Senior Principal Practice Leader - Permitting and Planning

Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. • Houston, TX

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Geosyntec is hiring a Senior Principal Practice Leader – Permitting and Planning for its Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or Houston, Texas office. The role will expand the firm’s existing practice and lead client development, environmental regulatory compliance, and environmental and community strategic planning and support, primarily for clients in the Energy and Energy Transition sectors. The position involves leadership and contributions to challenging projects across financial and technical evaluation, design, permitting, and construction, while supporting business development and expanding Geosyntec’s market share.

The role operates within Geosyntec’s sell-manage-do culture, combining technical project work with practice expansion, business development, client management, project management, and staff development. Responsibilities include permitting and environmental oversight for energy infrastructure, project delivery and financial management, client relationship stewardship, and mentoring staff. The position may require driving personal, company, and rental vehicles to client, project, office, and other business locations.

Geosyntec describes itself as an international engineering and consulting firm serving private- and public-sector clients on environmental, natural resource, and infrastructure challenges. The company offers competitive pay and benefits and well-being programs to support employees and their families.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, or a related field.
• At least 15 years of experience developing capital projects related to planning, permitting, and regulatory compliance across the project lifecycle, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing permitting, planning, compliance, and environmental oversight of energy infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing overall project delivery, including project planning and controls, financial management, change management, risk management, and contract and subcontract management.
• Experience with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent leadership skills.
• Experience with national, state, and local environmental regulations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced consulting environment, handle multiple project assignments, meet strict deadlines, and travel to client facilities as needed.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and satisfactory driving record for business travel.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, or a related field.
• Professional registration, such as P.E. or P.G.
• Demonstrated success in client development and management.
• Current OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training and refreshers.

Responsibilities

• Develop business opportunities with new and existing clients and prepare proposals.
• Manage and mentor staff, including natural resources scientists, field staff, and support staff.
• Manage siting, permitting, planning, licensing, compliance, and environmental oversight of projects, particularly traditional and renewable energy infrastructure projects.
• Manage multiple projects within scope, budget, and schedule expectations and ensure the quality of deliverables.
• Manage project delivery, including planning and controls, financial management, change management, risk management, and contract and subcontract management.
• Steward and build client relationships to generate repeat business.
• Manage permitting through Clean Water Act Sections 10, 404, and 401 applications, as well as Section 408 applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state regulatory agencies.
• Assist with developing work plans, evaluating data, and preparing technical documents and environmental permit applications.
• Manage subcontractors.
• Manage or conduct jurisdictional wetlands work, including wetland and stream classification and delineation, and determine mitigation requirements for infrastructure permitting.
• Prepare for and participate in meetings with clients, regulatory personnel, and other parties.
• Drive personal, company, and rental vehicles to client or company project or office sites and other business locations as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits.
• Well-being programs to support employees and their families.

What This Job Offers

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