Team Leader – NEPA Compliance Section (Environmental Manager I)

Maryland Department of Transportation•Baltimore City, MD

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The State Highway Administration’s Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering is recruiting a Team Leader – NEPA Compliance Section (Environmental Manager I) in Baltimore City. This senior-level professional position supports the Assistant Division Chief in training, supervising, mentoring, managing, and directing in-house and consultant environmental analysts. The team identifies, coordinates, evaluates, and documents environmental impacts for SHA projects in planning, design, and construction, including major capital projects, system preservation work, traffic and safety projects, bridge work, statewide and local-government projects receiving federal aid or grants, and maintenance activities. The position also supports consultant contract management and interpretation and oversight of state and national laws and regulations. As an environmental manager, the role serves on major, complex, and politically sensitive planning and design projects, including projects spanning state boundaries. Work products include technical analysis reports and environmental and engineering documents that support project decisions. The role requires independent decision-making and resolving issues among groups with differing interests while ensuring compliance with NEPA/MEPA and other applicable regulations so SHA projects remain eligible for funding. As a senior reviewer, the team leader oversees one or more environmental technical areas, which may include natural environmental analyses, noise, community effects, hazardous materials, sustainable growth and planning, indirect and cumulative effects, air quality, and Section 4(f) analysis. The role interprets and applies relevant state and federal laws and guidelines and supervises, trains, and directs consultant staff in these areas. The position requires a valid Maryland motor vehicle operator’s license and the ability to walk moderate distances over difficult terrain in varying climatic conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a listed or related discipline, including natural, earth, physical, or environmental sciences; chemistry; physics; biology; agronomy; forestry; horticulture; geography; environmental planning; civil engineering; sociology; economics; planning; anthropology; architectural history; ecology; landscape architecture; or environmental engineering.
Seven years of experience in environmental analysis, including development of plans, specifications, estimates, and design; or seven years of experience in environmental management, including development, implementation, and monitoring of environmental compliance plans for specified environmental programs or multimedia operations.
At least one year of the qualifying experience must involve functioning as a team leader or overseeing consultants’ or contractors’ work in an environmental area.
Three and one-half years of experience with NEPA compliance principles, practices, procedures, and methodology and associated state and federal laws and regulations, including environmental resource evaluation and impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation.
Valid motor vehicle operator’s license in Maryland.
Ability to interpret and apply state and federal regulatory policies, procedures, and guidelines, and direct others in their application.
Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff and maintain communication with supervisors.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to interpret maps, plans, and specifications and familiarity with engineering principles.
Ability to coordinate work with contractors and technical personnel.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, with agencies, the public, and other SHA customers.
Ability to walk moderate distances in difficult terrain in varying climatic conditions.

Nice To Haves

Ability to use a personal computer and Microsoft Office 365 in a Windows 11 environment, including working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe products.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Knowledge of NEPA/MEPA compliance principles, practices, procedures, methodology, associated state and federal laws and regulations, and environmental resource evaluation and impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation.
Knowledge of standard research methodology, including statistical data collection, organization, analysis, and presentation.
Knowledge of environmental science principles, practices, and methods.
Knowledge of management, preservation, and enhancement of natural, socioeconomic/community, and cultural resources.
Skill in negotiating in adverse settings with state, federal, local, private, and public agencies to resolve conflicts.
Ability to motivate people, handle multiple assignments, and implement innovative tools to improve office workflows.
Ability to interpret maps, plans, and specifications.
Knowledge of consultant contract management procedures.
A master’s degree in a qualifying discipline may substitute for one year of required nonsupervisory experience.
A doctoral degree in a qualifying discipline may substitute for two years of required nonsupervisory experience.
Qualifying U.S. Armed Forces military service may substitute for required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

Support the Assistant Division Chief in training, supervising, mentoring, managing, and directing in-house and consultant environmental analysts.
Direct and support the identification, agency coordination, technical evaluation, and documentation of environmental impacts for SHA projects and activities.
Support management of consultant contracts.
Interpret and oversee the application of state and national laws and regulations to SHA projects.
Serve as environmental manager on major, complex, politically sensitive planning and design projects, including projects spanning state boundaries.
Use independent decision-making to work toward resolving project issues among groups with competing values and interests.
Provide senior review and oversight in one or more environmental technical areas, such as natural environmental analyses, noise, community effects, hazardous materials, sustainable growth and planning, indirect and cumulative effects, air quality, and Section 4(f) analysis.
Interpret and apply state and federal laws and guidelines and supervise, train, and direct consultant staff in environmental technical areas.
Plan, direct, organize, coordinate, assign, and evaluate the work of multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple tasks.
Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive reports and coordinate work with contractors and technical personnel.
Communicate effectively with agencies, the public, SHA customers, supervisors, and other staff.