Environmental Permitting Specialist / Wildlife Biologist

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

About the role

Jacobs is seeking an experienced Environmental Permitting Specialist / Wildlife Biologist to join our growing Environmental Planning and Permitting team in Boston, Massachusetts. This hybrid position offers a unique opportunity to combine environmental permitting expertise with technical wildlife biology experience to support a diverse portfolio of transportation, energy, and private development projects throughout Massachusetts and the Northeast. The successful candidate will divide their time between leading environmental permitting efforts and conducting wildlife biology studies, including threatened and endangered species surveys, wildlife habitat assessments, and agency coordination. This role requires a strong understanding of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, as well as demonstrated field experience evaluating wildlife resources and supporting environmental compliance for complex infrastructure and development projects. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams of planners, engineers, ecologists, and environmental scientists, the candidate will help clients navigate regulatory requirements while promoting environmentally responsible project development.

Responsibilities

Environmental Permitting

• Prepare and manage environmental permit applications for transportation, energy, and private development projects.
• Support and lead permitting efforts under federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
• Prepare and coordinate permit applications including but not limited to Clean Water Act Section 10/401/404/408 and related federal authorizations (Section 4(f), Section 106, Section 7, Coastal Zone Management), state environmental policy acts, state level permitting (MA, RI, CT, NY, VT, ME, etc), and local permit applications (MA Conservation Commission filings, local stormwater bylaw compliance).
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies, including:
  • Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
  • Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
  • Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP)
  • Local Conservation Commissions
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  • National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries/NMFS)
• Support environmental review and permitting under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Rivers Protection Act, and other applicable regulations.
• Prepare technical reports, permit application packages, environmental analyses, and agency correspondence.
• Participate in client meetings, regulatory agency consultations, and public stakeholder discussions.
• Track permit schedules, environmental commitments, and regulatory milestones throughout project development.

Wildlife Biology and Natural Resources

• Conduct field surveys and assessments for threatened, endangered, and special concern wildlife species and their habitats.
• Perform wildlife habitat evaluations, ecological assessments, and natural resource inventories.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret biological data to support permitting and environmental compliance efforts.
• Evaluate project impacts to wildlife populations, critical habitats, and ecological resources.
• Prepare biological assessments, habitat assessments, wildlife technical memoranda, and regulatory documentation.
• Coordinate directly with federal and state wildlife agencies regarding species occurrence, survey protocols, consultation requirements, and mitigation measures.
• Support compliance activities associated with the Endangered Species Act, Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and other applicable wildlife protection regulations.
• Provide technical input on avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and habitat restoration strategies.
• Conduct field work in diverse environments including wetlands, forests, grasslands, coastal habitats, rivers, and active project sites.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources, Environmental Planning, Biology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in environmental permitting, wildlife biology, or a combination of both.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading federal, state, and local permitting processes.
• Experience coordinating environmental permits with Massachusetts state and local regulatory agencies.
• Experience supporting transportation, energy, and/or private development projects.
• Demonstrated experience conducting field surveys for regulated wildlife species and wildlife habitat assessments.
• Experience coordinating with wildlife regulatory agencies, including:
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  • NOAA Fisheries (NMFS)
  • Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP)
• Strong understanding of federal and Massachusetts environmental permitting requirements.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and technically sound reports and permit application packages.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively within interdisciplinary teams.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to perform field work throughout Massachusetts and the greater United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
• Experience conducting surveys for state- and federally-listed species in the Northeast.
• Experience supporting Endangered Species Act consultations and habitat conservation planning.
• Wetland delineation experience and familiarity with New England wetland regulations.
• Professional certifications related to environmental permitting, wetlands, ecology, or wildlife biology.
• Experience managing regulatory permitting tasks for large, complex infrastructure projects.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company stock purchase options at a discount.
• Deferred compensation plan and Executive Deferral Plan for eligible employees.
• Unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees.
• Seven paid holidays and caregiver leave.
• Additional rewards for certain roles, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $70,900.00 to $110,800.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Schedule

This is a hybrid position, allowing employees to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations.