Lead Environmental Planner​/Permitting Specialist

Merrimack, NH, United States

Join WSP's New England Environmental Planning and Permitting team as a senior environmental project manager and technical lead in our Merrimack, NH office. We are seeking a practitioner who can independently manage environmental permitting and planning projects from pursuit through delivery, develop winning proposals, and serve as a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will bring strong experience managing multidisciplinary teams, preparing high-quality technical deliverables, developing scopes and budgets, and leading agency coordination efforts. Experience with coastal and waterfront projects, transportation infrastructure, permitting strategy, and federal and state environmental review processes is highly desired. Existing client relationships and a demonstrated ability to support business development efforts are a plus.

• Lead environmental permitting, NEPA, and planning projects for transportation, infrastructure, coastal resilience, waterfront, energy, and public-sector clients.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, client communications, and overall project delivery.
• Develop permitting and regulatory compliance strategies involving agencies such as USACE, FHWA, Federal Transit Administration, state DOTs, coastal management agencies, and environmental resource agencies.
• Prepare and oversee high-quality technical reports, permit applications, environmental assessments, environmental impact evaluations, and regulatory correspondence.
• Lead proposal efforts, including capture planning, technical approach development, scope and fee preparation, interviews, and client presentations.
• Build and maintain relationships with existing and prospective clients, teaming partners, and regulatory agencies.
• Mentor environmental planners, permitting specialists, and early-career staff while helping grow the practice in New England.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned with WSP's environmental planning and permitting services.
• 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.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Planning, Urban Planning, Geography, Environmental Science and Policy, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience managing environmental planning, permitting, and regulatory compliance projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and managing client relationships.
• Strong understanding of federal and state environmental review and permitting requirements, including NEPA, USACE Section 404/10 permitting, Coastal Zone Management Act consistency, ESA, NHPA, and related regulations.
• Experience supporting FHWA, state DOT, transit, municipal, coastal, waterfront, resilience, or infrastructure projects.
• Exceptional technical writing skills, including preparation of environmental documents, permit applications, technical memoranda, and regulatory correspondence.
• Proven success developing proposals, scopes of work, fee estimates, and project work plans.
• Existing relationships with transportation agencies, coastal and environmental regulators, municipalities, or private-sector clients in New England.
• Ability to identify opportunities, support business development efforts, and contribute to growth of an environmental planning and permitting practice.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• 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.
• AICP certification .
• PMP certification.

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