Principal Environmental Scientist

What You Will Do

GFT is seeking a Principal Environmental Scientist to join our growing Environmental Practice! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Morristown, NJ and New York offices.

GFT’s Environmental team delivers integrated planning, permitting, and compliance solutions that support infrastructure development across North America. With more than 140 professionals in 22 offices, the team guides clients through NEPA and permitting processes, ecological and regulatory assessments, and environmental remediation efforts. Their expertise spans transportation, power, water, and facilities markets — working alongside agencies at federal, state, and local levels.

From stream restoration to complex environmental impact statements, GFT helps clients protect resources, manage risk, and meet regulatory requirements with confidence.

What You’ll Be Challenged To Do

• Lead, conduct, and review natural resource baseline inventories and impact assessments for transportation corridors and facilities, including effects to wetlands, waterways, wildlife habitat, and threatened and endangered species.
• Prepare and manage permitting and compliance efforts under Clean Water Act Sections 401/404, Endangered Species Act (Section 7), and applicable New York State and local permits.
• Oversee field investigations such as wetland delineations, habitat assessments, and species surveys, including coordination of subconsultants.
• Serve as the NY extension of the GFT Environmental Business Line, reporting and collaborating with the national leaders and team members for NEPA, Natural Resources, and Permitting.
• Track environmental commitments and mitigation measures and support their integration into design documents and construction-phase activities.
• Manage environmental components of transportation projects subject to NEPA and SEQRA, including joint federal–state review processes.
• Coverage of Categorical Exclusions (CEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and supporting technical studies.
• Coordinate and oversee preparation of Categorical Exclusions (CEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and supporting technical studies.
• Support coordination with municipalities, tribal entities, and other stakeholders as required for transportation environmental review and permitting.
• Prepare and lead agency coordination materials, technical correspondence, and meetings.
• Provide day-to-day technical direction to junior and mid-level environmental staff and review their work for quality and regulatory compliance.
• Perform QA/QC reviews of environmental documents to ensure defensibility, consistency, and adherence to agency requirements.
• Contribute project-level input to proposals, scopes of work, staffing plans, and cost estimates for transportation pursuits.

Education | Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or a related field
• 15 years of progressive experience in natural resources documentation, impact assessments, and regulatory coordination for permit approvals supporting transportation infrastructure projects, and public utility projects preferably in New York or the northeastern U.S.
• Demonstrated experience leading environmental scopes and coordinating NEPA/SEQRA documentation and permitting for public agency clients.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary transportation project teams.
• Strong understanding of environmental regulations as applied to linear transportation projects, active transportation facilities, water utilities.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, and deliverables for environmental project components.
• Excellent technical writing and review skills for NEPA/SEQRA documents and permit applications.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with confidence working directly with clients and regulators.

What We Prefer You Bring

• A Master’s degree in a closely related field.
• A relevant professional certification (e.g., Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Ecologist, or similar) is an asset.

Featured 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.

Company Overview

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees. GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

Location

Morristown, NJ and New York, NY

Working Hours

8 AM – 5 PM

Employment Status

Full-time