Senior Air Quality Consultant / Dispersion Modeling SME

TRC Companies, Inc. • Houston, TX

10d

About The Position

TRC, Member of WSP, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Air Quality Consultant / Environmental Leader to support complex regulatory compliance, permitting, and air quality modeling projects for industrial clients, including power generation, oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, and bulk storage operations. The role combines advanced technical work with project, team, and client leadership. Demonstrated expertise in Texas air permitting programs and air dispersion modeling is required.

The consultant will conduct and oversee modeling analyses, develop and review complex permitting applications and emissions work, provide technical oversight and regulatory advice, and help ensure defensible project outcomes. The role also includes mentoring staff, improving technical practices, supporting business development, and representing the organization in professional and technical forums.

TRC describes opportunities to work with recognized air quality and modeling experts, develop staff expertise, and contribute to challenging projects across multiple industrial sectors. The posted annual salary range is USD $145,683.20 to USD $200,000.00. Employees may be eligible for the Company’s annual discretionary bonus program, contingent on company, business segment, and individual performance against applicable key performance indicators.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Meteorology, or a related field.
• 15 or more years of experience in air quality consulting, regulatory compliance, permitting, or air dispersion modeling.
• Significant experience with air dispersion modeling and permitting support.
• Experience with AERMOD, CALPUFF, and related regulatory models.
• Demonstrated experience with Texas air permitting programs, including TCEQ NSR, Permit-by-Rule, Standard Permits, and Title V permitting.
• Extensive technical experience implementing Clean Air Act programs, including Title V, NSR, PSD, BACT, RACT, and MACT.
• Experience supporting industrial sectors such as power generation, oil and gas, LNG, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, and bulk storage and materials handling.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects, teams, and client engagements.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM), Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP), or Professional Engineer (PE) certification.
• Experience mentoring staff and developing talent.
• Client relationship management experience.
• Business development and proposal support experience.
• Technical communication and presentation skills.
• Cross-functional team leadership experience.
• Ability to contribute to technical papers, conference presentations, webinars, and industry publications.
• Participation in professional associations and technical forums.
• Contribution to business growth through technical leadership, client service, and successful project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Perform and oversee advanced air dispersion modeling analyses using AERMOD, CALPUFF, and related tools.
• Evaluate meteorological data, terrain data, and modeling inputs.
• Conduct technical evaluations for criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Support complex modeling demonstrations associated with PSD, FERC, and other regulatory programs.
• Provide technical oversight, peer review, and QA/QC of modeling analyses performed by project teams.
• Maintain modeling standards, guidance documents, SOPs, templates, and best practices.
• Monitor modeling science, regulatory developments, guidance updates, and innovative approaches.
• Identify and communicate technical, regulatory, or litigation risks associated with modeling methodologies and assumptions.
• Serve as the escalation point for technical modeling issues and agency negotiations.
• Represent the organization in professional associations and technical forums, and contribute to technical papers, conference presentations, webinars, and industry publications.
• Lead preparation of complex air permitting applications, including PSD, NSR/NNSR, Permit-by-Rule, and Standard Permits.
• Perform regulatory applicability analyses and develop compliance strategies.
• Develop and review emissions inventories, calculations, and reporting submissions.
• Support Title V permitting, renewals, revisions, and compliance reporting.
• Interpret federal and state environmental regulations, with a specific focus on Texas TCEQ requirements.
• Support complex permitting projects and regulatory strategy development; advise on challenging or high-profile permitting matters.
• Optimize the quality, technical excellence, and profitability of air quality projects.
• Mentor and develop air quality and air modeling professionals, and coach project managers and technical staff.
• Identify and mitigate project execution, regulatory, and technical risks.
• Lead internal training sessions, technical workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Foster collaboration across regional and national air quality teams and maintain strong working relationships with Environmental Sector leadership.
• Promote technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support business growth through technical leadership, client service, proposal support, and successful project delivery.

Benefits

• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• 401(k) package with traditional and Roth IRA options and company match.
• Paid time off ranging from 15 to 25 days per year, contingent on full-time or part-time status and seniority.
• At least 8 paid holidays per year for full-time employees.
• Paid sick, family, and disability leave in accordance with the laws of the employee’s state of residence.
• Potential eligibility for the annual discretionary bonus program, contingent on company, business segment, and individual performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior