Senior Environmental Specialist

NextEra Energy • Phoenix, AZ

7d • Remote

About The Position

The position requires working from a home office located in the western United States (CA, OR, WA, NV, AZ, ID, UT, MT, NM, CO). This position is in the Environmental Licensing & Permitting Section of the Corporate Environmental Services Department supporting site prospecting and early-stage project development for NextEra Energy Resources and other NextEra Energy affiliates. The position provides the opportunity to use your environmental knowledge and skills to help assess potential new projects, evaluate risk, and begin permitting and studies necessary for successful development of energy projects. You will advise multidisciplinary teams on environmental site constraints and permitting strategies to facilitate development of a broad range of energy projects including wind and solar; energy storage such as batteries, hydrogen and hydro; as well as transmission lines. Primary responsibilities include working closely with the site prospecting and early-stage development team to search out and evaluate potential project sites and begin long-lead studies as well as early stage federal, state and local environmental licensing and permitting. Candidates should enjoy working in a high-paced environment with a steady stream of new project evaluations. Work during the early-stage process is largely completed using a combination of desktop research, field reconnaissance, and technology such as GIS, digital processes, and artificial intelligence. Early-stage environmental team members will work to develop strategies that can be successfully executed once turned over to the late-stage development team. Project work will be focused on Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico but may include support for other western states as well. The successful candidate will have experience evaluating critical environmental constraints for energy projects as well as applying for and supporting permits from land use agencies at the county, state, and federal levels. A qualified candidate must also demonstrate a solid track record for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and associated environmental regulations such as Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. The applicant must have relevant renewable energy project experience with the ability to work collaboratively to support multiple projects with multifaceted environmental and regulatory issues. Applicant must be willing to travel as needed. Many sites will be remote and will require off-road vehicle access and/or hiking to complete site evaluations. Field mapping and GIS skills are necessary to successfully execute this position. The successful candidate must maintain current knowledge of pertinent national and state level environmental policies and regulations, have the ability to effectively interface with internal and external customers, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders, and be able to assist in resolving complex environmental matters. He or she must help maintain good working relationships with local agency staff as well as Non-Governmental Organizations working in the vicinity.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• 4+ years of experience
• Experience evaluating critical environmental constraints for energy projects
• Experience applying for and supporting permits from land use agencies at the county, state, and federal levels
• Solid track record for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and associated environmental regulations such as Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act
• Relevant renewable energy project experience
• Ability to work collaboratively to support multiple projects with multifaceted environmental and regulatory issues
• Willingness to travel as needed
• Field mapping and GIS skills

Nice To Haves

• None

Responsibilities

• Supports the company's compliance with environmental requirements
• Performs comprehensive environmental due diligence reviews
• Assists with facility compliance audits
• Conducts environmental licensing and permitting activities
• Supports environmental aspects of company operations, such as, compliance, reporting, monitoring, remediation, and environmental permitting functions
• Monitors and analyzes environmental policies and regulations that affect the company and its customers
• Provides the necessary support to staff to resolve environmental matters
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Benefits

• Relocation Provided

What This Job Offers

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