Project Manager, Environmental Planning & Permitting

POSTING DEADLINE

This position is posted until filled.

DEPARTMENT

Department: Environmental Services 

PREFERENCES

This role benefits from a professional who can anticipate permitting challenges, identify pragmatic solutions, and support timely delivery of electric utility projects while maintaining environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.

Preferred skills include expertise in environmental planning, permitting, and compliance for electric utility infrastructure projects, with strong knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations such as FLPMA, NEPA, NHPA, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and land use requirements. The role requires solid project management experience, including managing complex permitting schedules, coordinating interdisciplinary teams, and developing permitting strategies and risk assessments. Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, along with experience preparing defensible technical documents, managing consultants, and reviewing environmental studies. Additional valued skills include understanding electric infrastructure construction practices,  familiarity with public outreach and mitigation planning, proficiency with project tracking and document management tools, and the ability to anticipate and resolve permitting challenges while supporting timely project delivery.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Project Manager, Environmental Planning & Permitting

Salary Grade: G04
Minimum  Midpoint  Maximum
$110,004 - $148,506 - $187,007

SUMMARY:  

Develops strategy and tactics for and, directs and manages regulatory activities and communications related to, initiating, planning, permitting, managing, and closing multiple medium- to large-scale high-profile projects with complex environmental requirements, stemming from electric resource plans and policies. Directs Company processes relating to environmental matters that immediately affect the Company's business success and earnings, including applications, pending legislation, rulemaking, compliance reporting, public proceedings and negotiations with outside parties on environmental regulatory matters. Develops and implements strategies to permit new and significant capital intensive infrastructure additions and major improvements to existing infrastructure. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Develops and implements strategies relevant to the Company's business and environmental policy objectives 

Develops and implements internal and external stakeholder and permitting tactics to minimize permitting risk while effectively communicating benefits and consequences to stakeholders 

Speaks with the media as requested; promotes PNM's positions with legislators, community groups and regulators in various forums.  Permits transitioned projects to achieve project goals and schedules 

Prepares environmental regulatory mandated filings, including federal state and local permit applications and compliance documentation 

Evaluates electric planning documents, uses industry contacts and governmental resources to assess how electric plans can be achieved through management of environmental issues 

Provides realistic timeframes for permitting to ensure that resource developments are scheduled with adequate time allowed for environmental compliance activities and stakeholder development 

Prepares and provides testimony, interrogatory responses, and justifications as necessary to support regulatory approval of planning documents 

Monitors and effects the development and implementation of  federal state and local environmental and land use plans, regulations, policies and laws to support efficient execution of electric plans and operations 

Coordinates with other PNM internal groups to ensure cohesiveness of PNM's goals with these plans 

COMPETENCIES:  

Expert knowledge of environmentally related regulatory issues and strategy 

Thorough knowledge and understanding of environmental regulations and laws, including but not limited to: Federal Clean Air Act (CAA); Regulatory Programs including: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), Title V, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and New Source Review (NSR) expertise and any applicable regulatory process, procedures and rules 

Thorough understanding of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and any applicable regulatory processes, procedures and rules 

Thorough understanding of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and any applicable regulatory processes, procedures, and rules 

Broad understanding of the utility industry 

Ability to understand and implement complex regulatory theories and principles 

High-level of judgment on broad range of issues, creativity, strong problem solving skills, ability to formulate viable options to obtain 

Company objectives, and ability to make persuasive presentations and arguments 

Ability to anticipate and identify potential regulatory issues or problems 

Ability to develop strong strategies and make sound decisions to resolve regulatory issues or problems 

Ability to persuade broad and diverse groups including, cross-functional operating groups, regulators, lawyers, and interveners 

Ability to exhibit strong leadership characteristics and motivate project teams including members from other PNM departments to assist in meeting strategic objectives 

QUALIFICATIONS                    

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 

Bachelor's degree in a related field with seven to nine years of related experience, including two years management experience, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience related to the discipline. 

Master's degree is preferred. 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:     

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, financial reports, legal documents, and environmental regulations 

Ability to read and write comprehend complex instructions, regulations, correspondence, and memos 

Ability to effectively present information in group situations and respond to questions from customers, clients, management, and other employees of the organization 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:    

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry 

Ability to apply concepts such as: fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations 

COMPUTER SKILLS:  

Working knowledge of geographic information system software products 

Working knowledge of database, spreadsheet, and word processing software 

ANALYSIS AND PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY:  

Ability to identify, isolate and prioritize and solve practical problems and issues of strategic corporate importance dealing with a variety of dynamic social political and environmental variables.  Ability to study technical data in order to discover and understand trends, relationships and patterns for predicting and improving business performance.  Ability to conduct analysis and mine data and develop and use models involving extensive computation and analysis to predict environmental phenomenon and formulate strategy.  Ability to interpret and create instructions furnished in written, oral, graphic diagrammatic or schedule form.  Ability to understand and predict political impacts of strategies.  

DECISION MAKING: 

Makes decisions within the context of departmental and company policies and guidelines and within standard operating procedures and best practices that govern environmental planning and permitting.  Anticipates potential regulatory issues or problems and develop sound strategies to resolve those issues and problems resulting in favorable impacts to the Company. Consults with management to advise on and confirm approaches. Understands implications of decisions and initiates supervisory or executive discussions when appropriate. 

SCOPE AND IMPACT: 

Accountability for budget management related to labor and other direct costs for all aspects of the environmental planning and permitting of a project.  Successful budget control of contractor and vendor costs and ability to administer and manage contracts. Accountable for effects to company operations resulting from implemented strategies and tactics.  Direction of Company processes relating to environmental matters may immediately affect the Company's business success and earnings. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

Office environment. Periodic in-state travel to attend regulatory proceedings, meetings or other activities related to PNM's environmental regulatory strategies is required. 
Occasional out-of-state travel may be required.

SAFETY AND ADA STATEMENT

Safety Statement:
Safety is a core value at (TXNM Energy/PNM/TNMP) and our vision, "everyone goes home safe", reflects our commitment to promoting an environment conducive to learning, improving and building safety practices. Our safety value is built upon the belief that every employee deserves to work in an environment free from harm.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: 
If you require assistance with the job application process due to a disability, please contact HR ADA Analyst, at 505-241-4627.