Senior Environmental Lead

Sargent & Lundy; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 116,620 - 179,890; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k)

Tuition Assistance

Paid Vacation

Flexible Work Arrangements

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy is seeking an experienced environmental professional in Chicago to lead compliance efforts and impact assessments for industrial and power projects. This role requires strong project management skills and a BS in a relevant field, ideally with at least 10 years of related experience.

The candidate should be well-versed in federal environmental regulations and able to manage multiple projects or coordinate with various stakeholders. A hybrid work model offers flexibility, with 3 days in-office.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in environmental compliance and impact assessment.
• Experience managing complex projects in the power industry.
• Familiarity with environmental laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Support proposals and interviews; manage project deliverables.
• Collaborate with teams to implement environmental mitigation projects.
• Travel for project reviews and client meetings.

Skills

Environmental regulations knowledge

Project management

Communication skills

Ability to multitask

Education

BS in Environmental Engineering or related field

MS preferred

Tools

ArcGIS

Python

MATLAB

Job description

As a member of Sargent & Lundy's Environmental and Permitting team, you will utilize your academic background and experience to review, evaluate, and implement federal, state and local environmental regulatory requirements as they apply to a variety of electric power and industrial projects. You will be asked to use your knowledge of environmental regulations and engineering principles to meet project team and client needs for defining, evaluating, and implementing environmental mitigation, compliance, and permitting projects.

Responsibilities

• Support proposals, statements of qualifications, and interviews; shape win themes, level of effort, schedule, and risk/commercial clarifications.
• Utilize your knowledge of environmental regulations and engineering principles to meet project team and client needs for defining, evaluating, and implementing environmental mitigation, compliance, and permitting projects.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplined project teams to expand knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations as they apply to major industrial projects.
• Travel to client offices and project site locations for project reviews; some international travel may be required.
• Work in a hybrid schedule: in-office work 3 days per week.

Qualifications

• A BS in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or related field; MS preferred.
• Ten (10) or more years of experience in environmental compliance, environmental impact assessment, and/or permitting for complex industrial and power-related projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects in the power industry, including coordination among internal engineering teams, clients, regulatory agencies, and other project stakeholders.
• Familiarity with environmental laws and regulations that apply to large industrial facilities, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Threatened & Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
• Environmental impact assessment/permitting experience, including specific experience in one or more of the following fields: Environmental Impact Assessments; Subsequent License Renewals and associated Environmental Reports; NPDES wastewater and construction stormwater discharge permitting; Wetlands permitting; Major source air permitting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interact and multitask with project team members, clients, community stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time and coordinate various inputs among the internal engineering team, client, and regulatory agency.
• Ability to provide mentorship and guidance to younger staff members.

Valued but Not Required Skills and Experience

• Proficiency in ArcGIS mapping and experience in developing interactive maps showing critical environmental resources such as wetlands, critical habitats, and other sensitive receptors.
• Certification or coursework in GIS is a plus.

AI & Automation

• You are expected to take engineering problems from issue to solution using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost‑effective designs.
• Many engineers in these roles build or use automation to create calculations, summarize technical documents, or draft design documentation, including appropriate use of agentic AI tools, with strong engineering judgment and verification of results.
• Programming or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate calculations, design checks, reporting, or data transformation is valued but not required.
• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other training in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that helps you apply automation or agentic AI to real engineering problems.

Benefits Overview

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back‑Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA
• 401(k)
• Pre‑Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$116,620.00 - $179,890.00

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well‑being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.