Senior Air Quality Consultant / Dispersion Modeling SME

TRC Companies, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 146,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and disabilty

401k with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

TRC, Member of WSP, seeks a senior Air Quality Consultant to support complex regulatory compliance, permitting, and air quality modeling for diverse industrial clients in Texas. Lead dispersion modeling projects and advise clients on regulatory strategy.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in AERMOD/CALPUFF, strong project leadership, and experience managing teams and client engagements within the energy sector.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Meteorology, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in air quality consulting, regulatory compliance, permitting, or air dispersion modeling.
• Air dispersion modeling (AERMOD, CALPUFF, and related regulatory models)

Responsibilities

• Perform and oversee advanced air dispersion modeling analyses using AERMOD, CALPUFF, and related tools.
• Evaluate meteorological data, terrain data, and modeling inputs.
• Conduct technical evaluations for criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Support complex modeling demonstrations associated with PSD, FERC, and other regulatory programs.
• Provide technical oversight, peer review, and QA/QC of air dispersion modeling analyses performed by project teams.
• Maintain modeling standards, guidance documents, SOPs, templates, and best practices.
• Monitor emerging modeling science, regulatory developments, guidance updates, and innovative approaches to ensure technical excellence and defensible project outcomes.
• Identify and communicate technical, regulatory, or litigation risks associated with modeling methodologies and assumptions.
• Serve as the escalation point for technical modeling issues and agency negotiations.
• Represent the organization within professional associations and technical forums. Contribute to technical papers, conference presentations, webinars, and industry publications.

Skills

Air dispersion modeling

Regulatory compliance

Project leadership

Client relationships

Mentoring staff

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Meteorology, or related field

Tools

AERMOD

CALPUFF

Job description

About Us

TRC, Member of WSP, is a global consulting environmental and engineering firm and one of the top design firms in the energy sector. Together, TRC and WSP’s 83,000 experts create positive, long-lasting impacts for our communities and our clients in the power and energy,transportationand infrastructure, environmental, and property and buildings sectors. As part of our team,you’lldiscover a world of opportunities to connect with innovative thinkers, forge your path, and have fun tackling the world’s most challenging projects. At TRC, Member of WSP, you can have a rewarding career on every level.

TRC has long set the bar for clients who require more than just engineering, combining science with the latest technology to devise innovative solutions that stand the test of time. From pipelines to power plants, roadways to reservoirs, schoolyards to security solutions, clients look to TRC for breakthrough thinking backed by the innovative follow-through of an industry leader.

We recognize that the expertise of our staff is our strongest asset, so we generously reward employees for successful performance and invest in their careers through training and the development of new skills and certifications.

Overview

We areseekinga highly experiencedSenior Air Quality Consultant / Environmental Leader to support complex regulatory compliance, permitting, and air quality modeling projects across a diverse industrial client base. This role involves bothtechnical executionand project leadership, supporting clients in industries such as power generation, oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, and bulk storage operations.

The ideal candidate will bring deepexpertisein dispersion modeling,air permitting, regulatory compliance,andemissions analysis, along with proven experience managing projects, teams, and client relationships.

Strong,demonstratedexperience with Texas airpermittingregulatory programsand air dispersion modelingisrequired.

Responsibilities

• Perform and oversee advanced air dispersion modeling analyses using AERMOD, CALPUFF, and related tools.
• Evaluate meteorological data, terrain data, and modeling inputs.
• Conduct technical evaluations for criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Support complex modeling demonstrations associated with PSD, FERC, and other regulatory programs.
• Provide technical oversight, peer review, and QA/QC of air dispersion modeling analyses performed by project teams.
• Maintain modeling standards, guidance documents, SOPs, templates, and best practices.
• Monitor emerging modeling science, regulatory developments, guidance updates, and innovative approaches to ensure technical excellence and defensible project outcomes.
• Identify and communicate technical, regulatory, or litigation risks associated with modeling methodologies and assumptions.
• Serve as the escalation point for technical modeling issues and agency negotiations.
• Represent the organization within professional associations and technical forums. Contribute to technical papers, conference presentations, webinars, and industry publications.

