Senior Environmental Scientist

GHD; San Luis Obispo (CA); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD is seeking a Senior Environmental Scientist to join our team in San Luis Obispo, CA or Guadalupe, CA. You will lead complex investigations, oversee multidisciplinary teams, and support remediation and regulatory-driven projects across North America.

The ideal candidate has at least 8 years of environmental consulting experience, strong project management skills, and familiarity with CERCLA, RCRA, and related regulations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading project teams or managers
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated with ability to start and complete tasks
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• High attention to detail in data review and reporting

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prepare environmental investigation reports per regulatory requirements
• Lead a multi-disciplinary team on diverse project types
• Support proposal development and fee proposal preparation
• Provide technical guidance on environmental investigations and remedial actions
• Manage project schedules and oversee budgets; mentor junior staff

Skills

Project management

Excellent communication

Self-motivated

Independent work

Attention to detail

Education

BA/BS in engineering/environmental science/geology

Professional registration a plus

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Job description

Job Description

There’s no pledge more important than the one we make to look after our environment, and we’re committed to helping you do exactly that.

Become part of our global network of skilled engineers, scientists, auditors, planners and environmental specialists, all working together to leave this world better than we found it.

Who are we looking for?

GHD is looking for a Senior Environmental Scientist to support to join our team in San Luis Obispo, CA or Guadalupe, CA and support our growing work in contamination investigation and remediation. In this role, you will lead delivery of complex environmental programs supporting large-scale oil and gas operations and restoration projects across North America. This role will operate within a portfolio-driven delivery model, translating client objectives into coordinated execution across multiple field-based and regulatory-driven projects. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated mid-career professional who enjoys thoughtful data analysis and reporting, task and project management, and contributing to meaningful environmental solutions. You’ll work closely with multidisciplinary teams to lead site investigations, sampling programs, environmental assessments, and compliance-driven project work including data assessment and development of reports - helping our clients address contamination issues and protect the communities they serve. The position is primarily office-based with the potential for 10% field/travel during a given year - and with the option to work more often at field/project sites if the candidate is interested in gaining additional experience.

The candidate should already have significant experience in environmental consulting and working knowledge of investigation and remediation of contaminants in soil, groundwater, and/or other media. In addition, the candidate should already be familiar with environmental regulations and regulatory frameworks and have successfully applied this knowledge on past projects, including a working understanding of regulatory limits for various contaminants of concern. The following are critical candidate characteristics:

• Experience managing project teams, projects, and/or supervising staff
• Excellent communicator, verbal and written
• Self-motivated, self-starter, ability to initiate a task and see it through to successful completion
• Ability to successfully work independently with little supervision
• High attention to detail

Our Hybrid Work Model:

Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Responsibilities:

• Project Delivery: Coordinate and prepare documentation, including environmental investigation reports in accordance with various federal, state, regional, and local regulatory requirements.
• Client-facing collaborative environmental scientist overseeing a multi-disciplinary team for a diverse range of project types. Conduct research and coordinate with public and private clients, internal and external partners, technical subconsultants, and regulatory/resource agencies.
• Contribute to proposal pursuits with new and existing clients throughout US West. Manage and prepare proposals for new task orders under existing on-call contracts, including the development of fee proposals.
• Provide technical expertise regarding environmental investigations and remedial actions.
• Drive project schedules and oversee budgets. Delegate and oversee billable work performed by junior staff on projects, mentoring and training others as needed.

Education

• BA/BS or Equivalent Level in the fields of engineering, environmental science, geology, or related science
• Professional registration a plus

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of experience providing most or all essential duties and responsibilities noted above, with emphasis on project management
• Project or task management with an emphasis on delivery
• Technical experience in CERCLA, RCRA, WQARF, LUST and/or VRP planning and implementation
• Familiarity with federal and state environmental regulations
• Strong analytical, organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills
• Strong work ethic, team player, and ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously
• Commitment to producing quality work within established budgets and schedules
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and other MS Office Suite software, and internet research applications

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex (including same sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability or handicap, citizenship status, service member status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Salary Range: $88,000-$147,000 based on experience