Environmental Program Manager - NYC

HDR; New York (NY); On-site; USD 174,000 - 248,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking an experienced Environmental Program Manager to lead a major environmental planning and permitting program for a New York City public-sector client. You will oversee complex planning assignments, environmental review, and regulatory coordination across New York City.

The role requires navigating CEQR/SEQRA/EIS processes with a focus on program management, agency coordination, stakeholder engagement, and delivering multidisciplinary studies with senior leadership exposure.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and team-building abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary environmental planning programs.
• Ability to present to executives and large audiences.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Program Manager and primary client-facing representative for a large, multi-year environmental planning and permitting program.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams of environmental planners, transportation planners, scientists, engineers, and permitting specialists.
• Lead the preparation and management of CEQR EAS, EIS, SEQRA documentation and supporting studies.
• Direct transportation, land use, socioeconomic, infrastructure, and environmental planning studies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Program management

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

AICP certification or credentials

Job description

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists. That's why we believe diversity is our greatest strength. HDR is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

Watch our 'About Us' video

We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.

We are seeking an experienced Environmental Program Manager to lead the execution of a major environmental planning and permitting program supporting a high-profile New York City public-sector client. This position will serve as a senior project manager responsible for overseeing complex, multidisciplinary planning assignments involving environmental review, transportation planning, infrastructure initiatives, and regulatory coordination throughout New York City.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned environmental planning professional with extensive experience navigating the CEQR, SEQRA, and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) processes for large public-sector projects. While this role will interface with permitting specialists, the primary focus is on managing environmental review programs, technical planning studies, agency coordination, stakeholder engagement, and multidisciplinary project teams.

This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic leader who enjoys managing high-profile public infrastructure, sustainability, transportation, and planning initiatives within one of the nation's most complex urban environments.

The Program Manager will be an executive level team member on the front line with the client, program management teams and construction teams to help shape delivery of the Environmental and Waste programs across New York / New Jersey.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as Program Manager and primary client-facing representative for a large, multi-year environmental planning and permitting program supporting a major New York City public-sector client.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams of environmental planners, transportation planners, scientists, engineers, and permitting specialists.
• Lead the preparation and management of:
• CEQR Environmental Assessment Statements (EAS)
• Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
• SEQRA documentation
• Technical environmental analyses and supporting studies
• Direct transportation, land use, socioeconomic, infrastructure, and environmental planning studies required to support environmental review documents.
• Coordinate with New York City agencies and stakeholders, including planning, transportation, environmental, infrastructure, and regulatory entities.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and quality management procedures.
• Monitor project performance, resource utilization, financial metrics, and contract compliance.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings, agency consultations, public meetings, and executive-level briefings.
• Provide technical review and quality assurance of environmental planning deliverables.
• Mentor junior and mid-level planning staff and support professional development initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for contract growth and support business development efforts across municipal planning and infrastructure markets.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference given to local candidates
• Experience working for an A/E/C consulting firm
• Professional registration, license or certification in NY/NJ
• Direct experience supporting projects for New York City agencies involved in planning, transportation, sanitation, sustainability, infrastructure, or environmental review.
• Familiarity with solid waste management, sustainability planning, transportation planning, and resiliency initiatives in New York City.
• Knowledge of ULURP processes and coordination with associated land use approvals.
• AICP certification or other relevant professional credentials.
• Existing relationships with key NYC agencies and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Planning, Sciences, Business Administration, or a closely related field
• Program management experience consistent with one of the following requirements:
• A minimum of three (3) years of program management experience in a deputy role to the Program Manager for the delivery of one or more programs, with a cumulative capital value of $200 million or more, or;
• A minimum of five (5) years of program management experience as a Project Manager or Project Controls Manager for the delivery of one or more programs, each with a capital value of $200 million or more, or;
• A minimum of ten (10) years of project management experience as a Project Manager directing a multi-disciplinary team for the delivery of at least two (2) projects, each with a capital value of $50 million or more
• Strong leadership skills with experience building a cohesive team culture and managing team members in various locations.
• Excellent communication skills. Comfortable presenting to client executives and in front of a large audience in a public setting
• Management experience with the implementation of projects or programs using alternative and collaborative delivery methods, including design-build (DB), progressive design-build (PDB), and/or construction management at-risk (CMAR)
• Familiar with the various tools used to manage large programs - PMIS, CMIS, scheduling, cost control, document management, risk management, asset management, dashboard analytics, etc.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time away, parental leave, paid holidays, a retirement savings plan with employer match, employee referral bonus and tuition reimbursement. The expected compensation range for this position depends upon skills, experience, education and geographical location. (Stated benefits are for full-time regular positions. Temporary and part-time roles eligible for limited benefits.) {Woodcliff Lake, NJ}: $173,688 - $248,125, {New York, NY & Purchase, NY}: $173,688 - $248,125

Primary Location: United States-New Jersey-Woodcliff Lake

Other Locations: United States-New York-Purchase, United States-New York-New York

Industry: Waste

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

BusinessClass: Program Management

Job Posting: Oct 9, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Aff... (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.