Environmental Planning Professional - Kleinfelder Inc

Doucet Engineering, a Kleinfelder company, has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients’ transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As a responsive, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 60 offices in the US, Canada and Australia. 

Built on a foundation of excellence, we are committed to client-focused solutions. Through our depth of experience and thorough understanding of environmental, regulatory, economic, and civic conditions, we identify and address challenges with innovation and common-sense. Kleinfelder’s integrated, award-winning experts collaborate with clients to meet their objectives - from project inception through design and execution. Connecting great people to the best work is our purpose – together, we deliver.

Kleinfelder is seeking an Environmental Planning Professional with a focus on task management, technical writing, and execution of environmental compliance for multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects.  

The candidate for this position will be based in Kleinfelder’s office in San Marcos, Texas. The candidate should be able to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team environment and exercise project authority and mentorship over project team members, while also being able to work independently and be self-driven to accomplish goals and objectives. The candidate should have a proven track record of writing for environmental permitting, including writing for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD), Texas Historical Commission (THC), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), technical studies, work plans, and health and safety plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This individual will be responsible for management of Environmental Planning and Compliance project tasks, including, but not limited to:

• Help grow the environmental planning practice with proposal support, including approaches to environmental compliance, development of budgets and schedules, and strategic marketing outreach.
• Prepare environmental reports such as Wetland Delineations, Jurisdictional Determinations, Stormwater Protection Plans, Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat Assessments, Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, 1-d-1 Wildlife Management Plans, Wildlife Hazard Assessments, Cultural and Historical Resources, Critical Issues Analysis, Bird and Bat Pre-Construction Risk Assessments, Post Construction Fatality Monitoring, Environmental Resource Inventories, Geological Assessments, Floodplain Health Assessments, etc.
• Clean Water Act permitting, USFWS Habitat Conservation Planning and Incidental Take Permitting, NPDES, TCEQ, NEPA documentation, USFWS Wind Energy Guidelines, TXDOT Compliance and other local state and federal environmental regulations, etc.
• Preparing of technical reports and providing quality assurance/quality control of project documents with a focus on environmental planning and compliance, with client and regulatory agency processes, procedures, and policies and regulations.
• Research and interpret federal, state and local regulations and requirements.
• Collect, manage, and analyze environmental data and information.
• Evaluate project permitting feasibility and work with engineering teams to develop approaches to project design that ensure environmental compliance.
• Interface with regulatory agencies.
• Participate in project meetings, including client, agency, and public forums.
• Work directly with clients to achieve site planning and permitting needs.
• Coordinate with subconsultants. Provide health and safety support. Provide technical support to field staff.
• Managing and performing field audit, sampling, and monitoring for construction projects and industrial facilities
• Project planning, scheduling, and resource management.
• Summarizing, providing, and soliciting communication directly with clients.
• Managing multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines. 
• Managing small to medium projects and teams under group leadership direction and review, then grow into more complex planning and environmental impact assessment projects.
• Directly interact with agency customers, provide technical direction for environmental impact analyses and permitting documents, and manage and mentor technical teams to complete projects within budget and schedule expectations.
• Appropriately delegate project assignments to project team members and mentor junior staff.
• Fieldwork will be required in the initial year to familiarize the employee with our processes to oversee and help train junior staff.

EXPERIENCE & ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 7-8 years of increasing project experience with multi-disciplinary environmental compliance projects and proven responsibility with scope / schedule / budget.  
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulatory agency laws, regulations, and permitting requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Biology, Geology, Hydrology, or other related field. Advanced degree(s) preferred.
• Experience in providing leadership to diverse project teams on high-pressure, high-visibility projects.
• Advanced computer skills with MS Office software, including Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Experience tracking, analyzing, and managing financial data and budgets.
• Advanced knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to include general cartography and spatial data processing.

The ideal candidate will have the following minimum qualifications:

• Solid experience as a task manager for small and medium projects
• Solid working knowledge of Texas environmental planning
• Exceptional technical writing and editing skills, demonstrated by writing samples.
• A demonstrated commitment to high quality technical analysis and critical thinking in the environmental review process
• A tenacious interest in business development with new and existing clients, including experience and/or interest in writing proposals.
• Initiative and confidence working in a collaborative and communicative team.
• Leadership qualities, including interest in mentoring junior staff.
• Ability to maintain client and team relationships and identify risks/liabilities early and often.
• Strong commitment to safety, including following established Health and Safety protocols.
• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
• Ability to multi-task, maintain flexibility, travel, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• USFWS 10a1a permits for central Texas listed species.
• Vegetation and Wildlife identification skills.

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• Proven, excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service emphasis and solution-oriented delivery.
• Leadership and strong ability to work in a collaborative environment.
• Understanding of project risk management.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet timelines.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented with demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
• Good judgment and sound decision-making skills.
• Willingness to provide career and technical mentorship.
• Staying current with relevant technology and innovation.
• Strong interpersonal skills to encourage positive team building within the department.

POSITION CONDITIONS

• This position is performed in an office and field environment.
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs.
• Up to 25% of time may be dedicated to field activities in varying environmental conditions including inclement weather.
• Some night and weekend work may be required for this position.
• May periodically require travel and stays outside of the central Texas area.
• A positive outlook and ability to balance team building, appropriate workloads, and personal life.

Kleinfelder is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 rules)

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES

Please note that Kleinfelder does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Kleinfelder will not consider or agree to payment for any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Kleinfelder explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resume, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Kleinfelder.