Principal Environmental Planning Project Manager- Transportation

Jacobs; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 182,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase program

Paid time off

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal Environmental Project Manager – Transportation to lead environmental programs across the transportation sector from our California offices (Los Angeles, Irvine, Riverside). This role focuses on managing complex CEQA/NEPA projects with federal, state and local agencies, while mentoring teams to ensure successful delivery.

You will drive client relationships, pursue new opportunities, and guide project delivery strategies to meet client goals in a collaborative,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related technical area.
• Progressive project management experience, ideally in consulting.
• Experience leading CEQA/NEPA compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental programs focused on transportation (highways, rail, aviation, ports).
• Manage complex projects with federal, state, and local agencies and stakeholders.
• Mentor teams to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Develop client relationships and pursue new opportunities in transportation environmental planning.

Skills

Project management

CEQA/NEPA experience

FRA/FTA/HWYA/Caltrans knowledge

Stakeholder leadership

Client development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning/Sciences

Caltrans On-Call Contract Manager qualification

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

We are excited to announce a great opportunity with Jacobs Principal Environmental Project Manager – Transportation. Based out of our Los Angeles, Irvine, or Riverside offices.

Your impact

• You will lead environmental programs focused primarily on the transportation market (highway, railroad, aviation, ports, local assistance)
• You will have an opportunity to lead and grow environmental programs for transportation clients and build a practice that adapts and thrives in the face of current and future challenges
• At a program level, you will manage highly complex or controversial projects involving federal, state, and local transportation clients, agencies, and stakeholders
• Your leadership will be key to influence multiple projects, from technical and management delivery strategies to meet client goals. In this role you’ll be supporting the growth of our environmental planning business by contributing to client development and pursuits
• You will do this by leveraging strong client and strategic partner relationships to diversify and differentiate our Jacobs brand. You will also be responsible for mentoring our team members to enable career growth and efficient and effective delivery of project work.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources or other related technical area
• Ability to meet qualifications and serve as a Contract Manager on a Caltrans On-Call Environmental Contract
• Requires 15-20 years of progressively responsible work history as a project manager, ideally with prior consulting experience.
• Subject matter expert and experience leading CEQA, NEPA, Section 106 of the NHPA,and/or ESA compliance.
• Experience leading projects for FRA, FTA, FHWA, Caltrans, and regional transportation agencies like Los Angeles Metro, SANDAG, SBCTA, LADOT, RCTC.
• Experience leading permitting efforts with agencies including but not limited to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Coastal Commission.
• Demonstrated project and pursuit management experience, including managing contract budgets, schedules, scope, and large, multi-disciplinary teams to complete projects on time and on budget
• Experienced with coordinating and managing teams of environmental professionals on a variety of projects at the same time.
• Ability to charter and lead a project or task team with a focus on client service and internal delivery goals.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must be able to efficiently deliver results in a highly-matrixed, fast moving, and complex environment
• Willingness to champion safe work practices by following all company safety rules and OSHA regulations.

Ideally, you’ll also have

• 10+ years as a Program/Project Manager experience.
• Master’s degree or other graduate degree.
• Experience preparing Planning and Environmental Linkage document
• Ability to help lead commercial strategies and project delivery of alternative delivery projects, including Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build
• Experience leading environmental planning, permitting, and compliance for Wildlife Crossing and Fish Passage projects
• Have built a practice or built a company or specialized teams
• Experience leading complex environmental on-call contracts.
• Experience evaluating impacts and developing mitigation plans for the West Coast’s threatened and endangered fishes (salmonids, Delta smelt, longfin smelt, green sturgeon, etc.)

The successful candidates will have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience required to accomplish the mission and carry out the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $182,300.00 to $284,900.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on August 04, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.