Senior Principal Practice Leader - Permitting and Planning

Geosyntec Consultants • Baton Rouge, LA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Geosyntec is hiring a Senior Principal Practice Leader for its Permitting and Planning practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or Houston, Texas. The role will expand the firm’s existing practice and manage client development, environmental regulatory compliance, and environmental and community strategic planning and support, primarily for clients in the Energy and Energy Transition Sector. The position contributes technical and leadership expertise to projects across financial and technical evaluation, design, permitting, and construction stages. It calls for an entrepreneurial approach, enthusiasm for business development, and a technical background that can help grow Geosyntec’s market share.

The position follows Geosyntec’s sell-manage-do culture: the successful candidate will work on technical projects while developing business, managing clients and projects, and helping expand the firm’s practices and capabilities. The role may also include staff management and development, mentoring, and project management. Work includes energy infrastructure projects, including traditional and renewable energy, and related permitting, planning, licensing, compliance, and environmental oversight.

The role is based in either the Baton Rouge or Houston office. It may require travel to client facilities and other project, office, or business locations, including driving personal, company, and rental vehicles. Health and safety training, medical monitoring, and client-driven drug and background testing may be required.

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 working 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 succeed 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 developing and managing clients.
• Current OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training and refreshers.

Responsibilities

• Develop business opportunities with new and existing clients and prepare associated proposals.
• Manage and mentor staff, including natural resources scientists, field staff, and support staff.
• Manage the siting, permitting, planning, licensing, compliance, and environmental oversight of projects, particularly energy infrastructure projects.
• Manage multiple projects to meet scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations.
• Manage project delivery, including planning and controls, financial management, change management, risk management, and contract and subcontract management.
• Build and steward client relationships to generate repeat business.
• Manage permitting through Clean Water Act Sections 10, 404, and 401 permit applications, as well as Section 408 applications involving 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 classification and delineation of wetlands and streams and determining 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