CEQA Project Manager

About the role

Terraphase Engineering is seeking an experienced and driven environmental planning professional to become an integral part of our growing CEQA/NEPA/Tribal Planning team. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to diverse, high-impact projects across California and the nation for tribal projects—including infrastructure, energy, education, residential, commercial, and industrial developments.

Responsibilities

• Lead or oversee the research and preparation of CEQA documents, including Categorical Exemptions, Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports under the mentorship of well-seasoned CEQA Principals.
• Cook up multidisciplinary technical teams, ensuring that environmental analyses, regulatory strategies, and project deliverables are accurate, consistent, and aligned with project goals.
• Manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and contract requirements, ensuring efficiency, quality, and compliance with agency and client expectations.
• Interface directly with clients, agency staff, and legal counsel to navigate entitlement strategies, permitting processes, and environmental review pathways.
• Present at public hearings, stakeholder meetings, and agency workshops, demonstrating subject matter expertise and facilitating consensus.
• Drive business development by cultivating client relationships, identifying new project opportunities, and leading proposal development with cross-functional teams.
• Mentor staff and contribute to team-building efforts, fostering a supportive and growth-oriented culture.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience in CEQA document preparation, NEPA knowledge a plus.
• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in environmental planning, environmental sciences, urban and regional planning, geography, or a related discipline.
• A strategic thinker who thrives in a casual and collaborative environment and is motivated by making meaningful environmental and community impacts.
• Excellent attention to detail, communication, organization, writing, and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with tribal planning or interest in working with our Tribal clients to support self-governance. Knowledge of complex permitting processes is a plus.
• Experience with or interest in public educational facilities projects is a plus.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring strong analytical and collaborative skills to support environmental review, policy evaluation, and the development of effective mitigation strategies.

Skills

• Strong analytical and collaborative skills.
• Strategic thinking and ability to thrive in a collaborative environment.
• Attention to detail, excellent communication, organization, writing, and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with tribal planning or interest in working with our Tribal clients to support self-governance.
• Knowledge of complex permitting processes.
• Experience with or interest in public educational facilities projects.

Benefits

Terraphase offers an extensive benefits package including; Medical, Dental, Vision, Employer Paid Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, a generous 401(k) match, Commuter Benefits, TerraLunches, TerraTalks, Tuition/Licensing/Professional Development Reimbursement, Flexible Work Schedule, ongoing company-sponsored events.

Pay

Compensation for this position is based on years of experience, technical expertise, technical education, and geographic location. Pay Range $98,000 - $130,000 USD

EEO Statement

Terraphase is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to an inclusive & diverse work environment where individual strengths and diverse viewpoints are respected and complement each other to achieve common goals. (EOE M/V/F/D)