Senior Environmental Practice Leader – Southern California Water Sector

GEI Consultants, Inc. is seeking a Senior Environmental Practice Leader for the Southern California water sector, based in Pasadena or San Diego, CA. The role involves leading environmental compliance projects, managing client relationships, and mentoring staff. Candidates should have 20+ years of experience in environmental planning and CEQA/NEPA compliance, particularly in water resources. The position offers significant growth opportunities within the company.
Description Your role at GEI. GEI has an outstanding senior-level opportunity in California to support continued growth of our Environmental Services Practice in the Southern California water sector.


The ideal candidate is an industry recognized leader in environmental planning, CEQA/NEPA compliance, permitting and regulatory compliance, and/or biological resources. The position could be located in GEI’s Pasadena office or San Diego office. The position involves working with existing GEI environmental staff in Southern California to win and execute work with water agencies and on water projects in Southern California.


The position has tremendous, short- and long-term growth opportunities for your career within GEI. Get to know GEI’s Environmental Services better by visiting GEI’s website at https://ecoandenviro.geiconsultants.com/


As part of our multidisciplinary project teams, you will have an important role winning, leading, and managing projects; interfacing with existing and new clients to ensure their environmental compliance needs are met; overseeing technical work and document preparation with your area of expertise; and working as part of our team to solve an array of water and environmental issues critical to California’s environmental, water, and energy landscape.


Essential Responsibilities & Duties



Win, lead, plan, and manage contracts for CEQA/NEPA compliance, environmental permitting, biological resources, and/or other environmental services in the water sector throughout Southern California.
Serve as Project Director, Project Manager, and/or Environmental Task Leader and manage the technical, financial, and client relationship aspects of projects.
Identify, evaluate, and solve complex environmental and regulatory issues facing our clients.
Strategically identify new leads and work with existing environmental services staff to pursue environmental work.
As part of integrated teams, work closely and collaboratively with other project environmental specialists, planners, scientist, and engineers to execute projects.
Participate in regional/office planning and initiatives to implement key growth initiatives, expand environmental services, and effectively serve existing and new clients.
Maintain high visibility in the marketplace through regular client contact, maintaining strong client relationships, participate and encourage active participation in professional organizations, and make presentations at client and industry events.
Mentor and develop staff and serve as a role model for leadership, company culture, and values within the region.

Minimum Qualifications

BA, BS, MA, MS, or Ph.D. in Environmental Studies, Environmental or Biological Sciences, Archaeology, Urban Planning, Geography, or other natural or physical sciences from an accredited college or university.
20+ years of relevant experience as a Project Manager and/or Director for CEQA/NEPA compliance, environmental permitting, and/or biological resources.
Experience in water resources, water conveyance and storage infrastructure, groundwater recharge, water supply development, water and wastewater treatment, recycled water, ecosystem restoration, and/or other water sector projects.
Recent experience in the water sector in Southern California including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego counties.
Experience closely collaborating with engineering and water resources planning teams on complex water resources and infrastructure projects.
Strong reputation for high-quality work products and regulatory problem solving within the industry.
Seller-Doer with established network of clients and contacts, entrepreneurial spirit, and a successful track record in business development.
Experience identifying and winning new work, including capture planning and leading proposal teams, and preferably growing/building teams.
Outstanding problem-solving, organization, coordination, writing, people, and verbal communication skills; solid work ethic; and ability to work independently and as part of multidisciplinary teams.

We are GEI.
Some of the world’s most pressing problems – from climate change to sustainable development, to critical infrastructure and the future of our energy supply – need our brightest and diverse minds working together to create safer, more resilient communities for tomorrow.
We are technical experts, collaborators, and entrepreneurs who draw from diverse backgrounds to solve our clients’ most complex challenges.
With several offices across North America, we offer a range of engineering, science, and techni