Environmental Scientist

JOB TITLE
:
Environmental Scientist

FLSA STATUS
:
Exempt

REPORTS TO
:
Facilities Planning & Siting Manager

GRADE LEVEL
:
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DEPARTMENT
:
Transmission

REVISED
: 3/25/2021

This position’s primary responsibilities include supporting utility projects by conducting environmental assessments, including stream/wetlands delineation and permitting, plant and animal inventories, habitat assessments, environmental protection and mitigation planning, and environmental permitting. Additionally, the position will provide support to the siting of electric transmission line and substation projects through the analysis of environmental, land use, cultural resource, and visual issues using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine the most viable siting opportunities.

Conducts field environmental assessments by traversing cleared and uncleared linear utility corridors and site‑specific parcels to delineate, GPS, and map streams, wetlands, habitat, and identify plants and animal species (40%).

Prepares environmental and technical reports to document the findings of the natural resource assessments and supports environmental protection, mitigation planning, and permitting (20%).

Provides regulatory and permitting application support, including but not limited to those associated with NEPA, SEPA, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other state and local environmental review authorities; coordinates with applicable review agencies (20%).

Supports line and substation siting by applying environmental principles (10%).

Prepares, estimates, and budgets for specific environmental activities and monitors project costs (5%).

Performs other duties as assigned by management (5%).

Moderately routine: general policies applied. Some decision making.

Exchange of information, which occasionally requires tact and/or diplomacy.

• REGULAR ATTENDANCE is required.
• EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• High school degree or GED required.
• Required:
  
  Bachelor’s degree from a four‑year college or university in natural sciences (e.g., biology, environmental sciences, ecology, forestry, soil science) or equivalent experience.
• Preferred:
  Master’s degree in biology, environmental sciences, natural resource management, ecology, forestry, soil science, or similar discipline.
• 3–5 years experience minimum in natural resources and ecological consulting.

• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS)
• Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS)
• Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB)
• ASTM Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Training

On‑job training for administrative responsibilities and executing the transmission line and substation siting process will be provided. Incumbents will be expected to perform at a high level completing natural resources assessments, permitting, and other environmental review responsibilities with limited training and oversight.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as procedure manuals and operational procedures.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; perform these operations with U.S. money and weight, volume, and distance units.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations; compute rates, ratios, and percentages; draw and interpret spreadsheets.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

• Effective planning, organizing, estimating, scheduling, and monitoring of work activities.
• Continuous improvement of…