Sr. Environmental Planner - (ODOT)

Jacobs; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchasing program

Paid time off

Job summary

Jacobs in Columbus, Ohio is seeking a Senior Environmental Planner to lead NEPA and environmental compliance efforts for transportation projects. You will supervise technical staff, coordinate with scientists, engineers, and planners, and engage with agencies to shape study outcomes.

The role requires strong writing, client communication, and the ability to manage scope, schedule, and budgets. A hybrid work arrangement in a collaborative, growth-focused environment is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in planning, environmental law, biology, or related field.
• Understanding of NEPA processes for transportation infrastructure.
• 10+ years of transportation-related experience.
• Exceptional writing and verbal skills; collaborative work style.
• Experience communicating findings to clients and coordinating with agencies.
• Ability to manage scope, schedule, and budget.

Responsibilities

• Project and task manager for NEPA documents.
• Direct technical staff on research to support document prep.
• Lead scoping, purpose and need, alternatives, and NEPA-compliant documents.
• Prepare NEPA documents (CEs, EAs, EISs).
• Lead special studies (Section 4(f), ESA, NHPA) and permitting.
• Develop project deliverables and ensure quality management.
• Facilitate public outreach and coordinate with stakeholders.
• Manage multiple projects of varying topics and complexity.

Skills

NEPA knowledge

Client-facing

Technical writing

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in planning or environmental field

Master's preferred

Tools

ArcGIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Jacobs is seeking an enthusiastic, highly organized, team-oriented Senior Environmental Planner to support our Environmental Planning sector working in our Columbus, Ohio, office. Our employees work to shape the communities we live in by creating world-class projects that transform the future development patterns of those communities. The Jacobs business model allows us to successfully serve our clients, leverage our integrated services, and provide our employees with growth opportunities while delivering global solutions to our client’s local programs.

You’ll have the opportunity to lead preparation of complex EISs, EAs, and other environmental compliance documents in the project planning stages. You’ll work as a part of a team of scientists, planners, engineers, and community involvement specialists to prepare technical studies and conduct public involvement and agency coordination in preparing environmental studies in support of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Section 4(f) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), etc. As a key member of our team, you will oversee preparing technical reports, environmental compliance documents, leading public involvement programs, and regulatory permits for transportation projects. You’ll have the opportunity to work with teams based in the Midwest and throughout the nation.

The successful candidate must be a client-facing leader for local projects, demonstrate solid technical writing skills, have a deep understanding of environmental compliance documents, and demonstrate excellent organizational skills as well as an ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Strong relationships with clients in the Ohio market are preferred. You will help identify project opportunities and participate in marketing pursuits. You will have a key role in maintaining and growing relationships with our regional and local clients and will work directly with clients to deliver superior service.

Types of work assignments

• Project and task manager for NEPA documents.
• Organize and direct technical staff on research on a variety of subjects to support document preparation.
• Lead processes of scoping, developing purpose and need, developing alternatives, and preparing documents in compliance with NEPA.
• Prepare NEPA documents, including Categorical Exclusions (CEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs).
• Lead special studies such as Section 4(f), Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Section 106 of the NHPA, permitting, or other regulations.
• Lead development of project deliverables and provide quality management.
• Facilitate public outreach efforts.
• Manage multiple, simultaneous projects of various topics and complexity.

What we offer

• Become part of a team of supportive, respectful, and inclusive peers who are consistently recognized by our clients for outstanding service.
• Design a career path focused on your aptitudes and goals.
• Work in an environment that supports collaboration, learning, and creative approaches to problem solving, where you are recognized for your contributions.
• Enjoy the flexibility of working in the office and from home.
• Work on projects for state Departments of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and other markets.
• Work for a company that promotes a healthy work-life balance.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor's degree in planning, environmental law, biology, a related environmental science program, or a related field.
• Understanding of and experience with NEPA environmental compliance processes for transportation infrastructure projects.
• 10+ years of experience in transportation-related work.
• Exceptional writing and verbal skills, and ability to work in a collaborative team internally and externally.
• Experience interacting with clients to communicate findings and develop environmental process strategies; experience representing clients on project teams and in agency-to-agency coordination.
• Ability to manage scope, schedule, and budget projects effectively.
• Ability to produce high-quality work products that meet and exceed client expectations.
• Experience leading or participating in proposal preparation and interviews.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) software.

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Master’s degree in planning, environmental law, biology, a related environmental science program, or a related field preferred.
• Established client relationships in Ohio.
• Experience with Section 404 permitting processes and Section 106.
• Experience with alternative delivery transportation projects
• Strong proposal and technical writing skills.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally to support project work.
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Experience with ArcGIS is a plus.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $111,100.00 to $173,500.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on July 15, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

At Jacobs, we’re partnering across the globe to create the best project outcomes by maximizing the design, digital technology, and support capabilities of our Global Integrated Delivery (GID) teammates. By joining Jacobs, you’ll commit to supporting and engaging with these teams, as we work to build a company like no other.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.