Environmental Manager

Grid United•Houston, TX

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Grid United is a mission-driven company established in 2021, focused on developing new long-haul transmission lines in the United States to improve grid reliability and provide economic benefits. The company is expanding its Environmental Team to support multiple large-scale linear infrastructure projects in the desert southwest. The Environmental Manager / Senior Environmental Manager will collaborate with a team of experts, supporting routing and siting efforts, executing permitting strategies, and managing external consultants and agency coordination. This role can be remote in Arizona or New Mexico, or based in the Houston, Texas office.

Requirements

5+ years of experience working directly on environmental compliance and permitting within the energy sector. Experience in large scale linear infrastructure projects preferred, ideally with electric transmission lines and/or pipelines.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental science, planning, ecology, environmental planning, engineering or related field or relevant industry experience.
A proven track record of permitting and/or construction support for industrial scale energy projects with a preference for electric transmission.
Ability to effectively communicate, both written and verbal, with Federal agencies, Tribal governments, state agencies, eNGOs, and land use planning or zoning entities, on a variety of technical topics.
Working familiarity with federal and state laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines, that may be applicable to permitting the construction and operation of electric transmission, including direct experience with EIS-level NEPA compliance reviews, ESA and NHPA consultations, state-level environmental quality act reviews, local zoning authorizations, as well as post-permitting compliance and implementation.
Technical understanding of environmental issues related to industrial development and permitting, including but not limited to land use/zoning, biological, aquatic, cultural, noise, visual, and socioeconomic considerations.
Working knowledge of geospatial and land use planning analysis; Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Knowledge of industry environmental standards for transmission line siting, design, construction and project execution and risks related to the same.
Demonstrated ability to manage financial and scheduling aspects of environmental projects.
Keen, demonstrated interest in the transmission grid and energy generation.
Self-starter and decisive individual who possesses both a strategic and operational focus.
Strong leadership presence as well as the ability to effectively influence and make recommendations at all levels of the organization.
Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team; able to work in a dynamic environment and adapt as needed.
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills; anticipates future consequences and trends and incorporates this information into the organizational plan.
Strong project management skills, including the ability to think end-to-end and manage multiple priorities/projects simultaneously often on short timelines.
Proven leader, with the ability to recruit, develop and mentor a top-notch team capable of supporting future growth.
Demonstrated leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and community.
Adaptive with the ability to synthesize the complex into the simple, the successful candidate will enjoy the ground floor “builder” aspect of this role in an early-stage, high-growth and mission driven company – and will thrive in the structure of a small but well-funded company undergoing rapid growth.

Nice To Haves

Experience in large scale linear infrastructure projects preferred, ideally with electric transmission lines and/or pipelines.
Preference for electric transmission experience.
Ability to travel approximately 15-30% of time, as needed.

Responsibilities

Manage and progress environmental compliance, permitting, pre-construction and construction for multiple major infrastructure projects across the desert southwest and collaborate internally on a wide array of environmental technical and policy matters.
Plan, manage, and monitor environmental aspects of large, multidisciplinary transmission projects with high degree of technical complexity and often novel permitting issues including permit applications, siting, layout planning, scoping and review of environmental studies, State and Federal agency consultations, tribal meetings, and stakeholder engagement.
Support transmission line routing with subject matter expertise related to environmental sensitivities, policy and permitting requirements, and defensible linear siting best practices.
Manage third party technical and environmental consultants including scoping, directing and reviewing work products.
Support, conduct and/or oversee environmental due diligence efforts to support project identification and development plans, define permitting strategy, and navigate emerging policy.
Support schedule and budget development, and track project performance toward meeting established project goals.
Collaboratively determine technical and environmental study needs, oversee performance of studies and preparation of reports, and interpret and disseminate study results for a wide variety of environmental topics including biological, aquatic, cultural, and other environmental resources.
Effectively interpret, summarize, discuss and implement environmental policies and regulations, and coordinate strategic environmental compliance approaches with internal and external teams.
Coordinate the timely completion of federal and state agency environmental compliance documentation supporting permit decisions including but not limited to major environmental actions subject to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and state environmental policy, as well as compliance with various federal or state natural and cultural resource laws.
Support successful execution through management and preparation of construction and operation environmental compliance, management, or mitigation documentation, such as Environmental Management Plans, Avian Protection Plans and Transmission Vegetation Management Plans.
Ensure compliance with environmental permits and mitigation measures during construction and execution phases.
Coordinate with construction teams and contractors to integrate environmental requirements into daily operations.
Facilitate/lead meetings with a variety of stakeholders including contactors, third parties, regulatory agency staff, Native American Tribes, and Grid United staff for a range of environmental and development matters.