Principal Environmental Professional (Geologist or Engineer)

Onterris•Santa Ana, CA

13d•$120,000 - $150,000•Remote

About The Position

The Principal Environmental Professional serves as a strategic leader, technical expert, and mentor, representing Onterris professionally with clients, staff, and teaming partners. The role supports project success, strengthens client relationships, and contributes to the firm’s long-term growth by leading opportunities in site assessment and remediation from early strategy through execution and ensuring high-quality, well-organized client deliverables. The position may be performed remotely. The ideal candidate is based in California and brings industry contacts, knowledge of California and/or other western states, and relevant regulatory and environmental expertise. The role includes team leadership and staff development, business development and proposal leadership, and project management. The Principal Professional is expected to help secure $1M–$2M in new annual work, lead proposal pursuits and interviews, develop client and partner relationships, and manage projects to quality standards, schedule, budget, and other project constraints. Local travel is required as needed. Compensation is $120,000–$150,000, commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in geology, engineering, environmental science, or a related field.
15 or more years of relevant professional consulting experience, or 12 or more years with a Master’s degree, including public sector experience.
Proven consulting experience and success as a Project Manager overseeing completion of technical studies and documents within schedule and budget.
Experience serving as Project Manager and senior client representative, with responsibility for consulting products and services.
Demonstrated success in proposal leadership and teaming for sole-source and competitive pursuits.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to oversee and provide quality assurance for complex technical documents and make presentations, including interviews for competitive proposals.
Strong familiarity with California and other western state regulations, industry standards, and Federal, State, and local procurement processes.
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams while also operating independently.
Willingness and ability to travel locally as needed.

Responsibilities

Lead team growth through outreach to potential clients and proposal preparation.
Collaborate with client contacts, staff geologists and engineers, regulatory specialists, and agency partners.
Support client retention by fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment.
Ensure the operational effectiveness, productivity, and profitability of individual work and the team.
Help secure $1M–$2M in new annual work through competitive pursuits, sole-source opportunities, on-call contracts, and strategic teaming arrangements.
Lead proposal efforts for projects of all sizes, including strategy development, teaming decisions, and win themes.
Guide proposal managers on proposal structure, approach narratives, cover letters, scopes of work, and qualifications sections.
Ensure proposal schedules, budgets, and deliverables are accurate, compliant, and submitted on time.
Lead and prepare teams for proposal interviews.
Evaluate new leads and cultivate long-term client and partner relationships.
Manage obtained new projects and ensure all work meets the firm’s quality standards.
Delegate tasks effectively, provide direction, and keep work within project constraints.
Stay current on industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices.
Work independently and collaboratively with the core leadership team.
Perform additional duties as needed to support project and company success.
Represent the firm professionally with clients, staff, and teaming partners.
Lead site assessment and remediation opportunities from early strategy through execution and ensure deliverables are high quality, organized, and ready for client delivery.