Senior Environmental Permitting Specialist

Salary range is $78k to $170k with a midpoint of $118k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint however we may go slightly higher based on experience internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitivebenefits packagewith a wide range of offerings including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans a dental plan and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal addition to compensation and benefits youll find that we provide work-life balance opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under general direction performs a variety of professional level environmental planning and permitting functions; manages environmental permitting and ensures environmental regulatory compliance of Sound Transits capital projects through all stages including project development final design construction and operations; develops ecosystem mitigation strategies for assigned projects and contracts; develops scopes of work and schedules; and works closely with a variety staff members and consultants to complete projects or tasks.

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:
• Providing critical permit strategy input and reviewing ecosystems work during Project planning phases
• Developing permit plans and preparing and reviewing permit applications
• Managing consultant teams working on environmental permitting and mitigation work
• Leading all coordination with federal state and local regulators as well as Tribal staff for work related to environmental permitting and ecosystem mitigation
• 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.
• Ensures that the Agency is meeting its environmental commitments and environmental permit conditions; reviews and ensures that projects contract specifications and drawings include the appropriate environmental commitments and permit conditions.
• Provides support to the Division/Department on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety committees as assigned; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; facilitates and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to environmental permitting; incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws Agency policies and procedures rules and regulations.
• Champions and models Sound Transits core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transits Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• 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:Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies Environmental Science Land Use Biology or closely related field. Five years of experience with environmental planning and/or environmental permitting Endangered Species Act consultation and project management preferably in the transit industry and/or in public sector agencies; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• 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).
• Project management techniques and principles.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage spelling grammar and punctuation.
• Utilizing computer applications such as MS Word Excel and PowerPoint.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff management vendors outside agencies community groups and the general public.
• Analyzing and synthesizing information in a concise manner and make recommendations on strategies to resolve environmental issues.
• Analyzing problems identifying alternative solutions and preparing recommendations.
• Contract management and oversight of scope quality schedule and costs.
• Multi-tasking competing priorities.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports and communicating to a broad range of audience as appropriate.
• Responding to inquiries and in effective oral and written communication.
• Applying project management techniques and principles.
• Working cooperatively and respectfully with other departments Agency officials outside agencies and Tribes.
• Preparing coordinating and reviewing consultant scopes budget and schedules.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office and field work environment.
• This position is responsible for field investigations and construction site visits. May be subject to bending eye/hand coordination grasping hearing kneeling pushing pulling reaching repetitive motion sitting standing talking seeing walking and carrying and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds
• Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery extreme weather conditions physical harm hazardous chemicals and/or extreme noise.
• 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.

Required Experience:

Senior IC