GENERAL PURPOSE: 

Under general direction, plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of environmental permitting staff and manages resources for the environmental permitting team; manages environmental permitting work and establishes methods for providing environmental permitting support to all projects during planning, design, pre-construction, construction, and operations; participates in the development of environmental goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; and maintains a thorough understanding of the environmental regulations and other requirements and maintains effective relationships with agencies, regulators, and local jurisdictions that administer and enforce environmental programs applicable to Sound Transit.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Manages environmental permitting for Sound Transit projects at the federal, state, and local level. Typical permits include Section 404 and 401 Clean Water Act Permits, Coast Guard Permits, Hydraulic Project Approvals, Local Shoreline Development Permits, and Local Critical Areas Permits.  Work includes:

o Providing critical permit strategy input and reviewing ecosystems work during Project planning phases,

o Developing permit plans and preparing and reviewing permit applications,

o Managing consultant teams working on environmental permitting and mitigation work,

o Leading all coordination with federal, state, and local regulators as well as Tribal staff for work related to environmental permitting and ecosystem mitigation,

o Tracking permit conditions for compliance.

• Manages the development of natural resource (wetlands, water resources, wildlife, fisheries, and habitat) mitigation strategies for assigned Sound Transit Projects; oversees the identification of mitigation opportunities and needs for projects; tracks changes to mitigation regulations; works with federal, state, and local agencies on project mitigation requirements; collaborates with environmental staff during natural resource mitigation site selection and develops scope, schedule, and budget for final natural resource mitigation design package.

• Manages endangered species act (ESA) compliance for Sound Transit projects; develops strategies for ESA consultations, reviews ESA consultation documents for new projects as well as ESA re-initiation documents as projects change and new species are listed.

• Supports and oversees ecosystem related portions of the environmental review for Sound Transit projects to ensure that the Agency complies with local, state, and federal environmental regulations; supports large projects by taking lead roles on selected issues including natural resource impact analyses and development of mitigation strategies.

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work of assigned staff; assigns work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides staff training and constructive feedback; reviews and evaluates work and makes effective suggestions and recommendations.

• Establishes schedules and methods for supporting all projects during all phases of project delivery, from planning through operations; identifies and forecasts resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; and allocate resources accordingly.

• Maintains a thorough understanding of the environmental processes and regulations in order to ensure environmental requirements are adequately addressed in a timely manner for Sound Transit’s capital projects and facilities.

• Maintains awareness of new trends, developments, and regulatory changes in the fields related to environmental permitting; incorporates regulatory changes as appropriate to ensure accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations.

• Oversees emergent situations; responds to and investigates reports from community members, affected property owners, agencies, regulators, inspectors, and businesses; recommends and approves corrective action; responds to and resolves difficult environmental issues; and briefs management on sensitive issues and prepares plans to address sensitive issues.

• Manages budgets for contract tasks; maintains records concerning projects and programs; and prepares reports on environmental activities.

• Assists in developing and/or updating environmental permitting focused procedures for the Office of Environmental Affairs & Sustainability; implements such policies and procedures and ensures consistency with the Agency’s Environmental and Sustainability Management System (ESMS).

• Demonstrates Sound Transit’s Values in every interaction.

• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.

• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.

• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in environmental studies, urban planning, environmental sciences, earth sciences, environmental management, or closely related field and six years of experience working in the environmental field including familiarity with environmental planning and compliance and four years of staff supervisory, budgetary, and management responsibility helping to lead teams or projects OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

Valid state driver’s license.

Required Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permitting requirements.

• State and federal environmental laws, regulations, and industry practices, policies, and procedures as they relate to environmental issues.

• Current trends and professional literature in the area of environmental planning, primarily related to natural resources (wetlands, streams, buffers, wildlife and fisheries habitat, natural resource permitting, and mitigation implementation).

• Principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

• Compliance with environmental regulations and standards. English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.

Required Skills:

• Supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority.

• Developing and monitoring divisional and program/project operating budgets, costs, and schedules.

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.

• Professional communication including applying principles and practices of community outreach and working cooperatively with other departments, Agency officials, and outside agencies.

• Conducting research and analysis and providing appropriate recommendations based on findings.

• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.

• Working effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a standard office environment.

• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds; may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, potential physical harm, and extreme noise when working at events and when working in the field.

• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

Qualifications

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)