Principal Environmental Scientist

GFT.•Columbus, OH

6d•$50 - $55•Hybrid

About The Position

GFT is seeking a Principal Environmental Scientist to join its Environmental Practice. The position follows a hybrid work model and requires regular attendance at the Columbus, Ohio location. GFT’s Environmental team provides integrated planning, permitting, and compliance solutions for infrastructure development across North America, including work in transportation, power, water, and facilities markets. The Principal Environmental Scientist will serve as a project-level environmental lead for transportation infrastructure projects throughout Ohio. The role manages environmental scopes, regulatory compliance, environmental documentation, and permits, with a focus on NEPA compliance, natural resources, protected species, and habitat considerations for rail, transit, roadway, bridge, and transportation facility projects. The successful candidate will independently manage small to mid-sized environmental projects, work directly with transportation agencies and regulators, and integrate environmental requirements into planning, design, and construction. The role also provides technical direction to environmental staff, reviews deliverables for quality and regulatory compliance, and contributes to proposals and transportation pursuits. The position is hourly, with a stated range of $50–$55 per hour; compensation depends on experience and geographic location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
15 years of progressive experience in natural resources documentation, impact assessments, and regulatory coordination for permit approvals supporting transportation infrastructure projects and public utility projects.
Demonstrated experience leading environmental scopes and coordinating NEPA documentation and permitting for public agency clients.
Experience working in multidisciplinary transportation project teams.
Strong understanding of environmental regulations as applied to linear transportation projects, active transportation facilities, and water utilities.
Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, and deliverables for environmental project components.
Excellent technical writing and review skills for NEPA documents and permit applications.
Strong communication and leadership skills, with confidence working directly with clients and regulators.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a closely related field.
Relevant professional certification, such as Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Ecologist, or similar.
Experience supporting transportation and public utility projects in Ohio or the northeastern United States.

Responsibilities

Lead, conduct, and review natural resource baseline inventories and impact assessments for transportation corridors and facilities, including effects on wetlands, waterways, wildlife habitat, and threatened and endangered species.
Prepare and manage permitting and compliance efforts under Clean Water Act Sections 401/404, Endangered Species Act Section 7, and applicable Ohio and local permits.
Oversee field investigations, including wetland delineations, habitat assessments, and species surveys, and coordinate subconsultants.
Track environmental commitments and mitigation measures and support their integration into design documents and construction-phase activities.
Serve as environmental task lead or project environmental lead, managing scope definition, schedules, budgets, team collaboration, and deliverable quality.
Manage environmental components of transportation projects subject to NEPA, including joint federal–state review processes.
Coordinate and oversee preparation of Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and supporting technical studies.
Act as a primary environmental point of contact with transportation owners and agencies, including ODOT, FHWA, FTA, USACE, and USFWS.
Support coordination with municipalities, tribal entities, and other stakeholders for transportation environmental review and permitting.
Prepare and lead agency coordination materials, technical correspondence, and meetings.
Provide day-to-day technical direction to junior and mid-level environmental staff and review their work for quality and regulatory compliance.
Perform QA/QC reviews of environmental documents for defensibility, consistency, and adherence to agency requirements.
Contribute project-level input to proposals, scopes of work, staffing plans, and cost estimates for transportation pursuits.