Principal Environmental Planning Project Manager- Transportation

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 182,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase plan

Paid time off

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. seeks a Principal Environmental Project Manager – Transportation to lead environmental programs across transportation markets from our Los Angeles, Irvine, or Riverside offices.

You will manage complex projects, mentor teams, and develop client opportunities while coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies. The role requires extensive experience in CEQA/NEPA/ NHPA compliance, strong leadership, and excellent communication in a matrixed, fast-moving

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Environmental Planning or related field.
• 15–20 years of progressively responsible work history as a project manager.
• Subject matter expert with CEQA, NEPA, Section 106 NHPA, and/or ESA compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental programs focused on transportation markets (highway, railroad, aviation, ports).
• Manage complex projects with federal/state/local transportation clients and stakeholders.
• Mentor team members and grow environmental planning capabilities.
• Coordinate with agencies and clients to meet project goals and budgets.
• Develop and pursue client opportunities to expand Jacobs’ environmental practice.

Skills

Project management

Environmental planning

CEQA

NEPA

Section 106 NHPA

Agency coordination

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

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.

Your impact

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.

• 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.

#LI-NW2

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.