Director of Environmental Regulatory Affairs & Restoration

At RES, we’re looking for purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about restoration and sustainability, and who want their work to make a lasting environmental impact. Our team members go above and beyond, bringing initiative, integrity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Collaboration is key—we thrive on teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives. In a field that constantly changes, we value those who are resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in the face of challenges. If you're intellectually curious, eager to learn, and ready to help restore ecosystems and protect natural resources, you’ll find your place here.

RES is seeking a Director of Environmental Regulatory Affairs & Restoration to lead environmental permitting strategy, regulatory coordination, and technical regulatory oversight for projects across California. This role serves as a senior leader within the organization, guiding complex permitting and regulatory efforts, supporting project execution, mentoring staff, and helping shape regional growth strategy. The Director of Environmental Regulatory Affairs & Restoration will work across disciplines and regions to ensure regulatory excellence, consistent quality, strong agency relationships, and effective support for business objectives.

This position is ideal for a seasoned regulatory leader who brings deep expertise in environmental permitting, restoration and mitigation strategy, agency coordination, technical review, staff development, and cross-functional project leadership. The ideal candidate has extensive experience navigating complex state and federal regulatory frameworks, leading interdisciplinary teams, and providing strategic direction across all phases of project delivery.

What your day-to-day will look like

You will lead regulatory strategy for a diverse portfolio of projects, helping teams navigate permitting pathways, identify risks early, and align regulatory requirements with project goals, schedules, and budgets. You will provide high-level guidance through proposal development, kickoff, project execution, closeout, and long-term compliance considerations, while also supporting broader regional growth strategies and business planning.

You will oversee and interpret complex regulatory processes across California and federal jurisdictions, including permitting and approvals under applicable environmental laws and agency requirements. You will guide teams in developing permitting strategies, evaluating constraints, preparing for agency coordination, and ensuring consistency in regulatory interpretation and technical quality across projects.

You will serve as a senior advisor and collaborator to project teams, Regulatory Managers, and business leaders across regions. In this role, you will facilitate coordination across offices and disciplines, share regulatory updates and best practices, support staff training, and partner with Government Affairs and regional leadership on policy developments, draft legislation, and emerging issues that may affect RES business lines and environmental markets.

You will ensure that QA/QC processes are followed and that reports, applications, drawings, analyses, and other regulatory deliverables are reviewed by the appropriate staff and meet scope, schedule, cost, and quality expectations. You will also provide technical oversight and direction on site evaluations, data interpretation, permit applications, mitigation and restoration planning, compliance-related efforts, and risk analyses.

You will lead and coach interdisciplinary teams, assign staff to projects, balance workloads, and help resolve staffing conflicts and competing priorities. You will mentor team members on professional development, technical growth, and project execution, and you will contribute to hiring through position development, candidate interviews, and selection decisions.

You will also represent RES externally with clients, agencies, and industry organizations. This may include supporting agency meetings, client strategy discussions, field visits, presentations, and training sessions related to regulatory requirements, permitting processes, and environmental compliance.

This position may require travel within California and occasional coordination across regions.

We would love to talk to you if you have many of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, physical sciences, environmental sciences, ecology, biology, geology, hydrology, or a related field.
• 15+ years of relevant experience, or 13+ years of relevant experience with an advanced degree.
• Advanced understanding and interpretation of national regulatory processes, including work across multiple U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts and multiple state-level SOPs and requirements.
• Senior to expert-level expertise in environmental regulations and permitting, including experience with approvals such as Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401, Nationwide and Individual Permits, NPDES, Endangered Species Act requirements, and other major federal, state, and local environmental permitting frameworks.
• Expert understanding of the 2008 Mitigation Rule, regional agency guidance and interpretations, and other major regulatory requirements affecting mitigation, restoration, and environmental market projects.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic regulatory guidance across different project phases, including proposals, kickoff, development, and closeout.
• Experience leading multiple project teams and interdisciplinary teams simultaneously.
• Demonstrated success mentoring, coaching, and developing staff, including support for professional goal setting and technical growth.\
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, advanced organizational skills, and strong interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in environmental science, ecology, biology, hydrology, geology, planning, or a related field.
• Advanced knowledge in more than one and intermediate knowledge in several scientific disciplines relevant to regulatory and restoration work, such as wetlands, hydrology, soils, stream morphology, water quality, threatened and endangered species, flora and fauna, geology, ecology, biology, fisheries, or environmental contamination.
• Strong familiarity with GIS capabilities and functions, with ArcGIS experience or certification preferred.
• Professional certifications such as PWS, CWB, CERP, PG, species survey permits or licenses, hydrology certifications, EPSC, or other regional or discipline-specific credentials.
• Strong understanding of restoration design principles, functional assessment methodologies, ecological data, design plans, and technical calculations that support permitting and regulatory deliverables.
• Active participation or leadership in technical professional associations and experience presenting at conferences or professional meetings.
• Risk identification and problem solving

Please note that the “Day in the Life” section is not intended to be an exhaustive list of job duties, but rather a representative snapshot of typical responsibilities and work experiences at RES.

RES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.