Associate Environmental Scientist

About the role

GFT is seeking an Associate Environmental Scientist to join our growing Environmental Practice in Mechanicsburg, PA. GFT’s Environmental team delivers integrated environmental planning, permitting, compliance, site assessment, and remediation solutions that support infrastructure and development projects across North America. Our professionals work with clients to navigate complex federal, state, and local environmental regulations while managing risk and protecting natural and built environments. From environmental due diligence and regulatory compliance to site investigations and remediation, GFT supports projects throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial assessment through implementation and long-term compliance.

The position offers learning and growth opportunities for a professional seeking to develop a career in the environmental industry as an environmental scientist with a focus on natural resource studies and contamination evaluations. The position will be a technical support role under the guidance and leadership of seasoned professionals and industry thought leaders. Our group offers a diverse base of technical expertise to provide opportunities to specialize and advance skills. This is an excellent opportunity to join an environmental team, apply your environmental skills, and contribute technically to infrastructure projects that are recognized at the federal, state, and local levels and have tremendous public benefits. Our work includes research, field studies, reporting, presentations, mapping, permit applications, data analysis, regulatory reviews, and interactions with many engineering and environmental disciplines.

We understand that our company is our people, and our success is rooted in their professional development. We offer a flexible work schedule and ability to work remotely. We take great pride in our learning and mentoring programs, diverse, flexible, and supportive work environment, and our investment in our staff’s individual growth. We foster a culture that builds relationships based on integrity and respect, with our clients and with each other. We are a firm where everyone counts, and each employee can make a difference.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical support for projects requiring disturbances in wetlands, streams, and protected habitats to support project planning and environmental permits.
• Participate in teams conducting wetland delineation fieldwork, sediment sampling, stream assessments, and forest assessments along with executing day-to-day project activities.
• Travel for fieldwork (less than 20% of the year).
• Deliver professional services on time and without error in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations and within the planned level of project profitability.
• Make decisions independently and/or collaboratively on scientific problems and methods.
• Seek answers from team members to reach conclusions.
• Provide technical and operational direction with responsibility for delivering positive outcomes.
• Write technical reports and related work products.
• Communicate with clients, third parties, and regulatory agents regarding project status, schedules, and compliance issues.
• Adhere to client and corporate contract specifications in all activities including health, safety, security, and the environment.
• Assist project managers with the preparation and management of technical reports, project records, contracts, bid specifications, charts, tables, and other project documentation.
• Conduct environmental regulatory reviews and research to determine regulatory requirements and applicability to client operations and projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• 0–2 years of professional experience in environmental consulting, environmental science, or a related field.
• Understanding of environmental regulations, ecology, wetland science, mapping, surveying, aquatic ecology, soils, botany, and forestry.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment and support multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as needed to support field investigations and data collection efforts.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Professional affiliations in natural resource technical societies.
• Internship experience related to natural resources fieldwork and reporting.
• Proficient writing abilities.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $58,000 – $67,000. Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations.
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

Schedule

• Core business hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
• Full-time employment.
• Location: Mechanicsburg, PA.
• Travel: less than 20% of the year for fieldwork.