Permian Basin Environmental Specialist

WCL Group; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 63,369 - 73,012; Full time

Job summary

WCL Group is seeking an Environmental Specialist for a 6‑month contract based in Midland, TX. The role focuses on permitting, regulatory coordination, and field guidance to support shale and tight oil development in the Permian Basin.

You will manage permits, conduct environmental surveys, track compliance, and coordinate with regulators and contractors. Requires knowledge of TX/NM environmental requirements and strong communication; a Health, Environment, and Safety diploma is required.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Health, Environment, and Safety or related field.
• 2-4 years and/or 8-10 years relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify constraints, surveys, mitigation needs, and regulatory triggers early.
• Manage permits, agency coordination, APD support, conservation reviews, floodplain approvals, pit registrations, and conditions-of-approval tracking for pits.
• Address biological, cultural, WOTUS, karst, and threatened/endangered habitat requirements, plus construction and compliance requirements, before field activity.
• Complete Clear-to-Construct reviews, constraint maps, permit conditions, seasonal restrictions, and field guidance.
• Maintain inspections, agency reporting, and environmental commitment verification.
• Track pit/pond usage data and complete reserve pit inspections.
• Conduct environmental surveys and site reviews for new development areas.
• Support the NM environmental specialist as needed.

Skills

Environmental compliance

Regulatory coordination

Permit management

Stakeholder communication

Field guidance

Auditing

Contractor coordination

AI tools

Education

Diploma in Health, Environment, and Safety

Tools

AI tools

Job description

CLIENT HIGHLIGHT

The client you will be working for is a Fortune 100 Oil and Gas Company. This opportunity will give you experience in the energy sector in the United States with a company that is a globally recognized leader in energy production and one of the biggest companies in the US.

LOCATION

Midland, Texas, 79706

COMPENSATION

$46-53 per hour

SCHEDULE

100% onsite in Midland, TX

9/80 compressed work week: 9-hour workdays (+ lunch), rotating Fridays off

Travel: Domestic only; no international travel required

CONTRACT TERM

6 months – high likelihood of extension or conversion

POSITION OVERVIEW - PERMIAN BASIN ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST

The Shale & Tight Environmental Specialist protects our clients’ ability to execute by securing approvals, reducing compliance and schedule risk, and converting environmental requirements into clear field actions supporting safe, responsible operations across the Permian Basin (TX and NM). This role serves primarily as the environmental lead for Shale & Tight new-drill activity in TX, providing spud-to-POP execution support across all TX development areas and one NM area, and backing up the NM environmental specialist as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify constraints, surveys, mitigation needs, and regulatory triggers early
• Manage permits, agency coordination, APD support, conservation reviews, floodplain approvals, pit registrations, and conditions-of-approval tracking for pits
• Address biological, cultural, WOTUS, karst, and threatened/endangered habitat requirements, plus construction and compliance requirements, before field activity
• Complete Clear-to-Construct reviews, constraint maps, permit conditions, seasonal restrictions, and field guidance
• Maintain inspections, agency reporting, and environmental commitment verification
• Track pit/pond usage data and complete reserve pit inspections
• Conduct environmental surveys and site reviews for new development areas
• Support the NM environmental specialist as needed

REQUIREMENTS

• Working knowledge of Texas and New Mexico environmental requirements for onshore oil and gas planning, drilling, completions, and construction, including BLM, NMOCD, and TXRRC processes, APDs, Conditions of Approval, Environmental Assessments, floodplain permits, pit registrations, and conservation agreements
• Ability to identify biological, cultural, WOTUS, karst, threatened/endangered habitat, nest, surface-use, and seasonal constraints, and translate them into mitigation actions
• Experience supporting Clear-to-Construct reviews, field guidance, and permit condition verification for construction, drilling, completions, and operations
• Strong agency and stakeholder coordination skills (regulators, contractors, land, asset teams, engineering, permitting, portfolio development, field operations)
• Discipline in inspections, reporting, audit support, and defensible regulatory documentation
• Ability to scope, coordinate, and review contractor/survey deliverables, schedules, and quality
• Strong business judgment on schedule, cost, compliance, and license-to-operate risk
• Clear communicator able to translate complex requirements into field-ready guidance
• Diploma in Health, Environment, and Safety or related field
• 2-4 years and/or 8-10 years relevant experience

PREFERRED

• New Mexico regulatory experience specifically
• AI and digital tool proficiency (role is organization- and tech-heavy)
• Prior oil and gas industry experience
• High attention to detail (field-agent coordination, permit gathering, wildlife protection)
• Self-motivated, schedule-driven mindset (construction delays are costly)
• Comfortable advising, project managing, and validating charges
• Health and Safety education