Principal Air Quality Project Manager

ESA is looking for an experienced Principal Air Quality Project Manager with 10+ years experience to lead and direct multi-faceted CEQA/NEPA projects in collaboration with scientists, engineers, architects, and other specialists on large and complex municipal and private development projects. The ideal candidate shall specialize in air quality, noise and vibration, health risk assessments, greenhouse gas emissions, and/or other similar environmental disciplines. The ideal candidate shall conduct regular client interaction, be responsible for client stewardship, and regularly represent ESA through various business development and marketing activities. Preference given to candidates able to commute to one of our bay area ESA locations and work in a hybrid fashion.  Qualified remote candidates will also be considered.  

Who You Are 

• You are an experienced Air Quality Project Manager with a minimum of 10 years of experience in leading or directing the development of high-quality community and environmental analyses, including CEQA and NEPA documentation and client deliverables for both public agency and private development clients. You have prepared air quality and noise analyses and have comprehensive knowledge of air quality regulations at the federal, state, and local levels, California air quality management districts, air quality permitting, noise ordinances, and other relevant environmental regulations and guidance documents in California. CEQA experience is required; NEPA experience is preferred.
• You are an effective team member and communicator who proactively identifies and contributes constructively to address broad project or team issues, providing mentoring and coaching to more junior staff to foster teamwork. You are a planner who has significant experience working on a variety of project types and environmental documents, including various types of environmental impact reports (EIRs) (e.g., program, project, master plan, specific plan), and Initial Study with Negative Declaration or Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/ND or IS/MND), and CEQA Exemptions strongly preferred. 
• Candidates with additional experience with environmental impact statements (EISs) and environmental assessments (EAs) is preferred but not mandatory.
• You are an excellent writer in multiple disciplines, including technical reports and studies, CEQA documentation such as EIRs and IS/MNDs, emails and client communications, and marketing materials.
• Experience working with airports and seaports, public infrastructure, recreation and parks, general and specific plans, and planning documents (e.g., General Plan Updates) is preferred.
• Experience reviewing and providing QA/QC feedback on air quality modeling, greenhouse gas emissions modeling, and TAC dispersion modeling from software including but not limited to Microsoft Excel, CalEEMod, EMFAC, and AERMOD is required.
• Familiarity with noise modeling and software including SoundPLAN and RCNM is preferred
• You have a keen interest in or experience working on Climate Action Plans, greenhouse gas inventories, sustainability plans, and climate change vulnerability assessments.
• You possess excellent oral communication and presentation skills and have led and directed marketing and business development pursuits, including developing capture strategies and leading proposals, interviews, and presentations.
• You hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree with major coursework in environmental, urban, or transportation planning; atmospheric science; climate and sustainability; geography; public policy; or a related interdisciplinary field.
• A writing sample may be requested as a step in this interview process

What You Will Do for ESA

• As a Principal Air Quality Project Manager, you will lead or direct air quality, noise, greenhouse gas, and energy studies and documents for multifaceted CEQA/NEPA projects in collaboration with scientists, engineers, architects, and other specialists on large and complex municipal and private development projects. You will demonstrate a clear understanding of project and task management principles and practices and be responsible for the development of environmental compliance and planning documents by applicable guidelines and requirements while delivering assignments within budget and on schedule.
• You will serve as a CEQA specialist, preparing and managing complex air quality, energy, greenhouse gas, and noise analyses and coordinating with key team members, including CEQA project managers, sub-consultants, and clients. Familiarity with NEPA is desirable. You will produce technical work and written products that are clear, concise and well-supported.
• You will consistently demonstrate your solid writing skills and attentive listening skills and will participate in and/or lead client meetings. You will present at or provide support at community workshops and public hearings, effectively presenting complex technical information clearly and concisely.
• You will lead proposals for midsized projects and assist with proposals for larger projects, providing technical input, writing proposal sections, identifying opportunities, and engaging with proposal/interview teams. You will prepare scopes of work and budgets, as well as scope modifications/cost amendments when necessary.
• You will assist the Air Quality Director in workload management and planning for staff on the Air Quality, Noise, and Greenhouse Gas team, in addition to acting as the direct supervisor of one or more junior staff.
• You may also lead and direct marketing and business development pursuits, including developing capture strategies.
• You will provide mentorship and support for junior staff, including reviewing their work for accuracy and clarity and providing constructive feedback and career development guidance while working on projects together.
• You will thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment and be able to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines while working on a team or independently.
• You will also have the opportunity to participate in and help lead climate action plans, sustainability plans, and carbon accounting for cities, counties, agencies, and private companies throughout California.

What’s Special About Our Team

Protecting the health and well-being of our communities is more important and challenging than ever. The Northern California Air Quality, Climate, and Acoustics Team partners with clients to thoughtfully navigate these complexities. Our team provides integrated, technically sound, and flexible solutions for our clients to reduce the emissions of air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and noise. We have contributed to the success of numerous significant projects in the region including the Oakland A’s Waterfront Ballpark District, the Google Downtown West Mixed-Use Plan in San Jose, the Golden State Warriors Event Center, and many others. We also have an active and growing Climate Services Practice, with projects including the County of Los Angeles 2045 Climate Action Plan, the Southern California Association of Governments Climate Adaptation Framework, and the Gateway Cities Climate Action Planning Framework. 

Our Community Development team has built a legacy of success providing environmental compliance, clearance, and advancement. We combine our firm’s technical depth in natural resources science and environmental planning with deep knowledge of local regulatory practices and procedures, including the most current legislation and case law, to create value-added, cost-effective, and legally defensible solutions for our clients.

ESA is unique in that we have a deep scientific, technical, and regulatory expertise, which we apply to our planning and environmental review projects. We keep project approval and implementation at the forefront, balancing long-term planning, community attributes, stakeholder objectives, and cost. Our focus is on comprehensiveness and clarity, and the result is that our planning, CEQA, and NEPA documents are frequently recognized by professional organizations with awards for creative approach and quality.  We hope you will add your talents to our team!

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

Who We Are 

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients. 

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies. 

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)