Environmental Practice Leader Transportation & Natural Resource

Prime AE Group Inc • Cincinnati, OH

21h • $67,000 - $90,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

PRIME AE is seeking an Environmental Practice Leader – Transportation & Natural Resources to join their team. This role is designed for an environmental professional who wants to remain involved in technical project work while also contributing to the growth of PRIME AE’s environmental capabilities. The position can be structured as either an Environmental Project Manager or an Environmental Practice Leader, depending on the candidate's experience. The ideal candidate will have approximately 6-15 years of experience with a strong technical background in environmental services and a desire to take on more responsibility in project management, client relationships, staff development, and team leadership. Initially, the role involves working with the Transportation and Natural Resources teams on environmental services for infrastructure projects and helping to establish an environmental team. As the practice grows, the role will expand to include managing staff, developing client relationships, supporting business development, and influencing the long-term direction of the environmental practice. Collaboration with various engineering and planning professionals on projects for state DOTs, local agencies, municipalities, and other infrastructure clients is expected. Experience in NEPA documentation, wetland and stream delineations, waterway permitting, natural resources, agency coordination, and environmental compliance is ideal.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Planning, Natural Resources, Civil/Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive environmental consulting, natural resources, or transportation environmental experience.
• Experience supporting transportation and/or infrastructure projects.
• Working knowledge of NEPA, Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401, wetlands, streams, natural resources, environmental permitting, and applicable state and federal requirements.
• Experience preparing and/or supporting NEPA documentation and environmental technical studies.
• Experience with wetland and stream delineations, environmental field investigations, and/or waterway permitting.
• Experience coordinating with state and federal regulatory agencies.
• Project management experience or demonstrated readiness to take on increasing project management responsibilities, including scopes, fees, budgets, schedules, and staffing.
• Strong analytical, technical writing, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary engineering and planning teams.
• Interest in mentoring others and helping build and develop an environmental team.
• Ability and willingness to support client relationships, proposals, and business development activities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with INDOT, KYTC, ODOT, FHWA, and/or local public agencies is preferred.
• Familiarity with applicable Indiana, Kentucky, and/or Ohio environmental procedures and permitting requirements is preferred.
• Existing environmental qualifications, certifications, or the ability to obtain applicable agency prequalification’s is preferred.
• Established industry or agency relationships within Indiana, Kentucky, and/or Ohio are a plus.
• Professional certifications or credentials relevant to environmental or natural resources services are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform and manage environmental services for transportation and infrastructure projects involving state DOTs, local agencies, municipalities, counties, and other public-sector clients.
• Prepare, manage, and review environmental documentation in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable state and federal requirements.
• Prepare and/or review Categorical Exclusions, environmental technical studies and memoranda, environmental commitments, alternatives analyses, agency coordination documentation, and public involvement materials.
• Conduct and/or oversee wetland and stream delineations, jurisdictional waters evaluations, habitat assessments, threatened and endangered species reviews, impact assessments, and other environmental field investigations.
• Prepare and coordinate environmental permits, including Clean Water Act Section 404 permits, Section 401 Water Quality Certifications, state waterway and floodplain permits, and other applicable environmental approvals.
• Coordinate with regulatory and resource agencies, including USACE, USFWS, IDEM, IDNR, Kentucky Division of Water, Ohio EPA, and other applicable agencies.
• Collaborate with roadway, bridge, traffic, drainage, water resources, and other project teams to identify environmental constraints early and incorporate environmental commitments into project development.
• Serve as an environmental project manager and/or technical lead on multidisciplinary transportation and infrastructure projects.
• Develop project scopes, fees, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and technical approaches.
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, quality, and client expectations.
• Provide technical review and QA/QC of environmental documents, studies, permit applications, and other deliverables.
• Maintain awareness of changing environmental regulations, agency procedures, and permitting requirements.
• Build and maintain relationships with transportation agencies, municipalities, regulatory agencies, clients, and teaming partners.
• Identify environmental project opportunities and support proposals, letters of interest, qualifications packages, interviews, and other pursuit activities.
• Help forecast environmental workload and staffing needs as the practice grows.
• Support the recruitment, mentoring, and development of environmental scientists, planners, and specialists as workload increases.
• Help develop technical standards, quality-control procedures, and consistent project-delivery practices for the growing environmental team.
• Support the expansion of environmental prequalification’s, certifications, and service capabilities.
• Participate in industry organizations, conferences, agency meetings, and professional events.
• Balance technical project responsibilities with client development and business development activities to help establish a sustainable environmental workload and backlog.

Benefits

• Flexible career paths across disciplines, from technical expertise to project and people leadership.
• Supportive, flexible environment where careers are built intentionally.
• Work on projects that improve everyday life.
• Colleagues who challenge and respect one another.
• Trust, integrity, and collaboration are valued.
• Projects that strengthen communities, infrastructure, and public spaces.
• Strategic expansion backed by strong leadership and investment.
• National reach with the agility and relationships of local offices.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive environment where differences are respected, voices are heard, and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

What This Job Offers

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