Principal Environmental Risk Assessor
About The Position
Geosyntec has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Environmental Risk Assessor to join its team in Northern California, at our offices in Oakland or Walnut Creek. This position is ideal for an accomplished leader in toxicology, ecological risk assessment (ERA), and human health risk assessment (HHRA) who can help grow and lead complex site investigation, remediation, and redevelopment projects across industrial, energy, and public-sector markets. The role emphasizes technical leadership on CERCLA, RCRA, PFAS, sediment, vapor intrusion, and risk-based cleanup projects; trusted advisory relationships with clients and regulators; and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior practitioner with a strong track record of project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and business development to further expand Geosyntec’s environmental risk assessment practice in the region. Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, technical and project employees serve our clients from offices across the world. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service. We invest in our people. Each employee is unique, and your career at Geosyntec will be too. We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family. To Learn More Visit: http://www.geosyntec.com/careers/.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in toxicology, environmental science, biology, chemistry, public health, environmental engineering, or a related scientific discipline. (required)
- At least 10 years of environmental consulting experience in toxicology, ecological risk assessment, and/or human health risk assessment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. (required)
- Demonstrated expertise in developing and managing ERA and HHRA projects, including conceptual site models, toxicity criteria and toxicity reference values, exposure pathway analysis, risk characterization, and development of risk-based cleanup levels. (required)
- Strong working knowledge of federal and state regulatory programs, including USEPA, CalEPA, CERCLA, RCRA, and state cleanup frameworks, with experience interfacing directly with agency staff and supporting regulatory negotiations. (required)
- Demonstrable track record of successful client management, business development, and proposal leadership, including work with major industrial clients, public agencies, and legal or regulatory stakeholders. (required)
- Excellent technical leadership of multidisciplinary project teams, with the ability to integrate toxicology, chemistry, hydrogeology, engineering, and regulatory strategy into practical client solutions. (required)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing technical reports, white papers, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and client-facing communications. (required)
- Ability to succeed in a fast-paced consulting environment, manage multiple priorities, and travel to client or project sites as needed. (required)
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record for business travel. (required)
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in toxicology, environmental health, risk assessment, ecology, or a related discipline. (preferred)
- Relevant professional credentials or certifications in toxicology, risk assessment, or environmental practice. (preferred)
- Experience leading large, complex, multi-stakeholder projects are strongly preferred.
- Experience with complex contaminants and site settings such as PFAS, TPH/petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, dioxins/furans, metals, VOCs, sediments, vapor intrusion, and sensitive ecological receptors, including threatened and endangered species. (preferred)
- Recognized professional visibility through industry organizations, regulatory/technical initiatives, conference speaking, or published technical work is strongly preferred.
- Experience contributing to ESG, sustainability, community engagement, or risk communication initiatives is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage complex ERA and HHRA projects under CERCLA, RCRA, state-led cleanup programs, and redevelopment frameworks, from scoping through regulatory closure
- Serve as a senior technical resource in toxicology, exposure assessment, fate and transport, conceptual site model development, and risk-based cleanup strategy for soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water, soil vapor, and indoor air
- Provide strategic guidance to clients on complex contaminants and emerging issues, including PFAS, petroleum hydrocarbons/TPH, PCBs, dioxins/furans, metals, VOCs, and site-specific bioaccumulation and ecological risk questions
- Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, and support negotiations, technical workshops, and risk communication efforts
- Develop business opportunities with new and existing clients, prepare proposals, and contribute to the growth of the regional and national environmental risk assessment practice
- Direct multidisciplinary teams in site investigation, remedial investigation/feasibility study support, remedial design input, risk management planning, and redevelopment risk evaluation
- Ensure technical excellence and quality on deliverables, including work plans, risk assessments, cleanup level memoranda, regulatory responses, and expert technical reviews
- Mentor and develop staff in risk assessment methods, technical writing, client service, project management, and regulatory strategy
- Contribute to Geosyntec’s thought leadership through publications, conference presentations, professional association engagement, and participation in industry initiatives
- Support broader sustainability and ESG-related initiatives where risk assessment, environmental stewardship, and stakeholder communication are critical to project success
- Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company project or office sites, and other business locations, as needed
Benefits
- paid holidays
- vacation
- sick, and personal paid time off
- medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- 401(k)
- other benefits to eligible employees
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
