Senior Permitting Manager (flexible location within California)

We are looking for motivated Senior Permitting Manager to join our growing team! This is a full-time, salaried, senior-level position. This is a remote position and the successful candidate must be in California. In this role you’ll primarily support the California High-Speed Rail project under the general direction of the Program Delivery Support Assistant, the Deputy Assistant of Environmental Services Managers, and the Authority Director of Environmental Services. You will work in Environmental Services Branch of the Program Delivery group, which is part of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (Authority) Office of Program Delivery. You will report directly to the Deputy Assistant Environmental Services Manager.

In this role, you will work closely with and advise Authority staff, legal counsel, and other team members throughout projects’ environmental clearance under NEPA and CEQA, permitting processes under the Clean Water Act, State and federal endangered species acts, Porter-Cologne, and other State and federal environmental laws and regulations, and construction-phase compliance. This position requires excellent writing skills and a writing example will be requested.

General responsibilities include: 

The Senior Permitting Manager is responsible for providing management and oversight in the preparation of State and federal permit applications for Authority projects, review and analysis of NEPA and CEQA documents, compensatory mitigation procurement, and construction compliance for 119 miles under construction in the Central Valley. The Senior Permit Manager is responsible for the following tasks:

• Support the Authority in the strategy development, preparation, and acquisition of regulatory permits and approvals under Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 7 of the federal Endangered Species Act, Section 2081 of the California Endangered Species Act, and Section 1600 of the California Fish & Game Code, among others.
• Support the Authority to manage the State and federal regulatory processes to secure the issuance of Notices of Determination (NODs) and Records of Decisions (RODs).
• Serve as a main point-of-contact for regulatory agencies relative to the areas of natural resource mitigation, permitting, and compliance demonstration.
• Support the Authority’s procurement of compensatory mitigation by evaluating compensatory mitigation requirements, analyzing market availability, preparing procurement documents, and managing mitigation contracts with third parties.
• Assist with applications for permit amendments as needed.
• Assist with construction-phase compliance including using the Environmental Management and Mitigation Assessment database application, responding to regulatory agency requests, and reporting.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• At least 15 years of experience in planning for and leading broad teams/efforts of senior specialists and managerial staff, and a strong working knowledge of program stand-up and management
• Exceptional analytic, verbal, and writing skills
• Experience with major environmental laws including CEQA, NEPA, Clean Water Act, State and federal endangered species acts, Porter-Cologne, Lake/streambed alteration agreements
• Ability to analyze and inspire innovative solutions to unique or complex challenges
• Experience working on large, complex programs and projects
• Ability to liaise with senior executives, officials, and officers
• Able to demonstrate a high level of organizational ability
• Capable of pivoting and re-prioritizing to meet changing program needs and deadlines
• Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental law, or a related field; Masters degree is a plus.
• Must be able to work well independently and in a team environment.
• Experience with large-scale compensatory mitigation planning and procurement
• Experience with Rivers and Harbors Act Section 14 (408), U.S. Forest Service special use permits, or Bay Conservation and Development Commission permitting
• Experience implementing wildlife connectivity for large mammals
• Experience in construction compliance tracking, documentation, reporting
• Experience with design-build contracting and construction processes

Who we are:

Surf To Snow Environmental Resource Management (S2S) is a full-service environmental consulting firm that supports Clients and other strategic partners in all major lines of business, general construction, including electric transmission, gas transmission, power generation, distribution/facilities support, environmental permitting, and site restoration projects. Founded in 2008, we are a California-based disabled veteran-owned business. With a strong technical background and the ability to be flexible and responsive to our clients’ needs, S2S is uniquely qualified to provide a multitude of environmental services to our clients while helping to meet diverse regulatory requirements. S2S provides planning, permitting, project management, compliance monitoring, stormwater, and site restoration services that result in the successful, timely, on-budget completion of a project while meeting regulatory requirements and preserving the surrounding ecosystem. http://www.s2serm.com

Benefits include:

• Great dental, heath, and vision insurance
• Employer paid life insurance
• Paid time off
• 11 paid company holidays per year
• 401K contribution matching
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
  

The pay range for this position is a general guideline and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Actual pay will be based upon a range of factors including, but not limited to, experience, education, level of responsibility, skills, abilities and overall alignment with market data for similar functions.

Interested in S2S but this position isn't quite right for you? Check out our website for more opportunities!

https://s2serm.com/opportunities/