Renewable Energy Environmental Planner

Description

Stantec is hiring a Renewable Energy Environmental Planner/Permitting Specialist to support our Environmental Assessment, Permitting, and Compliance Business Line with an emphasis on assessment and permitting of renewable energy facilities and associated electric transmission and/or battery storage infrastructure. Job responsibilities include leading and preparing proposals, overseeing the preparation of environmental impact analysis documents and related technical studies and discretionary permit applications, managing projects, and supervising staff. This position offers the selected individual the ability to apply their technical, project management, and business development experience to a diverse range of projects and clients across California, professional development opportunities within an established and rapidly growing consulting organization.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, manage the preparation, and review all types of environmental impact documents and associated mitigation programs in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), i.e., Initial Studies, Negative Declarations,
• Environmental Impact Reports and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and exemptions/exclusions.
• Prepare, manage the preparation of, and review technical studies and associated field surveys informing CEQA and/or NEPA documents, e.g., biological resources surveys and reports, cultural resources surveys and reports, geotechnical surveys and reports, air quality reports, wetland delineations, etc.
• Oversee preparation of environmental permit applications with various federal, state, and local agencies for a variety of project types/sizes.
• Manage tasks and/or projects. Manage the project or task team (office- and field-based) and their assignments, deliverables, files and administrative record, safety program, subconsultants and their contracting process, and client and their and monitor and review project contracts, deliverables, schedule, and budget.
• Maintain a 70 - 80% direct project utilization goal.

Qualifications

• Experienced CEQA/NEPA practitioner and environmental planner with ability to guide projects through the California and federal environmental permitting processes from constraints analysis/scoping through construction/certification.
• Experience with environmental permitting for large, utility-scale solar and wind (on- and off-shore) and battery storage projects.
• Ability to analyze information, develop appropriate impact conclusions, and author feasible and effective mitigation measures.
• Ability to plan, oversee, document, and review technical studies and associated field surveys informing environmental documents and/or constraints analyses.
• Experience developing complex technical documentation and navigating multi-agency jurisdictions for projects with substantial community involvement or major environmental constraints.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and accountability.
• Recent project experience in California.
• Effective in-person, video conference, and written communication with direct reports, colleagues, clients, regulatory agencies, the public, and subconsultants, and the ability to plan, lead, and document such communications.
• Ability to work individually and as part of team, and proven ability to lead a team.
• Valid driver's license and good driving record required.
• Ability to travel periodically to support project work and business development.
• Proficiency with MS Office suite (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Project, Adobe Acrobat, Excel).

Education and Experience

• Related field required, Master’s degree preferred.
• 5 - 10 years of overall experience including permitting experience on renewable or traditional energy projects and demonstrated project or task lead experience.
• Experience with environmental permitting for large, utility-scale solar and wind (on- and off-shore) and battery storage projects.
• Industry-specific training (specialized field surveys methods, CEQA/NEPA courses), certifications (e.g., PWS, CWB, AICP, HAZWOPER), or species-specific handling permits a plus.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and county permitting processes and applications (e.g., Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Bureau of Land Management Right-of-Way Grant, California Fish and Wildlife 1600 Permit, California Coastal Act, county Conditional Use Permit).
• CEQA/NEPA agencies (e.g., Bureau of Land Management, California Public Utilities Commission, Caltrans, counties).
• Experience with diverse project types (renewable and traditional energy, electrical transmission, battery storage, transportation, water, and community development projects).
• Familiarity with federal and state habitat conservation planning programs (e.g., Habitat Conservation Plans, Natural Community Conservation Plans).
• Training or academic background in a technical field such as air quality, cultural resources, hazardous materials, biological resources, or environmental law a plus.
• Experience with scheduling, budgeting, contracting, or invoicing programs.