Senior Environmental Project Lead – West Coast

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

Job summary

Woodard & Curran is seeking a Senior Project Manager with 15+ years of environmental planning and permitting experience to support its growing portfolio across California and the West Coast. You will lead complex CEQA and NEPA efforts, manage multidisciplinary teams, and coordinate with regulatory agencies.

The role offers hybrid or remote work (West Coast preferred), 20% travel, and opportunities to mentor staff while shaping regulatory strategies for infrastructure projects and critical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Biology, Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Forestry, or related discipline.
• 15+ years of environmental planning and permitting experience for infrastructure and water resources.
• 8+ years of project management experience in a consulting environment.
• Extensive knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and related regs.
• Experience leading agency coordination, environmental review processes, and permitting efforts.
• Established relationships with CA/regulatory agencies (RWQCB, SWRCB, CDFW, DWR, USACE, USFWS).
• Strong written and verbal communication, stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Environmental planning

Permitting

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Technical writing

Budgeting

Business development

Mentoring

Client management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

Woodard & Curran is seeking a Senior Project Manager with 15+ years of environmental planning and permitting experience to support its growing portfolio across California and the West Coast. You will lead complex CEQA and NEPA efforts, manage multidisciplinary teams, and coordinate with regulatory agencies.

The role offers hybrid or remote work (West Coast preferred), 20% travel, and opportunities to mentor staff while shaping regulatory strategies for infrastructure projects and critical