Assistant Vice President, Environmental Planning

WSP • Kansas City, MO

3d

About The Position

WSP is seeking an Assistant Vice President, Environmental Planner to lead environmental review for Midwest transportation projects. This position could be located in one of the following WSP Midwest offices: Kansas City, MO; St. Louis, MO; Chicago, IL; Omaha, NE; Lincoln, NE; or Minneapolis, MN.

We have an immediate opening for a motivated and highly skilled environmental planner with demonstrated history leading environmental review teams for transportation projects. This position is expected to serve as a technical expert, client advisor, and staff mentor for transportation projects. This position will work closely with planning, environmental, civil and other engineering, and transit/rail staff across WSP to help our communities’ transportation projects be realized.

This position will provide subject matter technical environmental planning support and leadership to minimize the environmental impacts of commercial, industrial, utility, transmission, development, infrastructure, construction, pipeline, and/or transportation related projects. Provides guidance for multi-site/phase environmental planning, site and impact assessment, restoration, land use management plans, public involvement, and ensuring environmental regulatory compliance and environmental permitting projects. Ensures environmental planning-related project elements and processes are conveyed and acted upon with a high level of quality and compliance to accurately address environmental impact and long-term ecological risks by applying and integrating urban and regional planning with a focus on sustainability. Responsible for providing situational guidance to PMs and managers that address current and future challenges associated with environmental impact assessment, corrective/mitigation strategy, permitting, and/or restoration. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Planning, Urban Planning, Geography, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience.)
• 10+ years of experience working in the environmental planning field, completing environmental surveys, fieldwork, habitat and construction support, impact assessments, and permitting.
• Highly proficient expertise with environmental planning skills for a specific ecosystem(s), habitat(s), and/or applicable regulatory zone.
• Extensive knowledge of relevant environmental laws, permitting requirements, notification and compliance practices, and applicable Regional/State/Federal regulatory framework.
• Demonstrated technical competence leading environmental permitting of assigned projects within business sector (e.g. commercial, infrastructure, transportation, energy, etc.)
• Well-defined experience in conducting Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments in accordance with ASTM guidelines and industry standards.
• Advanced expertise with consulting practices, conducting NEPA / CEQA / other analysis and preparation of associated documentation.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.
• Strong self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Experience with discipline-specific software (i.e., ArcGIS, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch-Up).
• Proficiency with technical and business writing, office automation and communication software, technology, and tools.
• Extensive critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, and identify the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience leading environmental review for Midwest transportation projects.
• Master’s Degree is preferred.
• Essential professional licensure/certification.
• Knowledge of and experience with Illinois Department of Transportation BDE and BLR (or other state or regional agency equivalent) policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Working alongside our engineering team partners, provide technical leadership as an environmental review expert for a variety of transportation projects across the Midwest.
• Lead environmental review teams of WSP and subconsultant staff to deliver state-of-the-art projects developed with communities, agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
• Provide oversight with data collection efforts for identifying and compiling observational, spatial, and environmental data concerning a variety of matrices for projects, investigations, and surveys.
• Ensure the appropriate use of topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS data, and other visualization tools to determine exact locations of project areas, associated physical and wildlife sensitivities, and to uncover primary, secondary, and tertiary environmental impacts.
• Prepare, complete, and/or review environmental survey reports, data entry, impact assessment, and permitting activities for assigned projects (e.g. Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act permitting, CEQA, NEPA, etc.).
• Ensure technical reports and presentations explain research, findings, and recommendations to plan, address, prevent, control, or restore larger-scale environmental challenges and complex problems.
• Perform professional environmental planning work and conduct investigations, inspections, and environmental studies and surveys to gain further information on a particular environmental problem or issue, verify site characteristics, and/or plan for future environmental needs, site impact, habitat types, and associated physical and wildlife sensitivities.
• Conduct and provide guidance on environmental site assessments (Phase I and II).
• Prepare data and visualizations such as tables, charts, reports, models, cross-sections, and other illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex and larger scale data, findings, or analyses.
• Prepare comprehensive technical reports and presentations that explain research, findings, and recommendations to address, prevent, control, or restore more complex or larger-scale environmental problems.
• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, environmental planning, permitting strategy, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory strategy, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.
• Participate in the application process for environmental permits to address issues or concerns – undertaking any resulting corrective strategies to minimize impacts to the health of the environment and the population.
• Provide high level oversite for desk-based research and site work, including measurements, data interpretation, demographics, patterns and trends, and computer modeling.
• Coordinate with clients, resource agencies, and environmental and technical staff, providing a high level of strategic advice, consultancy, and subject matter expertise.
• Develop a client base for providing high level environmental planning services including identifying additional business development opportunities and engaging in proposal writing and submission.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.
• Remain current in latest environmental planning subject matter, practices, regulations, and techniques.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Benefits

• Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level