• Strong coaching/mentorship skills with a track record of developing junior team members.
• Experience delivering high‑quality planning documents, reports, and presentations. Track record of supporting successful major transportation or infrastructure programs. Strong problem‑solving skills with an ability to anticipate challenges and proactively propose solutions.
• Commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and fostering an inclusive team culture.

Additional Information

Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards

Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Locations: Columbia, SC, North Charleston, SC

NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES: HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant’s resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.

Job Type: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full time

Job Category: Planning Group

ReqID: R-29105