Hybrid Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist

at Michael Baker International

• Job title: Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: $110,000 - $160,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Santa Ana, United States

About the role

• Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist supporting aquatic resource assessments for development and conservation projects. Collaborating with professionals to manage regulatory permitting and compliance efforts.

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate would be part of a team that services a variety of projects associated with land development (e.g., residential, commercial), public works (e.g., flood control, transportation, water resource), habitat restoration, and other market sectors.
• The Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist would assist with day-to-day project needs and work collaboratively with Michael Baker’s extensive network of in-house professionals including other natural resource experts, environmental planners, land development specialists, engineers, hydrologists, and GIS analysts.
• A balance of field survey days, remote work from home, and office days will vary from week-to-week and seasonally.
• Field-level tasks typically comprise 1 to 2 days per week and are located within a two-hour drive from Michael Baker’s Southern California office locations.
• Conducting field work to map jurisdictional wetland and stream resources across watersheds and ecoregions within Southern California
• Researching and preparing technical studies, with a primary focus on aquatic resources delineation reports
• Providing senior review of technical reports
• Preparing and processing regulatory agency permit applications for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and California Coastal Commission
• Providing technical reviews of aquatic resource delineation reports and regulatory permit application packages
• Managing personal workload and coordinating task scheduling with a group manager
• Supporting preparation of scopes and costs for proposals involving regulatory services tasks
• Reviewing workload demands to evaluate and adjust staffing needs to meet client goals
• Reviewing group workflow to identify and implement value-added process improvements and efficiencies

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Botany, Ecology, Resource Management, or related field
• 5-10 years of experience with biological and aquatic resources services-oriented work including involvement and proficiency with regulatory permitting and compliance per CEQA, NEPA, CWA, MBTA, CFGC, FESA, and CESA
• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or CRAM Trained Practitioner preferred, but not mandatory
• Professionally-demonstrated knowledge of biology, botany, restoration ecology, fluvial geomorphology, hydric soils indicators, and Streamflow Duration Assessment Methods (SDAMs) in the Southern California region
• Desire to continuously learn and grow as a professional to provide mentorship and support the career goals of emerging staff
• Ability to travel and perform in different weather conditions and moderately difficult terrain while meeting set project schedules and budgets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate technical knowledge and analyses in reports, team meetings, and client interactions
• Strong computer skills using the Microsoft Office Suite
• Expertise with GPS mapping applications (e.g., Field Maps, Survey 123) and post-field GIS workflow coordination

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter and wellness benefits