Senior FERC Project Manager

Civil and Environmental Consultants; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Profit sharing bonus

Health, vision, dental

401(k) with company match

Hybrid work options

Professional development

Job summary

Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) seeks a Senior FERC Project Manager in Knoxville, TN to lead ecological and environmental permitting with strong FERC experience.

You will manage multidisciplinary teams, advise clients, and drive opportunities across energy, utility, midstream, and infrastructure projects while delivering compliant, high‑quality permit applications and regulatory documents nationwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, or related field.
• Significant experience preparing, managing, or providing senior review of FERC environmental filings and related documents.
• Strong knowledge of NEPA, FERC regulations and permitting processes, and related environmental permitting requirements.
• Ability to develop and expand business opportunities and manage a sustainable book of work in FERC, energy, and environmental markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Provide senior technical guidance to project managers, ecological staff, and environmental specialists.
• Develop and maintain client relationships and identify new business opportunities.
• Deliver high-quality, defensible environmental documents and permit applications nationwide.

Skills

FERC filings experience

NEPA knowledge

leadership

business development

multi-disciplinary teams

travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Ecology / Environmental Science / related field

Job description

Senior FERC Project Manager

Job Locations

US-TN-Knoxville

Category: Ecological Services

Type: Full-Time

Overview

Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) is seeking a FERC Senior Project Manager for ecological and environmental permitting with significant Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) experience in our Knoxville, TN office. This position is intended for an experienced practitioner, trusted client advisor, and proven business developer who can provide senior technical direction, lead complex FERC-regulated natural gas transmission and energy infrastructure projects, and support continued growth of CEC's energy and environmental permitting services across the firm's national footprint. CEC's Ecological Practice is an essential part of the integrated services we deliver to clients and includes wetland and stream assessments, delineations, and mitigation; Section 401/404 permitting; threatened and endangered species surveys; NEPA and FERC environmental reporting; agency consultation; and ecosystem restoration. In this role, you will work closely with local, regional, and national leadership to manage multidisciplinary project teams, develop and maintain client relationships, identify and capture new business opportunities, provide strategic regulatory guidance, mentor staff, and deliver high-quality, defensible environmental documents and permit applications for energy, utility, midstream, transmission, and infrastructure projects throughout the United States.

Why CEC?

• We're 100% Employee-Owned, and all full-time employees can become owners within their first year
• Clear career path with opportunities to grow into senior project management, market leadership, technical leadership, or practice leadership roles
• Profitable, employee-centered culture: 55% of company profits are returned to our employees through our annual bonus pool
• Comprehensive benefits start on Day 1, including health, vision, dental, life, disability, pet insurance, FSA/HSA, and more
• 401(k) with company match plus up to 2% profit-sharing contribution, fully vested starting the first of the month after you join
• Collaborative, flexible workplace, with hybrid options that support work-life balance and professional autonomy
• Culture that values innovation, mentorship, community involvement, and cross-disciplinary collaboration

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, or a related technical field
• Significant experience preparing, managing, or providing senior review of FERC environmental filings, including Blanket Certificate/Prior Notice requests, Section 7(c) certificate applications, environmental reports, resource reports, implementation plans, and agency correspondence
• Strong working knowledge of NEPA, FERC regulations and processes, Section 401/404 Clean Water Act permitting, Section 7 Endangered Species Act consultation, and related state and federal environmental permitting requirements
• Demonstrated ability to develop and expand business opportunities, grow revenue, and build a sustainable book of work within the FERC, energy, utility, midstream, or environmental permitting markets
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex scopes, schedules, and budgets, and provide senior technical guidance to project managers, ecological staff, and environmental specialists
• Willingness to travel as needed to support client relationships, project delivery, agency meetings, industry events, mentoring, and business development efforts across CEC's national footprint
• Demonstrated commitment to mentoring staff, building technical capability, supporting practice growth, and contributing to CEC's senior leadership, integrated services, and personal business relationship model

About Us

We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.

We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community - focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite - focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA - focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women - focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!

We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you - that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.

CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.

CEC is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.