Environmental Scientist 1

HDR; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Dental & Vision

Disability insurance

Employer retirement match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

HDR is seeking an Environmental Scientist 1 to support utility clients with environmental and construction permitting and compliance, with a primary focus on construction stormwater management permitting and compliance. The role also supports floodplain development, wetlands, right-of-way, local planning approvals, and wildlife compliance.

Working with an experienced team of environmental scientists and project managers, you will coordinate with clients and permitting agencies, manage field

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences or closely related field.
• Knowledge of wetland delineation, field investigation techniques, and agency coordination requirements.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• MS Office experience.
• Active participation in employee-owned culture is a must.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with client and permitting approval agencies representing HDR.
• Direct internal resources and oversee field visits and deliverables.
• Upload and track permitting submittals through jurisdictional portals.
• Review deliverables for consistency with client scope.
• Develop figures and map sets in coordination with GIS/CAD staff.

Skills

Strong writing skills

Excellent communication

Strong organizational skills

Self-motivated

Independent worker

Team collaboration

Colorado driver’s license

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences

Tools

Bluebeam

GIS

CAD drafting

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

We believe electricity powers modern life. As part of our Power sector, you’ll help shape how electricity is generated, transmitted and delivered as global energy demands grow. From massive data centers to modernizing transmission systems, our industry-recognized engineers and scientists have been at the forefront of grid transformation for more than a century. You’ll work side-by-side with these experts and contribute to reliable, resilient and sustainable power systems, helping communities thrive and industries expand. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to drive infrastructure forward, power innovation and leave your mark on our energy future.

Watch Our Story: 'https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

HDR is looking for an Environmental Scientist 1 to support utility clients with environmental and construction permitting and compliance. This role has a primary focus on construction stormwater management permitting and compliance, with supplemental work supporting floodplain development permitting, wetland permitting, right-of-way permitting, local planning approvals, and wildlife compliance support.

In this role, the candidate would be expected to:

• Supporting ongoing project compliance through construction (reviewing inspection reports, attending routine calls, post-construction site visits and documentation).
• Accommodating changing project schedules and scopes – shifting attention as needed.
• Managing tasks between competing project interests; tracking workload with support of supervisor.
• Effectively communicate over phone, email, or messaging platforms.
• Review local, State, and Federal regulations for applicability to projects
• Perform pre-construction and post-construction site visits
• Review engineering design packages for environmental / local permitting compliance
• Develop permitting matrices and timelines – for integration into client templates or overall schedules

The candidate would work with an experienced team including other environmental scientists and project managers of varying experience and background. Candidate responsibilities would evolve to include:

Candidate responsibilities would evolve to include:

• Coordinating directly with client and permitting approval agencies representing HDR
• Directing internal resources/supporting staff (CAD/GIS, wildlife biologists, land agents, public outreach)
  • Coordinating/attending field visits
  • Overseeing deliverable production
  • Review deliverables for consistency with client project scope
• Managing deliverable production and distribution
  • Upload and track permitting submittals through jurisdictional permitting portals
  • Conduct file management per client and internal specifications
• Development of figures and map sets in coordination with GIS/CAD staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience.
• Experience in Bluebeam, GIS or CAD drafting.
• Experience in local or federal permitting or agency review processes.
• Strong technical writing skills, including experience preparing technical reports, agency correspondence, permit applications, and other project documentation.
• Experience on active construction sites.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work in an environment with changing deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to understand hydrology across disturbed landscape, read topographic maps, and visualize erosion and sediment transport.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to safely drive around the State either in personal car or Company rental is a must. A valid Colorado driver’s license is required.

Our team understands the value of expanding individual work portfolios and experience to keep job duties interesting and achieve career sustainability and growth. Additional workload and type would depend on skills, experience, and interest. A comfort and enthusiasm interacting with a variety of individuals will help foster successful career growth.

Team members are currently working from Fort Collins, Denver, and remote locations along the front range and western slope of Colorado. The preferred candidate will be based out of the Fort Collins office. Flexibility on number of days in the office and working remotely is expected, with the assumption that the candidate would be in office 2-3 days per week to facilitate training and skill development. Long-term remote vs in office time is negotiable and will be based on past experience and level of training required. Our team encourages a healthy work-life balance that focuses on quality of service to our clients and participation in recurrent meetings while allowing for flexibility in work schedules. Site visits are sporadic with limited/few visits during winter months and up to 2-3 visits per month during busier months. Site visits rarely require overnight stay.

While this posting is for a full-time (40-hour per week) position, a part-time (minimum 30-hours per week) is also an option.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences or closely related field
• Knowledge of wetland delineation, field investigation techniques, and agency coordination requirements
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• MS Office experience
• 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.) Colorado: $54,910.00 - $71,060.00 Primary Location:United States-Colorado-Denver Other Locations:United States-Colorado-Fort Collins Industry:Environment/Sciences Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:Environmental Planning Job Posting:Aug 25, 2026

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