Senior Environmental Planning Lead – CEQA/NEPA (West Coast)

Woodard & Curran; California; Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Woodard & Curran seeks a Senior Project Manager with 15+ years of environmental planning and permitting experience to oversee complex CEQA/NEPA projects across California and the West Coast. You will lead client advisory, manage multidisciplinary teams, and drive business development for infrastructure and environmental management initiatives.

You will mentor staff, coordinate with regulatory agencies, and ensure high-quality delivery while shaping regulatory strategies and maintaining strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Biology, Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Forestry, or related discipline (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum 15 years of environmental planning and permitting experience.
• Minimum 8 years of project management experience in a consulting environment.
• Extensive knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and related regulations.
• Experience leading agency coordination, environmental review processes, and permitting efforts.
• Established relationships with California/regional regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted advisor to clients identifying environmental regulatory risks and developing strategic solutions.
• Lead and manage CEQA/NEPA environmental review and permitting projects from initiation to completion.
• Develop regulatory and permitting strategies aligned with client objectives.
• Serve as primary contact with regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and project partners.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, forecasting, invoicing, and financial performance.
• Perform technical review and QA/QC of documentation, studies, data, and subconsultants.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including environmental specialists, engineers, and subconsultants.
• Support client relationship management and business development for existing and prospective clients.
• Lead proposal development, strategic pursuits, and marketing initiatives.
• Mentor junior staff and distributed teams; monitor progress and delivery to ensure client satisfaction.

Skills

Environmental planning

Regulatory coordination

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Woodard & Curran seeks a Senior Project Manager with 15+ years of environmental planning and permitting experience to oversee complex CEQA/NEPA projects across California and the West Coast. You will lead client advisory, manage multidisciplinary teams, and drive business development for infrastructure and environmental management initiatives.

You will mentor staff, coordinate with regulatory agencies, and ensure high-quality delivery while shaping regulatory strategies and maintaining strong