Permitting Biologist (Renewable Energy)

Do you want to come help lead decarbonization and the advancement of Renewable Energy?

Are you excited about working with a diverse, collaborative team at the world’s largest renewable energy consultancy? Do you have a passion for permitting renewable energy projects, and furthering your professional development in a company that truly puts people first?

At DNV our organizational culture and how we collectively influence the world for future generations matters deeply to us.

Our team works every day to increase the widespread deployment and operation of renewables to address climate change and positively impact society;

endeavors to achieve our purpose through the success of our customers; and strives to be high-performing and innovative.

Our approach reflects the equity, respect, and diversity we wish to see in the world.

DNV’s Environmental and Permitting Services (EPS) team is growing rapidly, and we are seeking a Renewable Energy Project Permitting Biologist to help us provide comprehensive biological and permitting services in North America.

You will be responsible for supporting project development, permitting, and owner’s engineering activities for onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, energy storage and hydrogen projects, including support for the preparation of local, state, and federal renewable energy permit applications and management plans, Bird and Bat Conservation Strategies, Habitat Conservation Plans, Eagle Conservation Plans and associated environmental impact studies.

You may also be engaged in providing inputs to early phase siting and site characterization studies, assisting with field surveys, and assisting with project due diligence activities.

What we do

In our EPS team we strive to develop long-term partnerships with our Customers, acting as their trusted advisor from the early site selection stage through to operations.

As our Customers are at the forefront of the energy transition, our team focuses on being nimble, highly experienced, and driven by our mission to ensure renewable energy projects are safely and sustainably sited, permitted, and operated.

Our team

The EPS team is comprised of siting, environmental, and permitting specialists who work directly with our Customers to help identify and address project risks.

Our mission is to guide the sustainable, responsible growth of the renewables industry by providing innovative environmental and permitting expertise to support the greater good.

To facilitate this work, excellent written and oral communication skills are paramount. Broadly, our work falls into three categories :

• Biological services, including field surveys, habitat conservation plans, corporate avian and bat protection plans, review of mitigation strategies, and associated permitting
• Permitting services, providing support for permitting at the federal, state / provincial, and local level for wind, solar, battery storage and hydrogen projects;

including stakeholder engagement

Siting services, including layout optimization, acoustical measurements, noise impact assessments, shadow flicker studies, blade / ice throw assessments, glint and glare studies, and visual impact studies

This role is based at our DNV office in San Diego (CA), Austin (TX), Houston (TX), Oakland (CA), Portland (OR), Seattle (WA), Medford (MA), Oak Brook (IL), Chalfont (PA), Dallas (TX) or New York (NY), presenting a dynamic hybrid schedule where employees will typically spend three (3) days per week working from either a DNV office or client location / site.

Further details regarding role-specific requirements will be shared during the interview process.

What You’ll Do

• Support renewable energy project site selection and characterization studies in North America
• Support and prepare regulatory documents such as permit applications, authoring of environmental reporting documentation including critical issues analyses, Bird and Bat Conservation Strategies, Eagle Conservation Plans, Habitat Conservation Plans, mitigation and monitoring plans, offshore Construction and Operations Plans, enforcement action support and associated NEPA documents
• Provide support for technical due diligence reviews of environmental permits for project financing and M&A activities
• Organize consulting activities with different stakeholder groups, including federal and state regulatory agencies such as the USFWS, local communities, and Tribes or First Nations
• Maintain sustainable relationships and good communication with clients, vendors, subcontractors, and other project stakeholders
• Assist in business development activities including preparing proposals for each client / project, maintaining strong client relationships, and attending client meetings to support further service offering expansion
• Participate in DNV’s thought leadership activities in coordination with the EPS Head of Section and Team Leads to organize publications, presentations, white papers, and other general scientific and regulatory knowledge-sharing activities related to special analysis for the renewable industry
• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick days, company holidays, personal days)
• Multiple Medical and Dental benefit plans to choose from, Vision benefits
• Spending accounts FSA, Dependent Care, Commuter Benefits, company-seeded HSA
• Employer-paid, therapist-led, virtual care services through Talkspace
• 401(k) with company match
• Company provided life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability benefits
• Education reimbursement program
• Flexible work schedule with hybrid / remote opportunities
• Charitable Matched Giving and Volunteer Rewards through our Impact Program
• Volunteer time off (VTO) paid by the company
• Career advancement opportunities

Benefits vary based on position, tenure, location, and employee election

How We Do It

We Care, We Dare, We Share

DNV is a proud equal-opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, or business need, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

DNV is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity, including providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability.

US applicants with a physical or mental disability who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process may contact the North America Recruitment Department Information received relating to accommodations will be addressed confidentially.

DNV is proud to announce being named one of Houston’s best places to work in the 2022 Houston Business Journal Best Places to Work competition.

For more information

Read more here

As required by the Pay Transparency laws in Colorado, New York City, California, Washington, and Connecticut, DNV provides a reasonable compensation range for roles that may be hired in those locations.

Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors, including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific office location.

For the states of Colorado, New York City, NY, California, Washington, and Connecticut only, the range of starting pay for this role is $85,000 - $130,000.

What is Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, namely biology (wildlife, ecology, conservation focus), land planning, environmental science / engineering, or environmental law / policy or related field
• At least 3 years of experience on biology-related components of renewable energy or similar projects, or 3 years of experience in environmental and / or permitting experience in the US
• Experience in : Preparing or leading Bird and Bat Conservation Strategies, Habitat Conservation Plans, Eagle Conservation Plans or other wildlife management plans;

ORPreparing or reviewing wildlife survey methodology and design, mitigation options, and quantitative risk assessment; OREngaging with and contacts within the federal and state regulatory agencies such as the USFWS, local communities, and Tribes or First Nations; and

• Strong written and verbal English communication skills
• We conduct pre-employment drug and background screening

What is Preferred

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, namely biology (wildlife, ecology, conservation focus), land planning, environmental science / engineering, or environmental law / policy
• 5+ years of relevant experience preferred
• Advanced knowledge of environmental assessment regulatory frameworks as applied to renewable energy (wind, solar, or battery storage)
• Experience leading winning proposal efforts for Customers in the renewable energy industry
• Capable of travelling to projects in development, construction, and operation sites in varying locations (10%-20% annual time)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or other technical accreditation such ., , ., etc.

Immigration-related employment benefits, for example visa sponsorship, are not available for this position