Senior Air Quality Consultant / Dispersion Modeling SME

TRC Companies • TX-Houston, TX

7d • $145,683 - $200,000

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 across a diverse industrial client base. The role combines technical execution and project leadership, serving clients in power generation, oil and gas, LNG, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, bulk storage, and materials handling. Strong demonstrated experience with Texas air permitting programs and air dispersion modeling is required.

The consultant will perform and oversee advanced dispersion modeling, lead complex air permitting and compliance work, provide technical oversight and risk guidance, and serve as a technical advisor for challenging matters and agency negotiations. The position also supports project delivery and profitability, develops staff and project managers, contributes to business growth, and advances technical knowledge through training, publications, presentations, and professional participation.

TRC highlights opportunities to work alongside recognized air quality and modeling experts, support challenging multi-sector projects, deepen exposure to complex technical analyses and regulatory strategy, and build toward technical leadership and subject-matter expertise. The salary range is USD $145,683.20–$200,000 per year. An employee may also 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.
• At least 15 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 air dispersion models.
• Demonstrated experience with Texas air permitting programs, including TCEQ NSR, Permit-by-Rule, Standard Permits, and Title V permitting programs.
• 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, bulk storage, and materials handling.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects, teams, and client engagements.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) certification.
• Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) certification.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Perform and oversee advanced air dispersion modeling 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 quality assurance/quality control of modeling analyses performed by project teams.
• Maintain modeling standards, guidance documents, standard operating procedures, templates, and best practices.
• Monitor emerging modeling science, regulatory developments, guidance updates, and innovative approaches.
• Identify and communicate technical, regulatory, and litigation risks associated with modeling methodologies and assumptions.
• Serve as an 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.
• Serve as a technical advisor 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, and successful project delivery.
• Contribute to business development and proposal support, technical communication, and presentations.
• Deliver complex permitting and modeling projects successfully, with quality and timely technical reviews, client satisfaction, retention, and project profitability.

Benefits

• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• 401(k) package with traditional and Roth options and company match.
• Paid time off ranging from 15 to 25 days per year, depending 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 against key performance indicators.

What This Job Offers

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