Environmental Scientist, Planning Waters Team Lead

Stantec•San Diego, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Stantec is seeking an experienced Environmental Scientist to serve as a Planning Waters Team Lead for a large utility client within its environmental planning and natural resources practice. The role provides technical and operational leadership for planning-related waters work, including jurisdictional waters and aquatic resources assessments, regulatory permitting, technical documentation, and environmental review. The position calls for applying advanced practical knowledge, exercising independent judgment, and resolving complex technical and project-delivery issues within established professional and regulatory practices. It also includes mentoring, work coordination, quality oversight, and technical direction for environmental scientists and multidisciplinary team members. The role is based out of Stantec’s San Diego, California office, though alignment with other Stantec offices may be considered based on experience. Stantec offers flexible work locations, including working from home, and flexible work hours. The typical office environment involves working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, wetland science, natural resources, soil science, botany, environmental planning, or a related discipline.
Minimum of five years of directly related professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Advanced practical knowledge of aquatic resources, jurisdictional waters, wetlands, streams, riparian systems, and related environmental planning and permitting requirements.
Working knowledge of the Clean Water Act, including Sections 404 and 401; applicable state water-quality requirements; Waste Discharge Requirements; and California Fish and Game Code Section 1600 requirements.
Experience developing aquatic resource permitting strategies and preparing or reviewing permit applications and supporting technical documentation.
Ability to independently evaluate complex technical and regulatory issues, interpret available information, and recommend practical, defensible solutions.
Demonstrated ability to lead technical workstreams, coordinate workloads, guide teams, and deliver assignments within established scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations.
Experience mentoring staff, reviewing technical work, providing constructive feedback, and supporting employee development.
Strong technical writing, editing, verbal communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
Ability to communicate technical information clearly to clients, project managers, multidisciplinary teams, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
Ability to build productive professional relationships and work collaboratively across offices, disciplines, and business lines.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to technically accurate, complete, and high-quality deliverables.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat.
Valid driver’s license and clean MVR.
Experience successfully leading the technical aspects of small to medium projects or significant workstreams within larger, multidisciplinary projects.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting utility, energy, transportation, infrastructure, restoration, or land-development projects.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and functional leadership for planning-related waters assignments, including aquatic resource evaluations, jurisdictional waters delineations, desktop assessments, field investigations, permitting, and environmental documentation.
Coordinate team workloads, assign or recommend assignments based on staff qualifications and availability, monitor schedules and deliverables, and identify resource needs or delivery risks.
Provide technical direction, coaching, mentoring, and quality-control support to junior and intermediate staff.
Develop regulatory strategies for projects requiring aquatic resource approvals or consultation.
Prepare and review permit applications and supporting materials associated with Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401, Waste Discharge Requirements, and California Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, as applicable.
Prepare, review, and provide quality assurance and quality control for jurisdictional waters delineation reports, Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports, technical memoranda, biological resources reports, and permit packages.
Interpret federal, state, and local environmental requirements and advise project teams on regulatory pathways, risks, data needs, and recommended next steps.
Coordinate with clients, project managers, technical specialists, and regulatory agencies regarding project requirements, technical findings, schedules, deliverables, and permitting strategies.
Lead or support agency coordination and negotiations, including responding to agency comments and requests for supplemental information.
Review team members’ work for technical accuracy, consistency, regulatory defensibility, completeness, and adherence to quality standards.
Develop and improve team procedures, templates, quality-control tools, technical guidance, and training materials to support consistent project delivery.
Apply Stantec and client health, safety, security, and environmental requirements.