Environmental Project Planner I or II - Atlanta, TX

The Texas Department of Transportation is seeking an Environmental Project Planner I or II in Atlanta, TX. The role involves coordinating environmental planning activities for transportation projects, liaising with agencies and stakeholders, evaluating environmental impacts, preparing technical studies, and managing project schedules. The position requires independent work on assignments and collaboration with various teams to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Coordinates and manages environmental planning activities associated with transportation projects for the Department. Work includes serving as the liaison with state and federal resource agencies, environmental and special interest groups, consultant staff, and internal project sponsors. Employees at this level follow standard practices that do not require frequent supervision of details; may perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

Essential Duties:

ENV Project Planner I
• Consults and coordinates with districts project managers, planners, engineers, and environmental staff on refinement of projects to avoid and minimize environmental impacts.
• Consults and coordinates with representatives of regulatory agencies, special interest groups, the public, and Department personnel related to environmental resources.
• Evaluates potential environmental impact of transportation projects on noise, air, hazardous materials, biological, water, geological, socioeconomic, environmental justice, protected lands, and cultural (historic and archeological) resources.
• Prepares and reviews routine environmental related schedules, scopes of work, and deliverables for project delivery prepared by department staff and/or consultants.
• Prepares technical studies, in support of categorical exclusions, to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Reviews environmental schedules, scopes of work, and deliverables for project delivery prepared by department staff and/or consultants for engineering and/or scientific services contracts.
• Reviews, evaluates, monitors, and/or approves consultant work related to environmental studies.
• Schedules and coordinates public involvement activities for related environmental/planning projects and environmental/planning studies.
• Monitors and researches current and proposed relevant environmental technical studies, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Conducts and/or coordinates field surveys, assessments, and/or project investigations for incorporation into environmental technical studies.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

ENV Project Planner II
• Conducts and/or coordinates field surveys, assessments, and project investigations for incorporation into environmental technical studies and environmental documents.
• Reviews and recommends for approval for contracts, subcontracts, procurement documents, supplements, agreements, time extensions, acceptance testing/deliverable documents, and consultant qualifications for engineering and scientific services contracts related to environmental studies.
• Reviews, approves, and/or prepares complex environmental schedules, scopes of work, and deliverables for project delivery prepared by department staff and/or consultants for engineering and/or scientific services contracts.
• Prepares technical studies, categorical exclusions, and environmental assessments to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal environmental laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Consults and coordinates with districts project managers, planners, engineers, and environmental staff on refinement of projects to avoid and minimize environmental impacts.
• Consults and coordinates with representatives of regulatory agencies, special interest groups, the public, and Department personnel related to environmental resources.
• Evaluates potential environmental impact of transportation projects on noise, air, hazardous materials, biological, water, geological, socioeconomic, environmental justice, protected lands, and cultural (historic and archeological) resources.
• Reviews, evaluates, monitors, and/or approves consultant work related to environmental studies.
• Schedules and coordinates public involvement activities for related environmental/planning projects and environmental/planning studies.
• Monitors and researches current and proposed relevant environmental technical studies, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Performs other job responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in any discipline. (Related experience in environmental, planning, project management or other related fields may be substituted for education. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications)

Experience:

ENV Project Planner I: No experience required.
ENV Project Planner II: 3 YEARS environmental, planning, project management or other relevant experience. (Experience can be satisfied by fulltime or prorated parttime equivalent)

Licenses and Certifications: Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

Competencies:

Knowledge of:
• Environmental laws, regulations, and mitigation requirements
• Writing methodologies and strategies to develop and implement appropriate informational and educations materials related to environmental studies and activities

Skill in:
• Administration support practices and procedures to include writing, editing and report writing techniques, recording meeting notes, record keeping, and records management.
• Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others.
• Using computer applications including (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat) or related applications and systems
• Collecting, analyzing, and organizing business and technical data
• Researching, analyzing, developing, interpreting, and implementing policies, procedures, and technical information specific to functional areas.
• Planning, leading, coordinating, monitoring, handling, and establishing goals and objectives for multiple environmental programs/projects within area of responsibility to meeting short and long term deadlines.

Ability to:
• Build, establish, and maintain effective working relationships and coalitions and negotiating settlement of differences without damaging relationships; applying effective questioning listening techniques to determine other parties' positions in a direct and diplomatic manner.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Light work: Lift up to 20 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs
• Talking- expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken words
• Repetitive Motion - substantial movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Close Visual Acuity- work includes data/figures; view and computer screen; extensive reading
• Visual Acuity- determine work qualify/ make general observations of facilities/structures

Conditions of Employment:
Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)
• Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
• Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize “medical marijuana” under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.