Senior Environmental Planning and Permitting Specialist

Job Description

Terracon’s Phoenix Office has an opening for an accomplished Senior Scientist, Engineer, or Geologist with expertise in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures, guidelines and compliance to provide support within our growing Environmental Planning and Permitting (EPP) practice. Our EPP team consists of biologists, archaeologists, and NEPA practitioners providing EPP services in the Desert Southwest Region and supporting work across the western United States.

Our group currently serves clients throughout the region in a wide variety of sectors, including Power Generation and Transmission (including renewable energy), Transportation and Infrastructure, Digital Infrastructure, and Retail/Commercial, and providing services including wetland and waters of the U.S. delineation and permitting, threatened and endangered species (T&E) assessments, cultural resource management and consultations, and NEPA studies and documentation.

As a Senior NEPA practitioner, you will work with Terracon’s Phoenix office EPP group and the Rocky Mountain Division’s EPP Program Manager to develop and implement a strategy for growth in the local market. You will provide support for strategic growth of the team including mentoring and developing environmental planning practitioners, championing EPP business development locally and providing support as appropriate regionally.

This position can be based out of Terracon’s Phoenix, Arizona office.

• NEPA Project Management and sector growth
  • Grow and develop NEPA work within the existing EPP practice by strategically leveraging existing resources within the Phoenix office and the Rocky Mountain Division
  • May serve as team member or lead in meetings and communications with clients pertaining to specific projects/tasks
  • Oversee work performed by EPP team environmental scientists and technicians in support of NEPA projects:
    • NEPA Document Management:
      Lead preparation, review, and finalization of Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements
    • Agency Coordination:
      Manage consultations (e.g., Section 7, 106, 4(f)), present at meetings, and facilitate interagency discussions
    • Public & Stakeholder Engagement:
      Develop outreach materials, manage public comment processes, and incorporate feedback
    • Technical Analysis:
      Conduct environmental analyses, field monitoring, impact assessments, and provide technical advice
    • Project Leadership:
      Guide multidisciplinary teams (engineers, planners, scientists) and ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local laws
    • Quality Control:
      Ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and compliance of all environmental documentation and reports
• Mentor and develop mid- and entry-level natural resources and NEPA specialists regionally by:
  • Becoming an Authorized Project Reviewer (APR) within Terracon’s quality program within 2 years of start date
  • Conducting occasional fieldwork with mid- and entry-level practitioners on moderate-to-complex projects to serve as a mentor
  • Serving as a career-level, fully competent NEPA professional responsible for leading and mentoring project management and project delivery
• Business Development and Proposals
  • Support EPP team efforts to cultivate external relationships and capture work
  • Develop written proposals to clients for both small and large projects, including development of project scopes and budgets
  • Enhance existing client relationships and expand Terracon’s NEPA presence in Arizona
  • Develop NEPA business locally and/or regionally through client engagement activities including presentations and business networking
• Safety and Quality
  • Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects
  • Participate in pre-task planning
  • Report any safety issues or concerns to management
  • Be responsible for maintaining quality standards

• Demonstrated experience in a consulting environment conducting work related to NEPA and other regulatory and permitting processes, with a strong understanding of NEPA and related environmental laws (Section 404 CWA, Section 106 NHPA, ESA) and a proficient understanding of a wide variety of EPP related services
• Demonstrate…