Senior Technical Director, Environmental Science

WSP • Mount Laurel, NJ

3d • $176,000 - $221,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Senior Technical Director, Environmental Scientist to provide technical and strategic leadership for our Natural Resources Planning and Permitting team in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The position will focus on environmental planning and permitting for major New Jersey infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will work closely with WSP’s transportation and infrastructure teams while supporting projects in the electric utility, renewable energy, and oil and gas sectors. This role is ideal for an established environmental professional who wants to remain technically engaged while leading complex projects, advising clients, developing staff, and growing WSP’s New Jersey permitting practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental planning, biology, ecology, natural resources, or a related field.
• Extensive progressively responsible experience in environmental consulting, permitting, natural resource planning, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated leadership of complex environmental permitting projects in New Jersey.
• Advanced knowledge of New Jersey freshwater wetlands, flood hazard area, coastal, waterfront development, CAFRA, threatened and endangered species, and Pinelands requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of the Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Endangered Species Act, and related federal permitting requirements.
• Experience coordinating with NJDEP, USACE, USFWS, and other regulatory agencies.
• Experience supporting transportation, electric utility, pipeline, oil and gas, renewable energy, or comparable infrastructure projects.
• Proven project or program management experience, including responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client relationships.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and reviewing complex technical documents.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel to client offices, agency meetings, and project sites as needed.
• Valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a related discipline.
• Relevant professional certification, such as PWS, PMP, AICP, or New Jersey Professional Planner.
• Established relationships within New Jersey’s transportation, utility, energy, and regulatory communities.
• Experience with major transportation programs, electric utility corridors, pipelines, or renewable energy facilities.
• Experience with NEPA documentation, public meetings, regulatory hearings, or expert testimony.
• Familiarity with GIS-based environmental constraints analysis.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical authority for New Jersey environmental planning, natural resource assessment, and permitting.
• Develop permitting strategies for transportation, electric transmission and distribution, substations, pipelines, renewable energy, and other infrastructure projects.
• Lead regulatory coordination with NJDEP, USACE, USFWS, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, and other agencies.
• Direct wetland, stream, flood hazard, threatened and endangered species, ecological, and environmental constraints assessments.
• Review engineering plans and advise project teams on environmental risks, regulatory requirements, avoidance measures, and project schedules.
• Oversee preparation of permit applications, environmental reports, agency consultation materials, alternatives analyses, and supporting technical studies.
• Serve as Project Director, Project Manager, or senior adviser on complex multidisciplinary assignments.
• Lead project strategy, scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk management, and client communication.
• Build relationships with transportation agencies, utilities, energy companies, regulatory agencies, and other infrastructure clients.
• Lead or support proposals, interviews, client development, and strategic business growth.
• Mentor environmental scientists, planners, biologists, and permitting professionals.
• Promote technical excellence, collaboration, safety, and consistent quality across projects and offices.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement savings
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation (or other personal time)
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

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