Senior Environmental Permitting Lead

Jacobs; Wethersfield (CT); Hybrid; USD 127,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Stock purchase program

Personalized Paid Time Off

Caregiver leave

Holidays

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Environmental Permitting Lead to drive permitting strategy for complex energy and infrastructure projects in the Northeast. You will lead regulatory strategy, mentor staff, and collaborate across disciplines to deliver high-quality deliverables.

The role involves expanding the Environmental Planning & Permitting practice, engaging with agencies, and contributing to proposals and client engagement. Strong leadership and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, planning, biology, ecology, natural resources, or related field.
• 10+ years of professional experience in environmental permitting and compliance.
• Demonstrated expertise with NEPA, MEPA, Clean Water Act, ESA, CZMA, EFH, etc.
• Strong technical writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Proven experience mentoring staff and leading technical teams.
• Occasional travel for client meetings and site visits.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental permitting and regulatory strategy for transportation, infrastructure, energy, and development projects in New England.
• Oversee preparation and quality control of environmental documents, analyses, permit applications, and impact assessments.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff and teams.
• Support client communication and agency engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
• Contribute to proposals and business development efforts.

Skills

Technical writing

Editing

Communication

Mentoring staff

Project leadership

Regulatory interface

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, planning, biology, ecology, natural resources, or related field

Master’s degree in environmental engagement/environmental science/natural resources (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 seeking a Senior Environmental Permitting Lead to drive the successful planning, siting, and permitting of complex energy and infrastructure projects. This senior-level role will serve as a technical project lead responsible for environmental permitting strategy, regulatory interface, and high-quality technical deliverables, with significant involvement in proposal preparation, competitive pursuits, cross-department collaboration, and mentorship of junior staff. This position will work closely with Project Management to ensure project success.

This position will play a central role in expanding and strengthening the Environmental Planning & Permitting practice in the Northeast. The Senior Environmental Permitting Lead will shape project strategies, supervise and mentor staff, and advance key energy and infrastructure initiatives—directly helping Jacobs grow environmental capabilities in the region. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in federal and state environmental permitting, strong technical leadership, and a proven record of guiding multidisciplinary teams.

Experience with transportation infrastructure, energy transmission, renewable energy, or similar large-scale development projects is highly desirable.

Technical Leadership & Project Delivery

• Lead environmental permitting and regulatory strategy for transportation, infrastructure, energy, and development projects across New England.
• Serve as senior technical lead and subject matter expert on NEPA, state environmental policy acts, EIS/EAs, Clean Water Act Section 10/401/404/408, Coastal Zone Management, endangered species, marine and terrestrial resource assessments, and state-level permit frameworks (MA, RI, CT, etc.).
• Oversee preparation and quality control of environmental documents, technical analyses, permit applications, routing studies, impact assessments, and compliance materials.
• Provide high-level review, technical editing, and strategic guidance across interdisciplinary teams.

Project & Team Leadership

• Provide limited project management support, including contributing to scopes, schedules, budgets, and coordination of task leads.
• Mentor junior and mid-level staff by offering technical direction, career development feedback, and oversight of work products.
• Support client communication and agency engagement throughout the project lifecycle.

Regulatory Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead or support interactions with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, including USACE, DOT, transit authorities, NMFS, EPA, state siting boards, coastal agencies, and environmental regulators.
• Represent the company in stakeholder meetings, technical workshops, settlement discussions, public meetings, and interagency coordination.

Business Development & Competitive Pursuits

• Prepare proposals, develop scope and fee strategies, and support competitive bid processes and interviews for new work.
• Support practice growth by identifying opportunities, informing pursuit strategies, and contributing to marketing materials.
• Collaborate across departments (environmental, engineering, planning, resilience, and energy) to create integrated project approaches.

Here's what you'll need

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, planning, biology, ecology, natural resources, or a related field.
• 10+ years of professional experience in environmental permitting and compliance, with significant experience leading large, multidisciplinary infrastructure or energy projects.
• Demonstrated expertise with federal and state permitting frameworks (NEPA, MEPA, Clean Water Act, ESA, CZMA, EFH, etc.).
• Experience engaging with agencies such as USACE, NMFS, EPA, and state environmental departments.
• Strong technical writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Proven experience mentoring staff and leading technical teams; operating as a senior technical leader in a fast-paced, collaborative, and multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks with shifting priorities.
• Occasional travel for client meetings, public meetings, and site visits.

Ideally, you'll also have

• Master’s degree in environmental engagement, environmental science, natural resources, or a related technical discipline.
• Extensive experience with transportation, electrical transmission, renewable energy permitting, and/or siting.
• Experience with settlement negotiations, regulatory strategy development, or interagency environmental planning.
• Experience contributing to or leading major proposal efforts.

Benefits

• 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 $127,000.00 to $200,000.00. 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 July 24, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

At Jacobs, we’re partnering across the globe to create the best project outcomes by maximizing the design, digital technology, and support capabilities of our Global Integrated Delivery (GID) teammates. By joining Jacobs, you’ll commit to supporting and engaging with these teams, as we work to build a company like no other.

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.