Senior Level Permitting Specialist

WSP; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 112,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Level Permitting Specialist to join the Mine Environment team in Denver, CO or other WSP offices. You will support permitting and environmental projects, mentor junior staff, and contribute to proposals and technical reporting.

Ideal candidate has 10+ years of regulatory permitting experience in natural resources, with NEPA knowledge and strong communication skills. Hybrid work model and international collaboration across the mining team are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Geology, Biology, or related field with regulatory compliance and permitting; graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in natural resources, permitting, consulting or an adjacent professional field.
• Understanding of state and federal regulatory mining regulations and NEPA.
• Knowledge of mining related environmental practices and standards.
• Demonstrated experience working with teams to deliver work products in a timely fashion, ideally within a consulting environment.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to convey technical results in writing and presentations.
• Capable self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team in a hybrid work environment.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and adherence to company policies.

Responsibilities

• Support permitting strategy, baseline studies, operational support, and reclamation/remediation in mining projects.
• Contribute to proposals, schedules and budgets for mine permitting projects.
• Work in project teams to develop proposals, assessment approaches, and environmental/permits strategies.
• Prepare technical reports, memorandums, presentations, and other deliverables.
• Lead or supervise multiple projects per client-approved scopes and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Design and oversee field programs for clients and supervise data collection and quality control.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

NEPA understanding

Team mentorship

Technical reporting

Written communication

Self-leadership

Independent work

Safety compliance

Travel readiness

Project supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in Geology/related field

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP has a new opportunity for a Senior Level Permitting Specialist to join our Mine Environment team on a full-time basis with Denver, CO as the preferred location, though other WSP office locations may be considered for a qualified candidate. As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.

The selected candidate will support permitting and environmental related projects and proposal efforts with an emphasis on the global mining industry. You will work directly with our senior regulatory and permitting specialist on challenging projects and be responsible for contributing to mentoring and supervision of junior staff, data analysis and interpretation, guidance with permitting efforts, proposal development, and technical reporting. You will contribute to the growth of our mine permitting team of professionals in the United States, and work closely with our US and global mining team. Projects typically involve permitting, baseline characterization studies, operational support, and reclamation/remediation. We are looking for someone to bring their talents, training, enthusiasm, and solutions-oriented focus to work as a valued and respected member of our multidisciplinary team as we tackle challenging environmental projects by delivering relevant solutions.

In addition to strong technical skills, you will also have knowledge and experience with applicable legislation, regulations, guidelines, and standards within the United States, and demonstrate the successful management and delivery of projects, meeting WSP’s high standards for quality and client satisfaction.

Your Impact

• Provide support for our mining projects, primarily permitting strategy, baseline studies, operational support, and reclamation/remediation, in particular, for the mining industry, but also for the oil and gas, power, and solid waste industries
• Support the development of proposals, schedules and budgets related to the mine permitting projects
• Working in project teams to develop and execute:
  • Project proposals and assessment approaches
  • Provide clients with environmental and permitting strategies
  • Technical reports, memorandums, presentations, and other project deliverables
• Supporting and/or leading multiple projects according to client-approved scopes of work, and deliver high-quality reports on time and within budget
• Designing, planning, and overseeing field programs for clients
• Managing, analyzing, and interpreting data, and providing technical review and quality control for data collection, management, and analysis
• Work with multi-disciplinary project teams to integrate data into large scale environmental assessments, permit applications, resource management plans and closure plans.
• Supervising, training, and mentoring junior staff to develop their skillsets including technical skills, project experience, and general consulting and decision-making skills
• Take an active role in developing and maintaining client relationships
• Actively promoting a “Safety-First” focus
• 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

• Bachelors degree in Geology, Biology, or related field, with a strong background in regulatory compliance and permitting; graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in natural resources, permitting, consulting or an adjacent professional field
• Understanding of state and federal regulatory mining regulations and NEPA
• Knowledge of mining related environmental practices and standards
• Demonstrated experience in working with teams to deliver work products in a timely fashion, ideally within a consulting environment
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to execute written reports and presentations to convey technical results to a range of audiences
• Capable self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a collaborative work environment
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a team, in our hybrid work environment
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Occasional travel, including international, may be required depending on project-specific requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in Geology, Biology, Natural Resource Management, or related field
• Previous experience working as a consulting scientist
• Experience working with government regulators
• Experience in design and implementation of field programs
• Experience as a project manager for multi-disciplinary projects
• Understanding of laboratory analytical methods
• MSHA 24-hr level qualified or recertification eligible

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 (Colorado only): $111,600 - $189,700

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and 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.