Senior Natural Resource Specialist

Title: Senior Natural Resource Specialist

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist II

Hiring Range: $70,106 to $113,922

Pay Band: 5

Agency: VA Dept of Transportation

Location: Hampton Roads District Office

Agency Website: www.virginiadot.org/jobs

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Hampton Roads District is seeking a Senior Natural Resource Specialist to support construction and maintenance programs and to protect the natural environment by providing sound engineering and environmental consultation and services.

Core responsibilities for job & position:
Coordinate or conduct water quality field studies or surveys, biological impact studies and wetland delineations early in the project development process. Plan for and develop avoidance and minimization alternatives for environmental resources in the scoping phase of project development. Provide quality control for both VDOT
and consultant water quality design submittals. Oversee development of permit packages. Assemble design and environmental data and prepare permit applications consistent with ad dates. Present projects at the Interagency Coordination Meeting and acquire permits to meet ad schedules.

Provide leadership and environmental and engineering guidance district-wide related to design, water quality, erosion and sediment control, SWM, BMPs, and endangered and threatened species. Support project development and construction processes consistent with environmental regulations, policies, procedures and project schedules. Monitor and update CEDAR software program. Manage water quality portion of the district environmental program. Manage projects that have significant or complex water quality related issues to meet advertisement schedules.

Develop wetland mitigation strategies, including the design of wetland compensation sites to facilitate the permitting of transportation projects. Identify potential mitigation alternatives and perform site selection in project development process. Study potential mitigation sites to evaluate feasibility, cost effective and constructability. Develop conceptual and final design, vegetation schedule, typical sections, outlet control structures, construction and vegetation notes, monitoring requirements and special provisions to facilitate construction of mitigation site. Design wetlands, stream and riparian restoration alternatives to meet permit requirements.

Represent VDOT in resolving water quality permit issues and conditions with local, state and federal agencies throughout the project development process to ensure timely issuance of water quality permits. Act as Environmental Liaison, providing guidance throughout project development and construction processes regarding environmental, design and constructability issues. Provide expert technical advice to construction and maintenance personnel regarding on-going projects and activities to remain environmentally compliant on projects. Maintain knowledge of state and federal water quality laws and regulations to facilitate development of
transportation projects.

Required skills for job & position:
• Ability to read, interpret and apply environmental laws and regulations to transportation projects.
• Ability to work with the public on environmental issues.
• Knowledge of solid waste and hazardous materials, threatened and endangered species, pollution prevention, and cultural resources laws, regulations and permit processes.
• Knowledge of NEPA, water quality permits, wetlands, stream stabilization, erosion and sediment control and storm water management laws, regulations and permit processes.
• Ability to apply civil engineering and environmental sciences in the design of wetlands, stream restoration, erosion and sediment control and BMPs.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with diverse audiences and to make presentations and conduct meetings.
• Skill in the use of computers and software applications.
• Skill in wetland delineation, soil taxonomy and plant identification, aquatic macro benthic identification and biological sampling protocols.
• Ability to plan, organize and work on multiple task concurrently.
• Ability to prepare conceptual designs and special contract provisions.
• Knowledge of civil engineering, erosion and sediment control and storm water management.
• Knowledge of federal and state environmental laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of environmental sciences, wetland sciences, and aquatic ecology, f