[Hiring] Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist @WRA

Role Description

We’re currently hiring a Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist in the Sacramento/Central Valley region. On Team 12, you will work closely with WRA's Principals, Directors, and Executive-level leadership to develop, manage, and deliver multifaceted regulatory projects primarily in California's Central Valley and Foothills region. This hire will support existing senior-level staff in that goal.

In this role, you will work collaboratively between clients, regulators, and an interdisciplinary WRA team to develop innovative approaches, lead interesting consultation processes, and support project implementation. This is a remote position within the state of California; however, the person hired for this role will be expected to be at various on-site locations including field sites, client or agency offices in the greater Sacramento and Central Valley area. Occasional visits to WRA's office locations are also expected as needed to meet project needs. This role reports to Rob Schell, Wildlife and Fisheries Director.

In this role, you will:

• Work with Principals as well as Director and Executive-level staff, including subject matter experts, engineers, attorneys, clients, prime or subconsultants to develop a project from idea, through planning and permit consultations in support of critical infrastructure and development in California's Central Valley and Foothills.
• Merge technical expertise with regulatory experience to guide and advise clients on project due diligence, design, opportunities and constraints to develop and deliver a permitting strategy, schedule, and budget that reflects client priorities.
• Coordinate, delegate, and oversee multidisciplinary teams, stakeholders, staff, and subconsultants on the preparation of technical studies necessary to support the permitting process.
• Oversee or directly prepare permit applications.
• Proactively manage budgets, prepare scopes of work and change orders.
• Identify and communicate project risks to Principal-level staff.
• Oversee and mentor early career professionals on regulatory processes, project management, and professional development.
• Participate in internal and external thought leadership at conferences or professional technical groups through publications, presentations, white papers, panel discussions, or similar.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, engineering, policy, or related field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience working in the consulting field.
• At least 6 years of expertise preparing and consulting on 401, 404, 1600 LSAA, USFWS/NMFS Section 7 or Section 10 consultations, CDFW 2081 ITPs.
• Proven experience building and managing across multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven track record in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience in Transportation, Water, or Mine/Quarry Markets.
• At least 5 years of project management experience, including preparing scopes of work, budgets and change orders.
• At least 5 years working in California’s Central Valley or Foothills regions.
• A growth mindset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical information to a lay audience.
• A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and willingness to travel to field sites and meetings.
• The ability to walk, hike, and work outside for long periods of time.

Requirements

• Desired but not required skills include specialized expertise with Mitigation, SMARA, FERC.
• Business Development experience.
• Experience working on competitive proposals.
• Strong leadership skills.

Benefits

• The salary range for this position is $108,000 - $146,000 which represents 2 job levels that WRA is open to considering for this role.
• Opportunities to discuss leveling and compensation during the interview process.

Company Description

WRA is an employee-owned environmental consultancy. We are a tenacious team of planners, engineers, and scientists, and we aim to leave the lands we love better than we found them.

• Our clients and partners hire us because we’re skilled at navigating through challenging projects involving wildlands, parks, community spaces, and infrastructure.
• We bring over four decades of expertise, long-standing relationships, and connections to our local communities to make sure that projects are pursued in responsible ways where both people and the environment thrive.
• We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment.
• WRA is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a diverse environment.