Senior Environmental Scientist

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Environmental Scientist to support environmental compliance, permitting, regulatory strategy, environmental due diligence, and project execution for clients throughout the Midwestern United States.

The successful candidate will lead and support environmental compliance programs, permitting initiatives, regulatory coordination, and environmental due diligence efforts across a diverse portfolio of projects within the energy, mining, construction, industrial manufacturing, transportation, utilities, and infrastructure sectors.

This position requires a strong understanding of federal, state, and local environmental regulations, permitting processes, and environmental compliance programs. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with clients, regulatory agencies, engineers, planners, contractors, and multidisciplinary project teams to develop practical compliance solutions, obtain regulatory approvals, manage environmental risk, and support successful project delivery.

Your Impact

• Lead and support environmental compliance programs for operational and construction-phase projects.
• Develop and implement environmental compliance strategies supporting project development, construction, operations, and facility expansions.
• Interpret and apply federal, state, and local environmental regulations, permit requirements, and environmental commitments.
• Conduct compliance audits, inspections, and gap assessments to identify regulatory risks, deficiencies, and corrective actions.
• Track permit obligations, environmental commitments, reporting requirements, and compliance deadlines.
• Support the development and implementation of environmental management systems, standard operating procedures, compliance plans, and tracking programs.
• Prepare and support environmental permit applications and regulatory approvals involving agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S.
• nvironmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), state environmental and natural resource agencies, and county and local regulatory authorities.
• Develop permitting strategies that align regulatory requirements with project schedules and client objectives.
• Coordinate environmental permit approvals, agency consultations, and regulatory review processes.
• Support environmental reviews for energy, mining, industrial, construction, transportation, utility, and infrastructure projects.
• Conduct and/or oversee wetland delineations, aquatic resource assessments, threatened and endangered species evaluations, ecological reconnaissance surveys, environmental constraints analyses, site assessments, environmental screening studies, construction compliance monitoring, and reclamation and restoration planning.
• Interpret environmental data and prepare technical reports supporting permitting, compliance, and regulatory consultation activities.
• Evaluate environmental risks and provide practical, technically sound recommendations to support project implementation.
• Lead and support environmental due diligence activities associated with acquisitions, divestitures, property transactions, financing activities, and project development opportunities.
• Evaluate environmental liabilities, regulatory compliance risks, permitting constraints, and other environmental considerations associated with project sites.
• Support environmental reviews under applicable federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable state environmental review requirements.
• Identify environmental constraints and permitting risks early in project development and recommend appropriate avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary environmental reviews involving natural resources, hazardous materials, cultural resources, land use, and regulatory considerations.
• Prepare due diligence reports, environmental review documentation, technical memoranda, and other environmental deliverables for clients, lenders, investors, and project stakeholders.
• Support siting studies, alternatives analyses, and environmental feasibility assessments for energy, industrial, mining, transportation, utility, and infrastructure projects.
• Support environmental aspects of project planning, design, construction, and operational activities.
• Review engineering and construction plans for environmental compliance considerations.
• Develop environmental compliance plans, permit matrices, environmental commitment tracking systems, and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate environmental field investigations and oversee subcontractors and specialty consultants as appropriate.
• Support environmental inspection and monitoring programs during construction.
• Serve as a technical liaison with clients, regulatory agencies, contractors, and project stakeholders.
• Participate in agency meetings, site visits, compliance inspections, and project coordination meetings.
• Respond to agency comments, compliance inquiries, and permit application review requests.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with regulatory agencies, clients, and project stakeholders.
• Manage environmental tasks and projects of varying size and complexity, including development of scopes of work, schedules, budgets, and staffing plans.
• Monitor project financial performance, schedules, technical quality, and deliverables.
• Support proposal preparation, business development initiatives, and client relationship management.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff and conduct quality reviews of technical work products.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources, and conduct while adhering to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, Geography, or a closely related discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience in environmental consulting, environmental compliance, permitting, environmental assessment, or environmental management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting environmental compliance and/or permitting programs for industrial, energy, mining, construction, infrastructure, transportation, or utility projects.
• Working knowledge of applicable environmental laws, regulations, and programs, including:
  • Clean Water Act (CWA), including Sections 401, 402, and 404
  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • Endangered Species Act (ESA)
  • Clean Air Act (CAA)
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
  • Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements
  • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permitting and compliance
  • Applicable federal, state, and local environmental permitting frameworks
• Experience preparing technical reports, permit applications, environmental compliance documentation, and regulatory correspondence.
• Familiarity with GIS applications, environmental data management systems, and/or compliance tracking tools.
• Strong technical writing, verbal communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of multidisciplinary project teams.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet project deadlines, and maintain high-quality work products.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the Midwest and conduct field work in varying weather, terrain, and site conditions.
• Must be able to pass a background check in accordance with applicable law and company policy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting energy generation, natural gas, mining, industrial manufacturing, renewable energy, transportation, utilities, or major construction projects.
• Experience supporting multi-state environmental permitting or compliance programs.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations and permitting processes within Midwestern states.
• Experience conducting environmental audits, compliance inspections, and corrective action management.
• Experience with wetland delineations, aquatic resources, threatened and endangered species assessments, and/or construction environmental compliance.
• Professional certification or progress toward a relevant certification such as Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB), Project Management Professional (PMP), or Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).
• Project management experience, including developing scopes, budgets, schedules, and coordinating multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience preparing proposals, supporting business development activities, and maintaining client relationships.
• Existing relationships or experience coordinating with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies throughout the Midwest.