Project Scientist III

RK&K•Roanoke, VA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

RK&K is seeking a Project Scientist III to support environmental consulting efforts in our Roanoke and/or Blacksburg, VA offices on a casual/part time basis. This role involves contributing to a variety of infrastructure and development projects (transportation, utilities, water resources), with a focus on stream and wetland delineation, field investigations to support coordination with regulatory agencies, and environmental compliance inspection tasks. Candidates should have 10+ years of experience and a well-developed understanding of Virginia and federal environmental regulations, along with demonstrated expertise in stream and wetland delineation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Biology, Forestry, Environmental Policy, or related field.
Minimum of 10 years of environmental consulting or related experience.
Strong background in stream and wetland delineation, including experience applying USACE regional supplements.
Strong understanding of federal and state environmental regulations (NEPA, Clean Water Act, ESA, etc.).
Demonstrated experience managing environmental permitting efforts, particularly within Virginia.

Nice To Haves

Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB), American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Professional Engineer (PE), DEQ Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector, or similar credentials.
Graduate degree in related field.
Experience leading projects, managing client relationships, and mentoring staff.
Experience conducting habitat assessments for protected bat species in accordance with USFWS guidelines.

Responsibilities

Support permitting efforts with agencies such as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Virginia Marine Resources Commission (MRC).
Prepare, review, and provide technical oversight for 401/404 permit applications, environmental documentation for state and federal approvals, and VDOT environmental forms and reports.
Lead field investigations with an emphasis on stream and wetland delineations, including Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) determinations, functional assessments, and Unified Stream Methodology assessments.
Serve as a technical resource on delineation methodology, regulatory interpretation, and data defensibility.
Plan and conduct fieldwork related to threatened and endangered species habitat assessments.
Provide advanced technical writing for reports, impact analyses, delineation reports, and agency coordination materials.
Perform QA/QC reviews on reports, permit packages, and technical documentation.
Mentor junior staff, particularly in field methods and delineation techniques.
Support proposal development, scope writing, and client presentations.