Senior Environmental Planner

Employment & Training Centers, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Employment & Training Centers, Inc. in Houston seeks a Senior Environmental Planner / Project Manager to lead and expand its environmental practice.

You will own client relationships, ensure technical quality, manage NEPA assignments, and guide multidisciplinary teams on transportation and infrastructure projects. The role requires a strong background in NEPA and regulatory compliance, TxDOT processes, and a track record of building teams and winning work in the Houston market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental science, planning, or transportation planning.
• 12+ years in environmental planning and NEPA consulting; or 10+ years as lead NEPA PM on TxDOT projects.
• Direct experience with transportation-related NEPA studies (CEs and EAs).
• TxDOT precertification in Work Category 2.14.1, or ability to obtain.
• Knowledge of Sections 404, 7, 106, 4(f), 6(f) and Title VI and community impact requirements.
• Experience managing budgets, schedules, teams, and client relationships.
• Strong writing, presentation, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS/ArcGIS Pro for analysis and graphics.
• Valid Texas driver's license with insurable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Lead NEPA documentation for transportation and infrastructure projects (CEs, EAs, EIS).
• Ensure compliance with TxDOT procedures and applicable environmental regs.
• Provide NEPA, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, NHPA, Section 4(f)/6(f), Title VI guidance.
• Direct environmental studies addressing resources and impacts.
• Manage TxDOT environmental review processes and ECOS submissions.
• Perform senior QA and technical reviews of documents.
• Coordinate with TxDOT, FHWA, USACE, USFWS, TCEQ and others.
• Lead public meetings, hearings, stakeholder outreach, and Title VI outreach.
• Manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing, and fees.
• Lead interdisciplinary teams and subconsultants.
• Contribute to proposals and SOQs.
• Build relationships with TxDOT and public-sector clients.
• Mentor staff and establish technical standards.
• Support staff pursuing precertifications.

Skills

Leadership

Technical writing

Communication

Problem-solving

ArcGIS Pro

Project management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in environmental science/planning/transportation planning

Tools

ArcGIS / ArcGIS Pro

Job description

E T C is the premiere AEC and infrastructure recruiting firm of Houston, serving clients throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast. We connect reputable organizations across water resources, transportation, civil infrastructure, and related markets with exceptional industry talent.

A client of ours is seeking an experienced Senior Environmental Planner / Project Manager to lead and expand its environmental practice in Houston.

This is a leadership and practice-building opportunity for an environmental professional who is ready to take full ownership of client relationships, technical quality, project performance, and team development. The selected candidate will oversee complex NEPA assignments, guide multidisciplinary teams, and help shape the continued growth of the firm’s environmental services.

Pay: $150,000 - $180,000

Location: Houston, Texas 77084

Employment Type: Full-time

Key Responsibilities

Environmental Planning and Technical Leadership

• Lead the preparation and management of NEPA documentation for transportation and infrastructure projects, including Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements.
• Ensure compliance with TxDOT procedures and applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
• Provide technical leadership related to NEPA, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f), Section 6(f), Title VI, and community impact requirements.
• Direct environmental studies addressing biological resources, cultural resources, hazardous materials, noise, air quality, community impacts, and indirect and cumulative effects.
• Manage TxDOT environmental review processes, including ECOS submissions, document revisions, re-evaluations, and approval cycles.
• Perform senior-level quality assurance and technical reviews of documents prepared by staff and subconsultants.

Agency and Public Engagement

• Coordinate with TxDOT, FHWA, CCRMA, USACE, USFWS, TCEQ, THC, and other regulatory and resource agencies.
• Oversee Section 404 permitting, Section 7 consultation, and Section 106 consultation activities.
• Lead public meetings, hearings, stakeholder outreach, comment-response efforts, and engagement with limited-English-proficiency communities in accordance with Title VI requirements.

Project and Practice Management

• Manage project scopes, fees, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, cost estimates, and overall financial performance.
• Lead interdisciplinary project teams, technical specialists, and subconsultants.
• Contribute to proposals, statements of qualifications, RFQ responses, and environmental technical approaches.
• Build and maintain relationships with TxDOT, municipalities, transit agencies, toll authorities, and other public-sector clients.
• Collaborate with company leadership to identify opportunities and grow the Houston environmental practice.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop environmental planners and analysts.
• Establish consistent technical standards and strengthen the team’s long-term NEPA capabilities.
• Support staff members pursuing TxDOT precertification and relevant professional credentials.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental science, environmental planning, transportation planning, or a related field.
• At least 12 years of environmental planning and NEPA consulting experience, or 10 or more years with a demonstrated history of serving as the lead NEPA project manager on TxDOT projects.
• Direct experience managing transportation-related NEPA studies, including Categorical Exclusions and Environmental Assessments.
• TxDOT precertification in Work Category 2.14.1, Environmental Document Preparation, or the experience necessary to obtain it.
• Working knowledge of Sections 404, 7, 106, 4(f), and 6(f), as well as Title VI, community impact assessments, and applicable Texas regulations.
• Familiarity with Texas’s NEPA Assignment Program and the evolving regulatory and legal environment affecting NEPA documentation and project timelines.
• Proven success managing project budgets, schedules, multidisciplinary teams, and client relationships.
• Strong technical writing, presentation, communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS or ArcGIS Pro for environmental analysis and graphics.
• Valid Texas driver’s license and an insurable driving record.

This position is well suited for an established environmental leader who wants the authority and opportunity to build a practice, develop a team, and influence the direction of environmental services in the Houston market.