Project Environmental Planner - Denver, Colorado
Do you have a passion for environmental planning and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance? Working on projects based in wilderness, national parks, national forests, and other public lands? How does combining your skills and passion to solve intricate challenges through teamwork and technical expertise sound like you? Great! If so, ERO Resources Corporation (ERO) is for you. We are seeking a Project Environmental Planner for our Denver, Colorado office.
ERO is a woman-owned small business with offices in Colorado and Idaho that puts its people first and offers collaboration between diverse environmental professionals, a flexible schedule to maintain work/life balance, and a casual work environment. Our diverse team of scientists, planners, and subject matter experts have been working together to craft innovative solutions within regulatory framework while balancing change in our region with natural and cultural resources protection for more than 40 years. We’re always looking for dynamic and engaged people to join our team! Bring your expertise, your ingenuity, and your vision. Let’s see the impact we can create, together.
Position Overview
The Project Environmental Planner/Project Manager requires a broad overall understanding of environmental regulations including NEPA, Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations as well as the relationship among them. The Project Environmental Planner is knowledgeable in and has experience managing small- and large-scale projects most often related to NEPA analyses and land and resource planning projects involving complex resource issues, agency relationships, and stakeholder dynamics. Duties for this position typically include performance and oversight of teams performing a full range of environmental analyses. A Project Environmental Planner will also be trained in and have significant experience managing public involvement efforts for NEPA or other planning projects. Other duties include development of large and complex planning documents such as Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), resource management plans, habitat conservation plans, and other management plans as well as management of project teams and junior staff. A Project Environmental Planner has extensive experience in agency coordination with various federal and state agencies.
Project Environmental Planners are expected to effectively manage large, complex projects from start to completion, understand the needs of clients, and create the project teams needed to complete the required work on time, within budget, and with high quality. This position requires a “consultant” approach and mentality to meet project schedule requirements and demands. The position may require working more than 40 hours per week during certain times of the year and may require occasional evening or weekend work, based on project schedules. Project Environmental Planners are expected to have the knowledge and experience to effectively carry out their responsibilities with limited reliance on a Principal or other Senior Project Manager.
Core Competencies
The Project Environmental Planner/Project Manager is expected to maintain a high level of competence in the following:
Education & Experience
- 7 to 10 years of environmental project planning experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Planning, or other related field.
- Experience writing environmental assessments and EIS documents for projects.
Business Development
- Develop and execute detailed scopes and assumptions for projects with varying sizes, complexities, staffing, budgets, and time constraints.
- Conduct marketing efforts and client outreach and retention through direct coordination, conferences, and other business development efforts.
- Successfully help win small and large projects for ERO.
- Manage Master Services Agreements or other blanket client agreements.
Project Management
- Develop and execute work plans and processes that meet the needs of the client to address complex environmental and regulatory issues.
- Effectively communicate with clients, professional agencies, staff, and other teams regarding report writing, correspondence, and coordination.
- Prepare work plans and project management documents and communications as well as manage stakeholder involvement.
- Coordinate with stakeholders for feedback on scope, assumptions, and cost.
- Lead/facilitate multi-agency/stakeholder meetings and public meetings.
- Complete or direct completion of basic and complex regulatory documents independently, thoroughly, within schedule, and within budget.
- Delegate report documentation to junior- and mid-level staff efficiently and clearly communicate budgets, billing codes, expectations, scope, tasks, and schedules.
- Coordinate or direct completion of complex deliverables such as technical reports for NEPA projects and large environmental compliance documents.
- Maintain and ensure scientific and regulatory integrity.
Leadership
- Set the example and take a leadership role by assisting with mentoring and training junior staff.
- Maintain company standards and high-quality assurance/quality control.
- Continue educational professional development to be an expert in your field.
Skills and Abilities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products and Adobe Acrobat.
- Effective communication skills – written and verbal.
- Organization, managing multiple priorities, and oversight of project staff and deliverables.
- Proven ability to conduct project management tasks and handle multiple priorities including oversight of project staff and deliverables.
- Proven knowledge of government agency guidelines and requirements to produce regulatory-compliant and on-budget project deliverables.
- Ability to collaborate with teams (Geographic Information System, administrative, and others) throughout the company.
- Interpret and understand natural resource regulations including NEPA, Colorado Fish and Wildlife Plans, CWA, ESA, and National Historic Preservation Act regulations.
- Experience in participating and undertaking field projects to develop technically sound scopes of work and reasonable cost proposals.
- Creative thinking to adjust to unforeseen circumstances.
Physical Requirements
When in the field, project areas may be located at high elevations in rugged terrain. Applicants must be physically capable and possess the skills necessary to perform all aspects of fieldwork and be able to lift 20 pounds. Work may also include periods of sedentary work including sitting/standing and use of a computer.
ERO offers a very competitive compensation package that includes:
- Salary position with pay range of $80,000 to $100,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
- 10 hours/month paid vacation accrual (separate sick leave bank).
- 11 paid holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- ERO pays, on average, 80 percent of health, dental, vision and other insurance packages.
- 401(k) and financial planning assistance.
- Generous cell phone and office equipment stipend.
- Annual profit sharing and retirement plan contributions.
- Education opportunities, including external workshops, classes, and mentorship, with ERO Principals.
- Opportunities for advancement, including opportunities for Associate and Board-level ownership for the right candidate.
Qualified applicants should send an email with a PDF cover letter, resume, and writing sample to opportunities@eroresources.com with Project Environmental Planner in the subject line. Only potential candidates will be contacted for interviews.
ERO participates in e-verify and pre-employment background screening services. ERO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans to apply. For more information about ERO, visit our website at www.eroresources.com.
