Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Environmental Planner (SEPA/NEPA) with intellectual curiosity and initiative to help drive the growth of our dynamic team of environmental planners in the Pacific Northwest. This is a senior-level opportunity focused on SEPA/NEPA compliance in our NW Environmental Planning team, which provides environmental compliance for municipalities, water districts, energy providers, transit agencies, educational institutions, airports and maritime ports, educational institutions, telecommunications providers, and private developers throughout the Puget Sound region and the Pacific Northwest. The position will be focused on leading SEPA projects, GMA Comprehensive Planning, land use, equity, displacement, environmental justice, climate action and adaptation planning, and related work in the Northwest region. As a Senior Environmental Planner, you will engage in business development efforts for yourself and the environmental planning group.

The team is growing into new markets and applying their expertise and skills to new opportunities, so a successful candidate is a person who thrives in a growth environment, where supporting new clients and learning new skills is expected. In addition to project delivery, this position provides opportunities to contribute to the growth and evolution of the practice through business development, client relationship building, and market leadership. We value creative thinking, diversity, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.

We are seeking a person who:

Brings strong SEPA/NEPA experience and can lead complex environmental review processes, including developing compliance strategies, working effectively with lead agencies and project teams, and guiding projects through environmental review.
Thrives in a dynamic, client-focused environment with shifting priorities and varied project needs.
Is motivated by contributing to the growth, strength, and long-term success of the environmental planning group.
Collaborates effectively and takes pride in mentoring, supporting, and developing others.
Is energized by taking on unfamiliar challenges and learning new skills.
Identifies growth opportunities and builds strong client relationships to support the environmental planning business development goals in the region.
Able to work onsite a few days per week when needed.

Who You Are

A bachelor’s or master’s degree with major course work in environmental, urban or transportation planning, geography, public policy, science, or a related interdisciplinary field and have a minimum of 10 years of relevant, professional experience.
Hands-on experience and comprehensive knowledge of SEPA compliance, policy planning, land use and environmental permitting, and relevant regulatory requirements and processes in Washington state.
Experienced in preparing documents that are concise, well-written and supported, and for your ability to present information understandably and speak persuasively about complex topics to colleagues, clients, agency staff, teaming partners, other project stakeholders and the general public.
Experienced in preparing permit applications that are complete and compliant, whether the permitting entity be local, state or federal.
Collaborative and supportive team member who takes the initiative to identify and contribute to broad project or team goals and provides mentoring and coaching to more junior staff to foster team success.
Experienced with environmental compliance and permitting for projects of varying degrees of complexity and of different types, such as transportation; energy; airports; maritime ports; public infrastructure; recreation and parks; general and specific land use plans; adaptation or resiliency; and land use code analysis.