Senior Project Manager - Mitigation Banking

Burns & McDonnell; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead the Environmental Services Mitigation Banking team across multiple U.S. markets.

The role focuses on strategic planning, business development, and full lifecycle project delivery from site acquisition to long-term stewardship. You will manage teams, ensure underwriting success, and coordinate with regulators while driving strong financial performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a natural resources, planning or environmental permitting discipline from an accredited program.
• Minimum 10 years related professional experience in mitigation banking, including project financing, origination/acquisition, development, and completion.
• Experience originating and completing at least eight projects in mitigation/conservation banks, In Lieu Fee, or Permittee Responsible Mitigation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong interpersonal abilities.
• Minimum 7 years of experience with environmental permitting, NEPA documents, and siting/routing studies.

Responsibilities

• Financial underwriting and project origination responsibilities.
• Manage environmental mitigation projects from inception to completion.
• Act as a technical resource for federal, state and local permitting practices.
• Lead client development and networking activities.
• Interface with agencies, clients and team members regularly.
• Mentor junior environmental staff and assist with recruiting and training.
• Support marketing and business development for growth of the line.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Project management

Environmental permitting

NEPA experience

Financial underwriting

Staff mentorship

Business development

Client communication

Regulatory coordination

Staff recruitment

Contract management

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural resources, planning or environmental permitting

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Description Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Senior Project Manager to join our Environmental Services Global Practice in our Kansas City, MO office to support the continued growth of our National Mitigation Banking business line. This role will lead strategic planning and business development efforts across both existing and emerging markets while driving project origination and financial underwriting activities. The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of mitigation banking projects, including site acquisition, entitlement and environmental permitting, as well as construction, implementation, and long-term management.

We are looking for a motivated, self-starting leader to help expand our mitigation banking portfolio. The successful candidate will be a true seller-doer with demonstrated experience originating, underwriting, and executing multiple concurrent projects. This individual will play a key role in building and developing high-performing teams through hiring, mentoring, and staff management, while also maintaining strong ownership of financial metrics and overall project performance.

This position requires a strong blend of technical, financial, and leadership capabilities, including experience with environmental permitting and mitigation requirements, restoration construction, and managing biological and financial performance criteria. The ideal candidate will be adept at overseeing project cash flow, ensuring efficient execution to meet underwriting requirements, maintaining schedules and budgets, and driving projects to successful outcomes. Additionally, this role involves negotiating with regulatory agencies, managing contracts and construction efforts, supporting marketing and business development initiatives, and leading projects through implementation, credit sales, interim oversight, and long-term stewardship.

Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned firm regularly ranked on FORTUNE’s List of 100 Best Companies to Work For and voted as a Best Place to Work in numerous cities across the United States.

Join a well-established team with the opportunity for growth. This individual will enhance our existing mitigation banking team, and will focus on regional growth based on candidate qualifications and experience. The individual will be a team player who will also support expanding our environmental studies services and client base for the region in which they work.

The Project Manager will work within an integrated team within our Mitigation Banking business line in the Environmental Services Global Practice (division) to perform the following duties:

• Financial underwriting and project origination.
• Performing project management responsibilities for environmental mitigation projects.
• Act as a technical resource for federal, state and local permitting practices and procedures.
• Client and business development and networking.
• Regularly interface with various agencies, clients and team members
• Mentoring and generally working closely with junior level environmental staff
• Assist with recruiting, development, and training of staff as the business line continues to grow.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a natural resources, planning or environmental permitting discipline from accredited program.
• Minimum 10 years related professional experience in mitigation banking industry, including project financing, origination/acquisition, development, and completion, leading and growing teams in the field or office, coordinating staff, and/or project management.
• Must demonstrate experience including the origination and completion at least eight projects (having played a critical roles spanning the full range of mitigation/conservation banks, In Lieu Fee programs, and/or Permittee Responsible Mitigation projects) over last 10 years
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients.
• Candidates must possess strong project execution and interpersonal skills as well as a strategic perspective.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience with environmental permitting, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, state PUC permitting, county/municipal land use permitting, and siting/routing studies.
• Experience with project management, environmental regulation and agency coordination (BLM, Forest Service, state agencies, county planning departments, etc) is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate both verbal and written technical information and work effectively with various audiences (including finance professionals, public officials, agency representatives, property owners, internal and external clients, construction contractors, etc).
• Must be proficient in the use of computer software (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Valid driver's license required. In addition, must meet standards to qualify for and maintain the Company's vehicle driving privileges as outlined in the Company's Motor Vehicle Safety Policy.
• Ability to travel up to 25%, or more as required.

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job Environmental

Primary Location US-MO-Kansas City

Other Locations US-FL-Orlando, US-AZ-Phoenix, US-UT-Salt Lake City, US-NC-Charlotte, US-MI-Detroit, US-TX-Dallas

Schedule: Full-time

Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time