Environmental Planner

State of Virginia • Colonial Heights, VA

346d • $71,797 - $116,670 • Remote

About The Position

The VDOT Richmond District Environmental Team is seeking two Environmental Planners to serve the 14 counties of the Richmond District and to provide environmental leadership, technical guidance, and assistance by assessing the applicability and scope of various environmental activities, including representation of those scopes at interdivisional meetings, and contributing to interdivisional work products. This position will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to implement preliminary engineering activities for VDOT projects and provide recommendations and solutions to environmental issues.

Requirements

• Knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, policies, programs, and procedures relative to transportation.
• Knowledge of transportation project development practices involving planning, traffic, design, right of way, and construction.
• Knowledge and experience performing technical environmental analysis and compiling reports of analytical results to include environmental impact analysis.
• Ability to work as a team member or leader of inter-disciplinary teams under the pressure of deadlines.
• Ability to read and interpret project plans, contracts, special provisions, laws and regulations and environmental program and project documents.
• Ability to effectively negotiate solutions to environmental obstacles.
• Ability to build rapport and to convey technical information in a format easily understood by diverse groups.
• Skilled in computers to include spreadsheet and database software.
• Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in environmental sciences, natural sciences, forestry and vegetation management, biology, ecology, chemistry, geology, cultural resources, hydrology, hydraulics, social sciences, environmental or urban planning preferred; equivalent experience or training may substitute for progressively responsible experience in professional level environmental technical programs, planning, and engineering.
• Experience preparing NEPA and/or Section 4(f) documents for transportation projects, including but not limited to Categorical Exclusions.
• Progressively responsible experience in professional level environmental technical programs, planning, and engineering.
• Experience reflecting knowledge of highway transportation environmental processes and programs and ability to apply that knowledge to all phases of the project development process.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing to include preparing and delivering presentations regarding construction projects and environmental impacts.
• Ability to effectively negotiate solutions to environmental conflicts and adverse impacts.
• Mapping and GIS knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop NEPA and SERP documents, and other environmental documents including NEPA re-evaluations and Section 4(f) evaluations.
• Serve as the environmental team lead for VDOT projects, participate in project development meetings, and coordinate project milestone plan reviews.
• Advocate options to design engineers for environmental impact avoidance and minimization and identify mitigation alternatives.
• Provide oversight and assistance to VDOT's Locally Administered Project (LAP) program.
• Serve as District environmental team lead for the development of RFP documents for Design Build projects.
• Review contracts and plan sets with an eye towards all environmental implications.
• Complete other environmental review tasks.
• Additional areas of responsibility may be assigned as required or needed.

Benefits

• Excellent health and life insurance benefits
• Pre-tax spending accounts
• State funded Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Paid holidays
• Vacation
• Tuition assistance
• Free wellness programs
• State retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees