Technical Director- Environmental Planning

GHD; Santa Rosa (CA); Hybrid; USD 147,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD seeks a Technical Director - Environmental Planning in California to lead environmental planning activities, oversee CEQA/NEPA documentation, and drive growth across multiple offices. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams, engage clients, and shape projects from opportunity through delivery.

The ideal candidate has 20+ years of experience, strong leadership, and a track record in business development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental studies, environmental science, planning, geography, public administration, or related field
• 20+ years of experience in environmental planning and CEQA/NEPA
• Experience in winning work, client relationships
• Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills
• Commitment to delivering quality work within budgets and schedules

Responsibilities

• Lead all phases of winning work including positioning, pipeline development and client relationships
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams and CEQA/NEPA documents and permitting
• Provide senior technical leadership and maintain external accreditations
• Mentor and recruit; grow environmental service areas
• Develop strategy and oversee major projects
• Ensure HSE compliance

Skills

Business Development

Project Delivery

Technical Leadership

People Management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in environmental studies or related field

Job description

Job Description

There’s no pledge more important than the one we make to look after our environment, and we’re committed to helping you do exactly that.

Join us as we strive to ensure a sustainable future for our communities and the world we live in.

Become part of our global network of skilled engineers, scientists, auditors, planners and environmental specialists, all working together to leave this world better than we found it.

Who are we looking for?

GHD is looking for a Technical Director - Environmental Planning in any of the following California offices: San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, Oakland, Concord, Sacramento, or Santa Rosa. The ideal candidate must be recognized as an industry leader and have significant experience in business development, contributing to growth of practice areas, overseeing the environmental review process, and winning and leading projects of importance.

Our Natural Resources & Impact Assessment Group provides environmental impact documentation and permitting services for a broad range of interesting clients and projects, working across multiple geographies throughout California and the Pacific. Our work extends across a diverse range of market sectors, including transportation (ports, road, rail, and transit), utilities, local development, energy, mining, and coastal restoration.

Our Hybrid Work Model: B

Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Responsibilities

• Business Development and Growth: Lead all phases of winning work including positioning, pipeline development, pursuits, developing new clients, and maintaining client relationships to increase opportunity pipeline and bookings.
• Project Delivery: Manage multi-disciplinary teams and preparation of CEQA/NEPA environmental documents, environmental technical studies, and regulatory permitting, including for large or complex projects in a client-facing setting.
• Technical Leadership: Provide internal and external leadership to provide senior technical leadership and increase industry standing. Maintain external accreditations and in-depth understanding of current and emerging technologies, external regulation, and industry best practices through continuing professional development, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.
• Mentoring and Recruitment: Support recruitment activities and growth of new environmental service areas. Foster teamwork and actively support the ongoing development and retention of staff.
• Organizational Capability Building: Evaluate the capabilities of staff within the department to identify gaps and prioritize development activities. Implement the organization's formal development frameworks within the area of responsibility. Coach and mentor others to support the development of the organization's talent pool.
• Policy Development and Implementation: Develop functional or operational policies and help develop policy frameworks for area of responsibility or department. Take responsibility for creating underlying procedures and monitoring their implementation.
• Functional Strategy Formation: Lead the development and implementation of strategy for a significant area of responsibility, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities and ensuring integration with wider corporate strategy.
• Project Management: Manage a portfolio of major projects in line with overall project management strategy.
• Community of Practice Management: Contribute strongly on a strategically significant area to a community of practice in a defined area of expertise or consulting, or lead on an area of expertise or consulting practice, to contribute to thought leadership and to develop innovative practice among colleagues.
• Health, Safety, and Environment: Ensure that business activities and individuals (e.g., employees, contractors, and visitors) within the area of responsibility adhere to the organization's health, safety, and environment (HSE) policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions, to safeguard the environment, protect the well-being of individuals, and minimize business risk.
• Client & Customer Management (External): Manage key client and customer relationships. Likely to involve using account teams to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Education

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degree in environmental studies, environmental science, planning, geography, public administration, or a related field

Experience

• Minimum of 20+ years of experience providing most or all essential responsibilities noted above.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the CEQA, NEPA, and applicable state and federal regulations and significant project experience in the preparation of environmental documentation, permitting, mitigation planning and implementation, and environmental compliance.
• Significant experience with all phases of winning work including positioning, pipeline development, pursuits, developing new clients, and maintaining client relationships.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, time management, problem-solving, and verbal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to delivering and producing quality work within established budgets and schedules.

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex (including same sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability or handicap, citizenship status, service member status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Salary Range: $147,000-$245,000 based on Location and experience