Senior Air Quality Permitting Lead

Spheros Environmental Group; United States; Remote; USD 121,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Bonus potential

401(k) contributions

Job summary

Spheros Environmental Group is seeking a Senior Air Quality Permitting Lead to oversee air permitting strategies and compliance. This remote role will lead complex projects, guide regulatory strategy, and serve as a primary liaison between clients, teams, and regulatory agencies.

In this role, you will perform analyses, ensure QA/QC for permit applications, and mentor staff as the practice grows into a dedicated air quality group.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in Environmental Science, Atmospheric Science, Engineering or related field.
• Strong regulatory analysis and emission calculation skills.
• Proficient with air quality regulations and permits (NSR/PSD/Title V).
• Experience leading complex permitting projects and client relationships.
• Willingness to travel for project and business development.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of air permit applications and analyses across federal, state, local programs.
• Develop permitting strategies aligned with project development and compliance.
• Coordinate with agencies and stakeholders as primary contact.
• Mentor junior staff and oversee QA/QC for analyses.
• Support proposal development and budgeting for permitting tasks.

Skills

Regulatory analysis

Emissions calculations

Air quality modeling

Project leadership

Regulatory liaison

Team mentorship

Travel willingness

Education

BS/MS in Environmental Science

Tools

AERMOD

Job description

Brief Description

Senior Air Quality Permitting Lead

Location: Remote

Compensation: $121,000 - $162,000 annually

Spheros Environmental is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Air Quality Permitting Engineer/Scientist/Manager to oversee and manage air permitting strategies and compliance efforts. This role will lead complex permitting projects, guide regulatory strategy, and serve as a key liaison between clients, internal teams, and regulatory agencies. This position performs and/or oversees air quality permit applications and analyses to meet all regulatory standards and requirements. In this role, the Senior Air Quality Permitting Scientists/Engineer/Manager provides senior-level quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) for air quality permit applications, technical analyses; coordinates closely with clients, project managers, planners, engineers, and agency staff; and supports proposal development, scope definition, and budgeting for air quality permitting tasks. The position requires the ability to critically review technical reports, provide direction to Spheros’ technical specialists, and resolve regulatory or technical issues as they arise. The role is remote. In the near term, the Senior Permitting Scientist/Engineer/Manager will be performing most of the technical analyses directly. Over time, the role evolves into team leadership – providing oversight, mentorship, and direction to air quality specialists with the goal of developing a self-sustaining permitting air quality group.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership and Technical Delivery

• Lead the preparation and management of air permit applications and technical analyses under federal, state and local regulatory programs including: New Source Review (NSR), Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD), and Title V Operating Permits
• Develop permitting strategies to support project development and operational compliance, including control technology evaluations and mitigation measures
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local air quality regulations
• Serve as the primary point of contact with regulatory agencies and stakeholders
• Oversee emissions calculations, regulatory analyses, and technical documentation
• Review and ensure quality of permit applications, compliance reports, and supporting materials
• Respond to agency comments related to the air quality permitting process
• Mentor junior staff and project teams
• Stay current on regulatory changes and emerging policy trends impacting air permitting

Client and Agency Coordination

• Act as a senior point of contact for air quality permitting technical issues
• Coordinate with local air districts and regulatory agencies to support permit approval and resolve technical questions
• Participate in project meetings with air quality project managers and clients to present technical findings and discuss their implications
• Advise on regulatory risk, mitigation options, and project strategy based on study results and site or community sensitivities
• Coordinates production of technical reports with the Document Manager and project team to ensure consistent, high-quality deliverables
• Assist in resolving complex regulatory or coordination issues through strategic problem-solving and clear, professional communication.

Proposal Development and Business Support

• Support development of detailed scopes of work and cost estimates for air quality analyses tasks on permitting projects
• Define technical strategy and approach based on project-specific site conditions, regulatory context, and community or environmental justice sensitivities
• Support proposal development and client presentations for prospective air quality projects
• Assist with development of standardized scopes, templates, and internal guidance for air quality permitting analysis services.
• Tracks project budgets and schedules for air quality scope elements; flags issues to the project manager promptly.

Sales and Marketing

• Mines existing client relationships for air quality permitting work that can be brought in-house
• Attend industry events to develop contacts and represent Spheros’ air quality permitting capabilities
• Conducts outreach to professional network to market air quality permitting work
• The position has an internal revenue target of approximately $250,000 per year, typically achieved through marketing of existing clients and participation in successful proposals.

Reporting and Team Relationships

• Reports to relevant project managers or upper management on any major issues on projects, including issues with schedules, agencies, or data/information gaps
• Provide technical oversight and mentorship to junior air quality analysts
• Develop training plans, workflows, and quality standards to build the technical skills of junior staff over time
• As the practice grows, train and/or recruit and manage additional staff with the goal of building a team to sustain an air quality permitting program
• Serves as a supervisor– performs supervisor duties, completes paperwork, and assists in the hiring process as the team grows
• Keeps assignments on schedule and keeps communication flow clear and concise between all team members
• Uses project management software to track deliverables
• Exhibits professionalism with client and agency staff
• Completes timesheets daily and submits weekly to supervisor

Qualifications

• Experience/Education: At least 12 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience (e.g. BS + 8 years, MS + 7 years, PhD + 6 years) in Environmental Science, Atmospheric Science, Engineering, Public Health, or a related field.
• Proficiency in regulatory analysis methods, emissions calculations, and emission control technology evaluations such as best available control technology (BACT).
• Comprehensive understanding of air quality dispersion models (e.g., AERMOD),
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local air regulations with emphasis on the Clean Air Act, including NSR/PSD, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), and Title V Permitting.
• Prior experience leading complex permitting projects, managing client relationships, and working with regulatory agencies and stakeholders.
• Experience with criteria pollutant and GHG emissions inventories, annual emissions reporting, and data analysis.
• Familiarity and comfort with managing multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment through excellent organizational, time management, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel in support of project and business development activities.

Why Spheros Environmental?

• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: Salary range of $121,000 - $162,000, with opportunities for bonuses and 401(k) contributions.
• Professional Growth: Ongoing training, conference opportunities, and pathways to leadership and ownership roles.
• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid work options and flexible remote work opportunities in approved states.
• Inclusive Culture: We are an equal opportunity employer that fosters a diverse and supportive work environment.
• Opportunities to provide clients with services from all of Spheros Environmental practice areas.

Spheros Environmental is an equal-opportunity employer.