Environmental Permitting, Lead

Westwood Professional Services•West Henrietta, NY

About The Position

The Environmental Permitting Lead serves as a technical lead and project manager for environmental permitting and compliance activities supporting electric transmission, distribution, substation, and utility infrastructure projects. The role leads proposal preparation, permitting strategy development, agency coordination, environmental review processes, and regulatory compliance to advance projects from planning through construction. It works closely with project managers, engineers, environmental specialists, clients, and regulatory agencies to identify permitting requirements, mitigate environmental risks, and support project schedules and budgets. The Lead also provides technical guidance and mentorship to environmental staff and supports business development and client engagement. The position oversees permitting across multiple concurrent power delivery projects, develops project-specific permitting plans, coordinates environmental studies and technical documentation, and leads client, agency, and stakeholder discussions. It monitors permitting and compliance performance, manages quality review of deliverables, supports construction and post-permit compliance, and helps improve permitting tools and workflows.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Natural Resources, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
At least 8 years of environmental permitting experience supporting utility and energy projects in the Northeast United States.
Demonstrated experience leading environmental permitting for transmission, distribution, substation, renewable energy, or other power delivery projects.
Strong knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permitting frameworks.
Experience coordinating with regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state environmental agencies, and local jurisdictions.
Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities while maintaining schedule and budget performance.
Strong understanding of environmental review processes, including NEPA, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and associated permitting requirements.
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate technical resources across multiple projects.
Strong communication and leadership skills, including experience leading agency meetings, client discussions, and project coordination efforts.
Ability to identify project risks, resolve complex permitting issues, and provide practical solutions with minimal oversight.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and environmental permitting documentation workflows.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as AICP, CEP, PWS, or a related environmental credential.
Experience supporting large utility capital programs and multi-state transmission projects.
Direct experience managing NEPA documentation efforts and federal permitting processes.
Familiarity with utility-specific environmental compliance requirements and agency coordination practices.
Experience supporting proposal development, client account management, and business development initiatives.
Experience leading environmental teams and mentoring junior permitting professionals.
Working knowledge of GIS applications and environmental constraints analysis.

Responsibilities

Support proposal development, fee estimates, scope development, and project pursuit activities for environmental permitting services.
Interpret project contracts and scope requirements to align environmental deliverables with client expectations and project obligations.
Lead and oversee environmental permitting for multiple concurrent power delivery projects, including permitting strategies, agency coordination, and regulatory compliance.
Develop and execute permitting plans for transmission lines, substations, distribution systems, renewable energy facilities, and related infrastructure improvements.
Serve as the primary permitting lead for clients, project teams, and regulatory agencies throughout project development and execution.
Interpret federal, state, and local environmental regulations and translate requirements into project-specific permitting strategies.
Coordinate environmental studies, field investigations, and technical reports supporting permit applications and environmental reviews.
Lead preparation and review of permit applications, environmental assessments, environmental constraints analyses, and regulatory documentation.
Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, including environmental scientists, engineers, cultural resource specialists, surveyors, and planners.
Identify permitting risks, schedule constraints, scope gaps, and regulatory challenges; develop mitigation strategies and coordinate resolution.
Lead client meetings, agency consultations, and stakeholder discussions regarding permitting requirements, project impacts, and regulatory approvals.
Monitor project schedules, budgets, quality objectives, and agency commitments from a permitting and compliance perspective.
Lead project coordination meetings and provide permitting status updates to project teams and clients.
Oversee quality assurance and quality control of environmental permitting deliverables for consistency, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
Provide mentorship, technical guidance, and training to environmental staff on regulations, processes, and industry best practices.
Support construction and post-permit compliance, including permit condition tracking, agency reporting, and environmental inspections.
Monitor regulatory trends and emerging requirements that may affect utility and power delivery projects.
Identify and implement improvements to permitting tools, workflows, templates, and processes.
Support client engagement, business development, and proposal activities.