Consulting Environmental Planning Specialist

Job Title:

Consulting Environmental Planning Specialist

Salary: $80,000 plus, DOE

Classification:
Salaried

Location:

TBD, US (Primary)

Job Type: Regular

# of Hires Needed: 1

Western Eco Systems Technology, Inc. (WEST) is a dynamic medium size consulting firm with offices across the United States and Canada. We are looking for a full‑time Consulting Environmental Planning Specialist to join our growing Environmental Planning, Permitting, and Assessment team. The focus will be on managing environmental services for large‑scale energy projects and conducting environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

WEST has a permanent core of professionals with broad experience in applied ecological studies, sophisticated analysis of natural resource data, and impact assessment and permitting. Since its founding in 1990, the WEST team has shaped our work through our core values and key principles that our work matters to our clients, communities, and the environment.

This role is identified specifically for growth within WEST's Environmental Planning, Permitting, and Assessment group. The selected candidate will be an experienced project manager with a proven track record leading large‑scale energy projects and developing NEPA documents (e.g., Environmental Impact Statements and/or Environmental Assessments). The job will involve managing projects, assembling and managing multidisciplinary teams, and navigating project development from pre‑construction surveys through agency coordination and permitting.

The role also includes mentoring deputy project managers and staff newer to environmental consulting.

Ideal candidates will have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of experience in environmental consulting as a project manager, with several years of conducting project reviews under NEPA. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working with the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Energy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, and/or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

• Complete and direct various project management and support tasks related to project siting evaluation, environmental planning, or environmental reviews (e.g., federal/state/local site permitting and environmental reviews, wetland and/or water resource permitting, environmental site assessments).
• Coordinate and manage natural resource field studies (e.g., wildlife, wetlands).
• Direct multi‑disciplinary teams (including internal staff and external sub‑consultants) in completing environmental review for small, medium, and large‑scale energy projects.
• Coordinate with local/state/federal agencies, tribes, and stakeholders in support of client‑directed project work.
• Collaborate closely with clients to support real‑time requests and help clients implement scientific consulting solutions. Take lead on navigating the regulatory landscape and providing clients with novel and innovative solutions.
• Review reports, applying expertise to present and interpret the results of field and desktop studies in their scientific and regulatory context.
• Ensure team alignment on field data management and GIS data processes to meet WEST standards and client/agency requirements.
• Market WEST's capabilities, respond to proposal requests, and provide oversight into the development of scopes of work and budget estimates.
• Foster current business relationships and promote new business development efforts.
• Help maintain WEST's position as thought leaders in the environmental consulting market.
• Supervision/Mentorship:
  • Manage project teams, deliverables, and budgets for multiple projects.
  • Mentor deputy project managers.
• This position will require overnight travel.

This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of all the duties that may be associated with this position.

• Strong understanding of environmental permitting and experience effectively communicating with clients and agency staff through planning regulations at the local, state, and federal level (e.g., NEPA, Clean Water Act Section 404/10 permitting, NPDES permitting, ESA compliance, zoning/land…