Environmental Consultant

The Planet Group seeks an Environmental Consultant in Richmond, VA, with at least 5 years of experience in environmental permitting for construction projects. Candidates should manage multiple projects, understand regulations, and have regulatory agency experience. Responsibilities include reviewing electric transmission projects, determining permit requirements, preparing applications, and ensuring compliance. Some travel within Virginia and North Carolina is required for site meetings and inspections.
Top “must have” skill sets:

• Minimum of 5 years work experience with environmental permitting.

• Experience with permitting of construction projects with land and water impact

• Ability to juggle multiple projects from multiple project managers

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret new and existing regulations and apply to construction projects

• Experience with permits related to wetlands (including threatened and endangered species and cultural resource coordination), erosion and sediment control, and stormwater management for construction projects.

• Regulatory agency experience or experience representing an organization with regulatory agencies is required.

Top Nice to Have Skill:

• Experience with environmental permitting of linear utilities (gas, electric, water or sewer) is a plus.

• Knowledge of environmental justice issues is a plus.

• Knowledge of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a plus

• Ability to communicate with wide variety of staff, including designers, constructors, regulators, management

Soft Skills Required:

• Ability to make rapid decisions on permit requirements for projects

• Ability to communicate permitting requirements, barriers and schedules to project team

• Must be confident representing environmental concerns with non-environmental staff

Position description:

Client has a need to engage a full-time augmented staff member to manage environmental permitting of projects for electric transmission construction in Virginia and North Carolina. This person will be located in the Richmond Office with some travel day travel in Virginia or North Carolina. Day travel to exterior job sites and meetings may be required. Work Description Position has responsibility for conducting reviews of proposed electric transmission projects to determine environmental permitting requirements and obtaining environmental permits in Virginia and North Carolina. In general, the individual will be working with project managers to understand the scope of a project, then engaging with external consultants and directing the work of these consultants to create the permit applications and other deliverables, while managing the quality and timeliness of the vendor’s work.

Job duties:

• Coordinate with project managers to understand the scope of new and replacement electric transmission projects and apply knowledge of environmental regulations to determine what, if any, environmental permits are required.

• Determine environmental permit applicability with specific knowledge of CWA Section 404/401, ESA Section 7, NHPA Section 106, Erosion and Sediment Control, and Virginia and North Carolina Stormwater Management Programs.

• With support from other vendors, prepare applications and secure environmental permits or clearances required for construction.

• Communicate environmental compliance requirements to project teams and field personnel. Depending on the project, communications may be held during project site meetings.

• Technical assistance to sites/projects for environmental compliance.

• Interpret environmental permits and regulations to ensure that compliance dates and requirements are met.

• Communicate with regulatory agency representatives, negotiate permit conditions, may represent the client during regulatory inspections, and other regulatory meetings.

• Oversight and technical direction of contractors and consultants including preparation of scopes of work, purchase requisitions, permit applications, permit support materials, and invoice approval.

• Adherence to environmental policy, guidance, and work practices.

• Adherence to the client's safety rules and safety performance expectations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Minimum of 5 years work experience with environmental permitting.

• Experience with permits related to wetlands (including threatened and endangered species and cultural resource coordination), erosion and sediment control, and stormwater management.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret new and existing regulations and apply to construction projects

• Regulatory agency experience or experience representing an organization with regulatory agencies is required.

• Experience with environmental permitting of linear utilities (gas, electric, water or sewer) is a plus.

• Knowledge of environmental justice issues is a plus.

• Knowledge of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a plus

• Well organized, independent/self-directed, and able to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.

• Strong communication (written and oral) and coordination skills.

• Good interpersonal skills and collaborative.

• License or ability to obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle is required.

• Ability to work in both office setting and at project sites is required.

• Ability to work outdoors in potential weather extremes (heat, cold) is required.

• Must be willing to undergo background check.

• Ability to travel to support projects in the client's electric transmission footprint in Virginia and North Carolina. Target may be as much as 25% depending on business need.