Senior Technical Environmental Planning Manager

WSP; Petaluma (CA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP seeks a key member for its Environmental Planning team in Petaluma, CA. This role involves managing projects, compliance with NEPA, and mentoring junior staff. Candidates require a bachelor's degree and significant experience in environmental planning, with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement savings plans

Paid parental leave

Paid time off for bereavement and voting

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years of experience in environmental planning.
• Demonstrated experience with NEPA and related federal acts.
• Proficiency in technical writing and office software.

Responsibilities

• Prepare environmental survey reports and assessments.
• Oversee project budgets and cross-functional teams.
• Assist in strategic planning and client communications.

Skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal communication

Critical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Planning or related field

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Tools

Technical writing skills

Office automation and communication software

Job description

This Opportunity

Serve as key member of WSP’s Regional Environmental Planning and Permitting Program, with focus on project delivery, client communications, and project staff management. Management and preparation of documentation compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for a variety of project scopes and clients. Specific tasks would include preparing and adhering to scopes, schedules, budgets, completing or overseeing all components of environmental documentation, and managing and mentoring junior staff. Will work collaboratively with Environmental Planning and Permitting leadership and technical staff throughout the Western US, including the Intermountain West, Pacific Northwest, and California. Proven experience with Federal agencies is a requirement; experience with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security (notably Federal Emergency Management Agency) is preferred.

Your Impact

• Assist with scoping, strategic planning, and developing permitting execution strategy for clients on medium- to large-sized projects, encompassing development of proposals, including development of scope of work/technical approach, budget, and schedule.
• Prepare and complete environmental survey reports, data entry, impact assessment, and permitting activities for assigned projects (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act permitting, CEQA, NEPA, etc.).
• Perform professional environmental planning work and conduct investigations, inspections, and environmental studies and surveys to gain further information on a particular environmental problem or issue, verify site characteristics, and/or to plan for future environmental needs.
• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, permitting strategy, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory compliance, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.
• Provide high level oversite for desk-based research and site work, including measurements, data interpretation, demographics, patterns and trends, and computer modeling.
• Coordinate with clients, resource/regulatory agencies, and environmental and technical staff in a confident and professional manner.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.
• Remain current in latest environmental planning subject matter, practices, regulations, and techniques.
• 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 Planning, Urban Planning, Geography, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience.)
• 7 to 10 years of experience working in the environmental planning field, completing environmental surveys, fieldwork, habitat and construction support, impact assessments, and permitting.
• Demonstrated experience with NEPA and related federal acts, including Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, etc.
• Highly proficient analytical skills and prior experience with research techniques, local/regional ecology, habitats, and applicable regulatory zone.
• Demonstrated experience leading and reviewing environmental planning technical reports, environmental impact evaluations, siting reports, and environmental permit applications and licensing, including field surveys and reporting, and resource and impact evaluations (e.g. commercial, renewable energy, infrastructure, etc.)
• Established experience coordinating with clients, regulatory permitting and resource agencies, and environmental technical staff required.
• Highly proficient self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation and communication software, technology, and tools.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, and identify the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.
• 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 may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree is preferred.
• Essential professional licensure/certification.

WSP Benefits:
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on 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: $116,600- $180,000
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.

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