Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist

PLANNING PRACTICE

We create, integrate, visualize and communicate planning concepts as they move from the initial vision through implementation. Our planning professionals build strong client partnerships, working with residents, businesses, developers, educational and medical organizations, state and local governments, the military and other federal agencies to successfully plan the future of their communities or institutions. At Michael Baker International, we focus on people and places, improving communities and creating more sustainable, convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive places.

DESCRIPTION

Michael Baker International is seeking a Senior Regulatory Permitting Specialist to support aquatic resource assessments for development, maintenance, ecosystem restoration, and conservation projects located in the southern California region. The ideal candidate would have extensive experience with field survey techniques, technical reporting standards, and regulations protecting wetlands and waters of the US/state. This position requires the application of critical thinking and solution-oriented approaches to problems towards such tasks as completing aquatic resources delineations, analyzing field-collected biological resources survey data, preparation and QA/QC of technical reports, introducing and collaborating on improvements to workflow and products, staffing coordination, project alternatives analyses, and facilitating the timely processing regulatory permit applications with federal and state resource agencies. Additionally, the requirements position associated with the position include daily planning of assignments and tasks, and additional leadership duties as assigned.

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.

The ideal candidate for this position would have wide-ranging aquatic and biological resources professional background including:

• 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

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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 supp