Environmental Permitting Project Manager (USA)

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 an Environmental Permitting Project Manager to help us provide comprehensive permitting services in the Midwest and the rest of the United States (US).

You will be responsible for leading project development and environmental and permitting activities, including the preparation of local, state, and federal renewable energy permit applications, associated environmental and social impact studies, stakeholder engagement sessions, and land use and zoning permit applications for renewable energy projects located in the Midwest.

You will also be engaged in leading proposal efforts, business development for wind, solar, battery storage, and hydrogen facilities across the US, as well as 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, constraints reviews, acoustical measurements, noise impact assessments, shadow flicker studies, blade / ice throw assessments, glint and glare studies, and visual impact studies

Ideally, this position will be based within our Austin (TX), Houston (TX), Oak Brook (IL), or Chalfont (PA) offices; however, Oakland (CA), Portland (OR), Seattle (WA), Medford (MA), San Diego (CA) or other locations may be considered.

What You’ll Do

• Support renewable energy project site selection and characterization studies
• Lead the preparation and submission of permit applications, coordination of environmental fieldwork, authoring of environmental reporting documentation including critical issues analyses, technical permitting studies and management plans, Phase I ESAs, environmental impact assessments, mitigation and monitoring plans, technical project proposals, agency consultation and stakeholder engagement programs
• Provide support for technical due diligence reviews of environmental permits for project financing activities
• Organize consulting activities with different stakeholder groups, including federal and state regulatory agencies such as the BLM or USFWS, local communities, and Tribes or First Nations
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Midwest regulatory agencies (and / or other US regions)
• 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 5 years of environmental and / or permitting experience in the US
• Advanced knowledge of environmental assessment regulatory frameworks as applied to renewable energy (wind, solar, or battery storage)
• Experience engaging with the federal and state regulatory agencies such as the BLM or USFWS, local communities, and Tribes or First Nations
• Demonstrated skills in project management, agency consultation, environmental analysis, and business development, including experience building and maintaining relationships with a client base
• 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
• 8+ years of relevant experience preferred in the US Midwest, in the renewable energy industry
• Advanced knowledge of environmental assessment regulatory frameworks as applied to renewable energy (wind, solar, or battery storage)
• Experience with preparing or leading Bird and Bat Conservation Strategies, Habitat Conservation Plans, Eagle Conservation Plans or other wildlife management plans, reviewing wildlife survey methodology and design, mitigation options, and quantitative is a plus
• Experience leading winning proposal efforts for Customers in the renewable energy industry
• Comprehensive understanding of the Midwest wind, solar, and battery storage markets (or other US regions)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or other technical accreditation such ., , ., etc.

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