Environmental Permitting Specialist

We are Hiring! Environmental Permitting Specialist Position Advertisement in Wilmington, NC

Coastal Protection Engineering LLC (CPE), a multidisciplinary coastal consulting firm with a national presence and a flourishing coastal engineering practice, is pleased to announce an immediate opening in our Wilmington, NC office for an Environmental Permitting Specialist. The candidate will perform tasks under the direction of a Senior Marine Biologist to provide environmental permitting support to Project Managers and lead the effort to obtain State (North Carolina Division of Coastal Management CAMA) permits, and Federal (Department of Army) permits for a variety of coastal and marine engineering projects. The primary focus will be on permitting navigation maintenance dredging projects and beach nourishment projects but may also include permitting support for coastal structures and other coastal projects. The candidate will manage internal efforts among disciplines to compile and submit permit applications and will coordinate directly with agency staff to facilitate the permitting process. The successful candidate will also play a key role in drafting NEPA documents including Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) assessments in support of the State and Federal permit applications. Familiarity with coastal and marine environments, regulatory compliance, and interagency coordination is essential for this position. Occasional fieldwork and site visits will be required when assisting with monitoring programs in support of permit conditions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate closely with team members (e.g., biologists, engineers, geologists) throughout project planning, construction, and post-construction phases.
• Support and/or lead coordination efforts with State and Federal agencies throughout the permit application process.
• Prepare various project documents including permit applications, NEPA documents, PowerPoint presentations, and meeting summaries.
• Communicate with co-workers, clients, and the public in a professional manner through verbal and written correspondence.
• Prioritize and accomplish multiple assignments efficiently and effectively with limited supervision.
• Understand limitations of education and experience and bring problems beyond capability to supervisor’s attention.
• Other work activities may include assisting in proposal efforts, data management, report preparation and review, and performing other consulting duties.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field such as Marine Biology, Ecology, Geology, Coastal Engineering, Oceanography, Coastal Zone Management, or Environmental Science.
• Experience obtaining and/or issuing State and Federal permits for coastal/marine projects.
• Experience with coastal processes and environments.
• Ability to communicate scientific analyses and study results to general and technical audiences.
• Self-motivated, hard-worker capable of working both independently and in a team setting.
• Ability to work under supervision, with considerable to moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
• Willingness and availability to travel to other offices and project sites on occasion.
• Ability and willingness to learn new processes and technical skills.
• Reside in, or willingness to relocate to Wilmington, NC.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously
• Proficient English communication skills (oral and written) and ability to work legally in the United States for an indefinite period of time.

Additional Desired Qualifications

The following additional qualifications are not mandatory but will be viewed favorably:

• Experience with GIS and/or AutoCad
• Experience reviewing technical engineering drawings and studies.
• Familiarity with North Carolina estuarine and marine habitats and resources

This offer is for an exempt, full-time salaried position in our Wilmington, NC office. The salary will be defined based on level of experience of the successful candidate. We offer a standard array of benefits including 100% payment of health insurance premium to employees, 401K, and incentive compensation. Our friendly office environment is located close to beautiful beaches and A-rated schools.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Coastal Protection Engineering is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we ensure nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We encourage talented, qualified employees to apply regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, religion, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification under country or local law.