Senior Environmental Planning Specialist

Job Summary

The role is identified for growth within WEST's Power Delivery and Environmental Planning, Permitting, and Assessment groups. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and 10+ years of experience in environmental consulting as a project manager for utility-scale energy projects.

Responsibilities

• Complete and direct various project management and support tasks related to project siting evaluation, environmental planning, or environmental reviews.
• Coordinate and manage natural resource field studies (e.g., wildlife, wetlands).
• Direct multi-disciplinary teams (including internal staff and external sub consultants) in completing environmental review for small, medium, and large-scale energy projects.
• Cook up with local/state/federal agencies, tribes, and stakeholders in support of client-directed project work.
• Collaborate closely with clients to support real-time requests and help clients implement scientific consulting solutions.
• Navigate the regulatory landscape and provide clients with novel and innovative solutions.
• Review reports, apply expertise to present and interpret the results of field and desktop studies in their scientific and regulatory context.
• Ensure team alignment on field data management and GIS data processes to meet WEST standards and client/agency requirements.
• Market WEST's capabilities, respond to proposal requests, and provide oversight into the development of scopes of work and budget estimates.
• Foster current business relationships and promote new business development efforts.
• Cultivate strategic client relationships, identify new opportunities, and support business pursuit strategies.
• Supervise/project manage multiple projects and mentor deputy project managers.

Requirements

• A strong understanding of environmental permitting and experience effectively communicating with clients and agency staff through planning regulations at the local, state, and federal level.
• This regulatory understanding would also come a preferred background in natural resource science (including wildlife biology, wetland delineation, plant identification, restoration science, or other areas of ecology potentially of interest to commercial clients).
• 10+ years of directly relevant experience in environmental consulting and project management, including demonstrated experience in managing and providing leadership of large and complex projects.
• Extensive experience in budgeting large projects and proposal writing.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage large and diverse teams, natural resource field studies, data collection and GIS processes, and personnel with varying range of experience and expertise.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to pay close attention to detail and accurately report the scientific methods and results of field studies, including GIS data management.
• Demonstrated experience in business development, marketing, and maintaining positive relationships with clients or stakeholders, and a desire to drive and grow the WEST team.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Good time management, project management, and organizational skills with the ability to work well under time constraints and changing circumstances.
• A strong focus on quality deliverables and client service, while maintaining a positive collaborative team approach.
• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in environmental planning, biological sciences, natural resources, ecology or equivalent, and/or GIS. A master’s degree is preferred.