Senior Environmental Planner

Salary range is $78k to $170k, with a midpoint of $118k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues

GENERAL PURPOSE:
This position is anticipated to work directly with the Federal Transit Administration in a role similar to the FTA's Environmental Protection Specialist position for an initial 2-year period.

Under general direction, performs a variety of professional level environmental planning functions and analysis for geographical area of assignment; ensures environmental compliance of Sound Transit's projects through various stages of environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), including project development, final design, permitting, construction, and operations; manages and coordinates assigned projects and contracts; develops scopes of work and schedules; and interacts with a variety of staff members, consultants and external agency and Tribal partners to complete projects or tasks.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Supports and oversees the environmental review for Sound Transit projects to ensure that the Agency complies with SEPA, NEPA and associated local, state, and federal environmental regulations; supports large projects by taking lead roles on selected issues including compliance with Environmental Justice requirements, Section 4(f) of the United States Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, development of mitigation strategies, and other resources as assigned; facilitates and coordinates with internal staff and outside stakeholders; provides information, solicits input, and presents Agency's perspective or position; communicates with a range of internal and external stakeholders, researches and analyzes information, issues, environmental regulations and policies; processes and documents public and third party comments; coordinates the distribution and notification for environmental documents; maintains the Agency's Administrative Record and documentation for projects; coordinates and administers environmental review for smaller projects.
• Provides support for environmental permitting for wetlands, streams and other natural resources and Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance processes.
• Provides support for Section 106 (National Historic Preservation Act) consultation and compliance processes.
• Ensures that the Agency is meeting its environmental commitments related to the NEPA and SEPA environmental review process; supports the Agency in the implementation of its environmental commitments; reviews and ensures that projects' contract specifications and drawings include the appropriate environmental commitments; and reviews real property acquisitions for consistency with environmental documents, as needed.
• Coordinates, oversees, and monitors contracts, as assigned, for environmental review and implementing NEPA and SEPA related environmental commitments. This includes oversight of the preparation of environmental studies and documents. Develops scopes, schedules, and budgets; develops recommendations on consultant services and other project needs, advises project managers of project conflicts and proposes resolution; contracts management including reviewing and approving invoices; secures contract change orders as required; and coordinates communications among agency staff, contractor, and outreach staff to provide the most up-to-date information and any proposed actions.
• Engages with Sound Transit's Environmental Sustainability Management System (ESMS), which may entail participation through technical working groups; researches and assists in the management of the various ESMS initiatives; develops and helps to achieve annual sustainability targets and helps to educate staff about the ESMS.
• Provides support for other Division activities including reviewing project designs, environmental permitting and compliance; prepares and reviews materials to support Board actions; and conducts research and analysis of environmental regulations.
• Provides support to the Division/Department on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety committees as assigned; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.
• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Biology, or closely related field and five years of experience with environmental planning, environmental permitting or project management, preferably in the transit industry and/or in public sector agencies; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• State and federal environmental laws, regulations, and industry practices, policies and procedures as they relate to environmental issues, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act.
• Federal, state, and local environmental permitting requirements.
• Environmental management and policy.
• Operations, services and activities of an environmental planning program.
• Environmental and land use laws and regulations and practices related to compliance,
• Current trends and professional literature in the area of environmental planning..
• Federal, state, and local transportation planning requirements.
• Project management techniques and principles.
• Principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Computer applications such as SharePoint, MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups and the general public.
• Applying principles and practices of local, state, and federal environmental laws and regulations.
• Interpreting and applying local, state and federal environmental laws, regulations, and industry practices, policies and procedures as they relate to environmental issues.
• Analyzing and synthesizing information in a concise manner and making recommendations on strategies to resolve environmental issues.
• Analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, and preparing recommendations.
• Contract management and oversight of scope, quality, schedule, and costs.
• Multi-tasking competing priorities.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports and communicating to a broad range of audiences, as appropriate.
• Responding to inquiries and effective oral and written communication.
• Applying project management techniques and principles.
• Working cooperatively with other departments and outside agencies.
• Preparing, coordinating, and reviewing consultant scopes, budget and schedules.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid office environment.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.