Environmental Scientist (Natural Resources SM

General Description

Under the guidance of the Regulatory Compliance and Planning Manager, the Environmental Scientist (Natural Resources SME) will support the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Environmental Management Branch (EMB) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

How You Will Fulfill Your Mission

• Assist NASA EMB with management of environmental permitting and compliance efforts in support of coordination with regulatory agencies including USACE, FDEP, USFWS, and SJRWMD.
• Review and evaluate engineering drawings, site plans, and permit applications to assess environmental impacts and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with contractor environmental Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) where required to support project goals.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering teams on natural resource avoidance, minimization, and mitigation, including wetland mitigation and vegetation management.
• Support environmental compliance efforts, including coordination with NEPA and NHPA subject matter experts, while focusing primarily on environmental permitting and regulatory compliance (e.g., Clean Water Act, ESA, CZMA).
• Advise and provide consultation with NASA on permitting strategies and compliance requirements.
• Conduct environmental reviews, support the KSC NEPA environmental checklist and REC process, and communicate regulatory requirements to contractors and stakeholders.
• Perform research and contribute to environmental policy, guidance documents, and multidisciplinary team initiatives.

Why We Value You

• You are able to work independently and show a high level of initiative and attention to detail.
• You have a consistent character and do not yield to pressure to compromise or cut corners.
• You have a strong ability to communicate effectively with superiors, colleagues, and customers by clearly expressing your intent and understanding the focus and purpose of the conversation while allowing each person to get their point across.
• You are open to new ideas and innovations and can create modifications or changes in yourself to adapt or suit a new environment/situation.
• You have faith in your own ideas and ability to be successful.
• You hold yourself to the highest standard and work to inspire your team to produce quality work.

Specific Knowledge/Certification Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, planning, policy, engineering, or a related field. 4–8 years of relevant professional experience in environmental permitting and compliance. Strong knowledge of environmental permitting processes and regulatory compliance requirements (e.g., Clean Water Act, ESA, CZMA), with direct experience preferred. Demonstrated ability to work as a team member across technical disciplines. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, where the information being communicated includes precise data and terminology.
• Preferred Qualifications: Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.