Environmental Scientist - NEPA

Cherokee Federal; Crane (IN); On-site; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K plan

Job summary

A federal contracting company seeks an Environmental Scientist to support National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance. Key responsibilities include drafting technical documents, conducting site visits, and coordinating public involvement. Candidates should hold a bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related field and have 0-3 years of experience. This role offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, Environmental Planning, or related field.
• 0-3 years of relevant experience with NEPA documentation.
• Demonstrated technical writing skills across environmental areas.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for NEPA lifecycle, including CATEX and EA documentation.
• Draft technical inputs for NEPA compliance reviews.
• Conduct site visits and coordinate with stakeholders.

Skills

Technical writing capability

Site visits and field reconnaissance

Wetland delineations

Biological permitting actions

Public involvement requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field

Job description

Overview

Environmental Scientist - NEPA

Executes National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) program support for Government clients. Develops technically defensible, legally sufficient environmental documentation and performs compliance reviews for proposed actions, plans, and reports. Coordinates fieldwork, stakeholders, and public involvement to support timely decisions. Provides additional support for wetlands and biological permitting actions that align with NEPA decision-making and project execution.

Compensation & Benefits

Estimated Starting Salary Range for Environmental Scientist - NEPA: Pay commensurate with experience.

Full time benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, and other possible benefits as provided. Benefits are subject to change with or without notice.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and program support across the full NEPA lifecycle, including CATEX, EA, and EIS documentation and NEPA compliance reviews for proposed actions, management plans, annual reports, training, and data calls.
• Draft technical input for NEPA documents to support legally sufficient determinations under NEPA regulations. Produce clear, well-organized analysis across typical resource areas, including:
  • Purpose and Need; Proposed Action and Alternatives; FONSI (when applicable)
  • Setting (geography, climate, location) and Geology (soils/topography)
  • Air Quality; Visual Quality/Aesthetics; Water Resources; Noise
  • Biological Resources (including Threatened and Endangered Species)
  • Hazardous and Toxic Substances; Hazardous Waste
  • Public Services and Utilities; Wetlands
  • Historical and Cultural Resources; Environmental Justice
  • Mitigation analysis, when required
• Evaluate impacts of the proposed action and alternatives across all applicable resource categories and document anticipated effects, assumptions, and supporting data.
• Conduct site visits of proposed project areas prior to studies and document development; coordinate with NSA Crane tenants and stakeholders to gather required inputs.
• Support expected NEPA workload levels, including drafting technical input for approximately 1 EA per year, 40 CATEXs per year, and completing an average of 200 compliance reviews per year.
• Conduct wetlands fieldwork and documentation support, including approximately 5 wetland delineations per year, and integrate results into NEPA analyses and project planning.
• Draft technical inputs for wetlands regulatory actions, including approximately 5 wetland notifications and 1 wetland permit per year, ensuring packages are complete, accurate, and aligned with project schedules.
• Provide biological permitting support tied to NEPA and project execution, including development of a Biological Assessment and ESA Section 7 consultation package (approximately 1 per year).
• Draft technical inputs for approximately 5 informal consultation requests per year, coordinating as needed to support timely agency feedback and decision timelines.
• Plan and implement public meetings and public involvement actions associated with NEPA, including (with Government approval) coordination with newspapers, required media outlets, and local libraries for document distribution and availability.
• Attend Government meetings to review initial tasking concepts and goals, provide status updates, support public notification activities as requested, and brief final documentation to affected personnel. Prepare meeting agendas and minutes when required.
• Manage controlled distribution of NEPA deliverables: upload approved NEPA documents to the Crane intranet as directed; ensure hard copies of Draft/Final documents are available at required public locations; produce reproducible originals and internal distribution copies; provide electronic deliverables (including PDF format) when required. Do not post or distribute draft/final deliverables to the internet, intranet, or third parties without prior consent of the Government.
• Support and/or coordinate required surveys, studies, and data development needed to complete NEPA documents on a case-by-case basis, which may include threatened/endangered species surveys, wetland delineations, analytical sampling, noise modeling, pollution and environmental impact analyses, and traffic/population modeling.
• Conduct new field and data gathering when existing information is not sufficient, including sampling and analysis studies, land surveys, cultural resources investigations, and other technical studies or reports.
• Ensure archaeological survey support meets all regulatory standards and uses qualified personnel listed with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, when applicable.
• Coordinate PE-stamped services when required (performed by a licensed Professional Engineer).Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Experience, Education, Skills, Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, Environmental Planning, Environmental Engineering, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, or a related field.
• 0-3 years of relevant experience supporting environmental compliance or NEPA documentation and review.
• Demonstrated technical writing capability for regulatory decision documents, including impact analysis across multiple environmental resource areas.
• Experience conducting site visits/field reconnaissance and synthesizing stakeholder inputs into defensible documentation.
• Working knowledge of public involvement requirements and document control practices for Government deliverables.
• Direct experience authoring CATEX and EA documentation (DoD or federal installation experience preferred).
• Experience conducting wetland delineations and supporting wetlands permitting/notifications.
• Experience supporting biological permitting actions, including Biological Assessments and ESA Section 7 consultation (formal and informal).
• Experience coordinating or supporting technical studies (wetlands, biological surveys, cultural resources, noise/air/water impact analysis).
• Familiarity with cultural resources compliance coordination and qualified archaeological survey standards.
• Ability to support projects requiring licensed PE coordination for specialized analyses.
• Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal

Company Information

Cherokee Strategic Solutions (CSS) is a part of Cherokee Federal - the division of tribally owned federal contracting companies owned by Cherokee Nation Businesses. As a trusted partner for more than 60 federal clients, Cherokee Federal LLCs are focused on building a brighter future, solving complex challenges, and serving the government's mission with compassion and heart. To learn more about CSS, visit cherokee-federal.com.

Cherokee Federal is a military friendly employer. Veterans and active military transitioning to civilian status are encouraged to apply

Disclaimer & Note

Legal Disclaimer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Many of our job openings require access to government buildings or military installations. Candidates must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Please Note: This position is pending a contract award. If you are interested in a future with Cherokee Federal, APPLY TODAY! Although this is not an approved position, we are accepting applications for this future and anticipated need.