Senior Environmental Scientist

WSP; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Environmental Scientist for Environmental Permitting & Compliance in New York. The role supports projects across energy, transportation, infrastructure, and development with field and office responsibilities in NYC and Long Island.

The candidate will conduct field investigations, prepare permit applications, and coordinate with agencies, teams, and contractors, ensuring regulatory compliance and project success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related environmental field and 5–7 years of consulting or permitting experience.
• Experience with environmental permitting, natural resources, and construction compliance.
• Experience in New York City and Long Island regulatory environments.
• Ability to interpret permits, reports, drawings, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with project teams and agencies.
• Willingness to travel throughout NYC, Long Island, and surrounding regions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental field investigations, wetlands delineations, habitat assessments, and inspections.
• Support federal, state, and local environmental permitting for NYC/Long Island projects.
• Prepare permit applications, technical reports, impact evaluations, and coordination materials.
• Interpret permit conditions and communicate requirements to teams and contractors.
• Perform environmental inspections and construction compliance monitoring for various projects.
• Coordinate with engineers, planners, environmental scientists, and regulators.
• Provide QA/QC oversight to junior staff and field personnel.
• Support multiple projects with a mix of office and field work.

Skills

Environmental permitting

Regulatory compliance

Field investigations

Technical communication

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, or related field

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Environmental Scientist – Environmental Permitting & Compliance to support our Earth & Environment Team in New York. This position will support a diverse portfolio of energy, transportation, infrastructure, and development projects, with opportunities to work across environmental permitting, natural resources, and construction environmental compliance.

The successful candidate will be a versatile environmental professional with experience working in New York City and Long Island and comfortable supporting projects both in the field and in the office. Field responsibilities may include natural resource surveys, wetland delineations, environmental inspections, construction compliance monitoring, and coastal or marine field assignments. Office responsibilities may include preparation of environmental permit applications, technical reports, impact evaluations, agency coordination materials, and environmental compliance documentation.

Your Impact

• Conduct environmental field investigations, including wetland delineations, habitat assessments, natural resource surveys, and construction compliance inspections.
• Support federal, state, and local environmental permitting for projects in New York City and Long Island.
• Prepare environmental permit applications, technical reports, impact evaluations, agency coordination materials, and compliance documentation.
• Interpret permit conditions, environmental commitments, construction plans, and environmental specifications and communicate requirements to project teams and contractors.
• Perform environmental inspections and construction compliance monitoring for energy, transportation, utility, infrastructure, and development projects.
• Support coastal and marine environmental compliance activities, including field monitoring and coordination with construction contractors and environmental specialists, as needed.
• Review construction work plans and method statements for activities occurring in or adjacent to environmentally sensitive resources.
• Identify environmental compliance issues and work with project managers, contractors, and technical specialists to develop practical corrective actions.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including engineers, planners, environmental scientists, construction managers, regulatory specialists, and subcontractors.
• Provide technical guidance and QA/QC oversight to junior environmental staff and field personnel.
• Support multiple projects and assignments depending on project needs, including a combination of office-based technical work and field assignments.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• 5 to 7 years of experience in environmental consulting, environmental permitting, natural resource assessment, and/or construction environmental compliance.
• Experience working on environmental projects in New York City and/or Long Island, with familiarity with the region’s regulatory environment and infrastructure setting.
• Experience conducting environmental fieldwork, which may include wetland delineations, natural resource surveys, construction monitoring, or environmental inspections.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permitting requirements.
• Experience preparing environmental permit applications, technical reports, impact evaluations, or similar environmental documentation.
• Ability to interpret environmental permits, construction drawings, environmental specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with project managers, contractors, field crews, clients, and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to work independently in the field while also collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify environmental risks and recommend practical solutions.
• Ability and willingness to work in a variety of field conditions, including construction sites, wetlands, coastal environments, and potentially vessel-based settings.
• Ability to travel throughout New York City, Long Island, and the surrounding region based on project needs.
• Proven commitment to workplace health and safety and compliance with WSP health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, or a related discipline.
• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) certification or progress toward certification.
• Experience with environmental permitting and agency coordination involving NYSDEC, USACE, NYC agencies, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and other applicable local regulatory authorities.
• Familiarity with wetland, waterway, coastal, and natural resource permitting requirements applicable to New York City and Long Island.
• Experience supporting energy, utility, transportation, infrastructure, or development projects in the New York metropolitan area.
• Experience with coastal or marine environmental compliance and monitoring.
• Experience leading field teams or providing technical oversight to junior staff.
• 40-Hour OSHA HAZWOPER training (29 CFR 1910.120) preferred.
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.
  

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $100,000 - $130,000

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.