Senior Technical Manager - Environmental Permitting & Compliance

WSP•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Senior Technical Manager – Environmental Permitting & Compliance to support its Earth & Environment Team in New York City. The position supports a diverse portfolio of transportation, transit, rail, utility, energy, infrastructure, coastal, marine, and development projects throughout New York City, Long Island, and the broader Northeast region. The role combines senior technical leadership and project management, including developing permitting strategies, leading environmental compliance programs, mentoring staff, managing client relationships, and delivering major public and private infrastructure projects. The Senior Technical Manager leads environmental permitting, natural resources, regulatory coordination, and construction-phase environmental compliance. The position oversees multidisciplinary teams and project delivery, manages client and agency relationships, and contributes to business development and practice growth. Occasional field work, site visits, and project-dependent travel may be required. The role requires flexibility to meet business needs and adapt to changing priorities and demanding work conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, Planning, Geography, or a related field.
10+ years of experience in environmental consulting, environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, natural resource management, and/or construction environmental compliance.
Demonstrated experience leading environmental permitting and compliance efforts for transportation, transit, rail, energy, utility, infrastructure, or development projects.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permitting programs.
Experience coordinating directly with regulatory agencies and leading environmental permitting strategies.
Experience managing projects, budgets, schedules, and multidisciplinary teams.
Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, and developing technical staff.
Experience preparing and reviewing permit applications, environmental studies, impact analyses, environmental compliance plans, and technical reports.
Strong understanding of environmental commitment tracking, permit compliance, construction oversight, and environmental risk management.
Ability to interpret permits, environmental requirements, technical specifications, and construction drawings.
Strong client management, written communication, presentation, and leadership skills.
Ability to identify environmental risks and develop practical, defensible, and cost-effective solutions.
Ability to collaborate with clients, contractors, regulators, and multidisciplinary project teams.
Ability and willingness to conduct occasional field work and site visits at project locations throughout the region.
Demonstrated commitment to workplace health, safety, and environmental stewardship.
Track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
Flexibility to work a variety of schedules to meet business needs, prioritize responsibilities, and adapt quickly to change in a pressure work environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, Planning, or a related discipline.
15+ years of experience in environmental consulting, environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, natural resource management, and/or construction environmental compliance.
Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), AICP, CEP, PMP, or other applicable professional certification.
Extensive experience with NYSDEC, USACE, NYSDOS, USFWS, NMFS, MTA, PANYNJ, NYCDDC, NYCDEP, NYCDOT, NYSDOT, and other regional agencies.
Strong understanding of wetland, coastal, marine, waterway, and natural resource permitting requirements applicable to New York and Long Island.
Experience managing environmental programs for major transportation, transit, rail, utility, energy, coastal resilience, or infrastructure projects.
Experience as a Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Deputy Program Manager, Contract Manager, Technical Manager, or Practice Lead.
Experience supporting large-scale utility, transmission, pipeline, renewable energy, offshore wind, transportation, transit, or resiliency initiatives.
Established relationships with regulatory agencies, transportation agencies, utility clients, and municipal stakeholders throughout the New York metropolitan area.
Demonstrated success mentoring and developing environmental professionals and building high-performing project teams.
Experience supporting business development, strategic pursuits, proposal preparation, and client account growth.
Experience working within a large consulting organization and leading geographically dispersed teams.

Responsibilities

Lead environmental permitting, natural resources, and environmental compliance efforts for complex projects across transportation, transit, rail, utility, energy, infrastructure, coastal, marine, and development sectors.
Develop permitting strategies and provide senior technical advice on environmental compliance, regulatory coordination, environmental risk management, and agency negotiations.
Coordinate with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and support clients such as transportation agencies, utilities, municipalities, and private developers.
Oversee preparation and quality review of permit applications, environmental studies, technical reports, compliance documentation, and agency coordination materials.
Manage construction-phase environmental compliance programs, including inspections, contractor oversight, monitoring, regulatory reporting, and corrective actions.
Lead multidisciplinary teams of environmental scientists, engineers, planners, construction managers, permitting specialists, and subcontractors.
Manage project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, quality, and client expectations across concurrent assignments.
Build and maintain client relationships and support business development, proposal preparation, strategic pursuits, and practice growth.
Provide technical leadership, QA/QC oversight, mentoring, coaching, and career development for environmental staff and emerging leaders.
Promote technical excellence, collaboration, innovation, safety, and exceptional client service.
Make responsible and ethical decisions regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and follow WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Conduct occasional field work and site visits, including at active construction sites, transportation facilities, utility corridors, and marine environments.
Travel occasionally as required by project needs.

Benefits

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