Air Permitting & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead preparation of complex air permitting applications, including:
  • PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration)
  • NSR/NNSR (New Source Review / Nonattainment NSR)
  • Permit-by-Rule (PBR)
  • Standard Permits
• Perform regulatory applicability analyses and compliance strategy development.
• Develop and review emissions inventories, calculations, and reporting submissions.
• Support Title V permitting, renewals, revisions, and compliance reporting.
• Interpret federal and state environmental regulations with specific focus on Texas (TCEQ) requirements.
• Support complex permitting projects and regulatory strategy development.
• Serve as a technical advisor on challenging or high-profile permitting matters.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Optimize the quality, technical excellence, and profitability of air quality projects.Mentor and develop air quality and air modeling professionals.
• Support the growth of project managers and technical staff through coaching and technical guidance. Identify and mitigate project execution, regulatory, and technical risks.
• Lead internal training sessions, technical workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Foster collaboration across regional and national air quality teams.
• Maintain strong working relationships with leadership across the Environmental Sector.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Meteorology, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in air quality consulting, regulatory compliance, permitting, or air dispersion modeling. Significant experience with air dispersion modeling and permitting support.
• Air dispersion modeling (AERMOD, CALPUFF, and related regulatory models)

Demonstrated experience with Texas air permitting programs, including:

• TCEQ NSR
• Permit-by-Rule
• Standard Permits
• Title V permitting programs

Extensive technical experience implementing Clean Air Act programs, including:

• Title V
• NSR
• PSD
• BACT
• RACT
• MACT

Experience supporting industrial sectors such as:

• Power Generation
• Oil & Gas
• LNG
• Petrochemical
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Bulk Storage and Materials Handling

Demonstrated experience leading projects, teams, and client engagements.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred certifications:

• Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM)
• Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP)
• Professional Engineer (PE)

• Staff mentoring and talent development
• Client relationship management
• Business development and proposal support
• Technical communication and presentation skills

• Cross-functional team leadership
• Support business growth through technical leadership, client service, and successful project delivery.

• Ability to contribute to technical papers, conference presentations, webinars, and industry publications.
• Participation in organizations within professional associations and technical forums.

What Success Looks Like

• Development and advancement of air quality and modeling staff.
• Quality and timeliness of technical reviews.
• Successful delivery of complex permitting and modeling projects.
• Exceeding utilization and project profitability targets.
• Business development contribution and high proposal win rate.
• Client satisfaction and retention.
• Technical innovation and thought leadership contributions.

Why Join TRC?

• Work alongside nationally recognized air quality and modeling experts.
• Develop staff expertise in air dispersion modeling and permitting.
• Support challenging projects across multiple industrial sectors.
• Enhance exposure to complex technical analyses, regulatory strategy, and environmental compliance programs.
• Build a career path toward technical leadership and subject matter expertise in air quality modeling.

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Benefits*:TRC offers a competitive benefit package consisting of:

Medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance.

401k package that includes both traditional and Roth IRA options and Company match.

Paid time off contingent upon full time or part time status and level of seniority (ranging from 15 to 25 days per year).

All full-time employees enjoy a minimum of 8 Paid Holidays per year.

TRC ensures that all employees, including those that work part-time, receive paid sick, family, and disability leave in accordance with the laws of their state of residence.

*These benefits are applicable to US employees depending on their employment status (full time, part time, or temporary). TRC offers jurisdiction specific benefit packages for International and Puerto Rico employees.

Compensation: In accordance with local law, the below salary range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition. Compensation will vary based upon experience, education, skill level, geographical location, and other compensable factors.

Other Compensation:Employee may be eligible for participation in the Company’s annual Discretionary Bonus Program which is contingent on Company, Business Segment, and Individual performance against Key Performance Indicators which vary by year and employee.

Disclaimers

TRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The complete job description and application are available on TRC’s career site.

TRC accepts applications for this position on an ongoing, rolling basis and reserves the right to cancel this posting at any time.

Salary Range

USD $145,683.20 - USD $200,000.00 /Yr.