Senior Environmental Planner - Transportation

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is seeking a highly motivated Senior Environmental Planner with intellectual curiosity and initiative to help drive the growth of our dynamic team of environmental planners &scientists in the Southeast. This is a senior-level opportunity in our Transportation team of professionals who provide support for the Departments of Transportation (DOT). As a Senior Environmental Planner, you will manage and/or significantly support large-scale NEPA projects which may include state and/or federal permitting; and climate action and adaptation planning, as determined by the expertise you have developed over the course of your career. You will be client-focused, fostering relationships with ESA’s existing clients and extending our services to new clients, and engaging in the professional community. This opportunity is focused on professional expertise, quality, outstanding client service, and being part of a team with a passion to do great work and have fun together. 

This is a remote, full-time salaried, exempt role.  Preference given to candidates located in the Georgia area for client interactions and site visits.  While this is a remote role, candidates willing to travel for occasional in-person team collaborations in one of our ESA office locations (prioritizing Florida) will be given preference.

Writing samples may be requested as a stage in the interview process.

Who You Are

• You hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree with major course work in environmental, urban or transportation planning, geography, public policy, science, or a related interdisciplinary field and have a minimum of 5+ years of relevant, professional experience in leading or directing the development of high-quality community and environmental analyses, including transportation specific reports, NEPA documentation, and client deliverables for public agencies and private development clients.
• You have been a project manager or task lead for at least one Type II Categorical Exclusion in Georgia.
• You have hands-on experience and comprehensive knowledge of policy planning, land use and environmental permitting, and relevant regulatory and environmental regulations and processes in Georgia.
• You are known for preparing documents that are concise, well-written and supported, and for your ability to present information understandably and speak persuasively about complex topics to colleagues, clients, agency staff, teaming partners, other project stakeholders and the general public.
• Preference for candidates who have experience preparing permit applications that are complete and compliant, whether the permitting entity be local, state or federal.
• You are a collaborative and supportive team member and communicator who takes the initiative to identify and contribute to broad project or team goals, providing mentoring and coaching to more junior staff to foster team success. You work collaboratively with clients and interdisciplinary teams to deliver your projects on time and within budget and have developed and tracked scope, schedules, and budgets.
• You are an environmental planner who has experience with environmental compliance of varying degrees of complexity of different types
• You possess excellent oral and presentation skills and have led and directed marketing and business development pursuits including developing capture strategies, and leading proposals, interviews, and presentations.
• You have experience working on projects in Georgia. This includes having provided NEPA documentation, documentation necessary for both U.S. Army Corps of Engineers General and Individual permits (resulting in obtaining such permits); and documentation necessary for a stream buffer variance, resulting in obtaining such variances.
• Strong preference to candidates with experience supporting and leading business development efforts.
• Strong preference for candidates with prior experience interfacing with clients.
• Preference given to candidates open and willing to field work as needed.
• You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required.

What You Will Do for ESA 

• You will lead and support business and client development efforts including preparing proposals, identifying opportunities, developing capture strategies, and engaging with proposal/interview teams. These efforts will include having the responsibility for preparing scopes of work and budgets.
• You will serve as Environmental Planner, which will include being a project manager on some projects. You will lead or support multi-faceted planning and permitting projects in collaboration with scientists, engineers, archaeologists, landscape architects and other specialists.
• You will serve as a NEPA specialist, preparing and managing complex environmental documents including checklists and Type II Categorical Exclusions.
• 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 be committed to treating people respectfully and equitably.
• You are adept at coordinating with clients, discipline leads, technical and support staff, subconsultants, and stakeholders.
• You will consistently demonstrate your solid writing skills, attentive listening skills, and participate in client meetings, present at or provide support at community workshops and public hearings effectively presenting complex technical information clearly and concisely.
• You will demonstrate a clear understanding of project management principles and practices and be responsible for the development of environmental compliance and planning documents in accordance with applicable guidelines and requirements, while delivering assignments within budget and schedule.
• Other ad-hoc tasks as needed

What’s Special About Our Team

Our Transportation Team includes biologists, restoration ecologists, permitting specialists, conservation biologists, and environmental scientists that provide expertise for many clients. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens in balance with conserving our state’s sensitive natural resources. 

We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration. To read about some of the exciting projects we have recently completed, check out this link: https://esassoc.com/projects/ 

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. 

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.

 Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

• Full name
• The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
• Title of Job Position Applied
• Description of your accommodation request

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