Senior Environmental Scientist

This Opportunity

WSP is seeking a Senior Environmental Scientist to support the planning, permitting, and execution of linear infrastructure projects throughout New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic region. The successful candidate will provide environmental permitting, natural resource assessments, regulatory coordination, and environmental compliance support for projects including electric transmission and distribution lines, pipelines, transportation corridors, renewable energy facilities, telecommunications infrastructure, and other linear development projects.

This role requires a strong understanding of New Jersey environmental regulations, environmental permitting processes, and natural resource evaluations. The candidate will work closely with clients, regulatory agencies, engineers, planners, and multidisciplinary project teams to obtain environmental approvals while maintaining project schedules and minimizing environmental impacts.

Your Impact

Environmental Permitting

• Lead and support preparation of environmental permit applications and approvals with agencies including: 
  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Develop permitting strategies to support project development and construction schedules
• Coordinate and track permit approvals and regulatory commitments

Natural Resource Evaluations

• Conduct and oversee: 
  • Wetland delineations
  • Stream and open water assessments
  • Flood hazard area evaluations
  • Threatened and endangered species habitat assessments
  • Ecological reconnaissance surveys
  • Environmental constraints analyses
• Interpret environmental data and prepare technical reports to support permit applications and agency consultations

Project Delivery

• Support planning, design, and construction phases of linear infrastructure projects
• Review engineering plans and identify environmental constraints and permitting considerations
• Prepare environmental impact analyses, permit exhibits, environmental constraints mapping, and supporting technical documentation
• Coordinate environmental field investigations and manage subcontractors and specialty consultants

Regulatory Agency Coordination

• Serve as a technical liaison with regulatory agencies and clients
• Participate in agency meetings, field reviews, and project coordination meetings
• Respond to agency comments and prepare permit application revisions as required

Program and Project Management

• Manage environmental tasks and small to medium-sized projects independently
• Develop scopes of work, schedules, and cost estimates
• Monitor budgets, schedules, and project deliverables
• Mentor junior staff and provide quality reviews of technical work products

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Geography, or related field
• 5-7 years of environmental consulting, permitting, or regulatory experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting environmental permitting for linear infrastructure projects
• Working knowledge of: 
  • NJDEP Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act rules
  • Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules
  • Coastal Zone Management rules
  • Federal Clean Water Act Sections 401 and 404
  • Endangered Species Act
• Experience preparing technical reports and permit applications
• Familiarity with GIS mapping and environmental constraints analysis
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to conduct field work in varying weather and site conditions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with electric transmission, distribution, pipeline, transportation, or renewable energy projects
• Experience conducting NJDEP and USACE permit applications and agency negotiations
• Working knowledge of environmental permitting associated with utility corridor projects
• Project management experience, including budget and schedule oversight

WSP Benefits: 

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings. 

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $92,600 - $122,700

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
 

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