Job Summary:
The Senior Environmental Specialist leads and manages environmental review and compliance activities for moderately complex to highly complex projects, ensuring alignment with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations. This role serves as a senior technical advisor, overseeing the preparation and quality of environmental documentation, coordinating multidisciplinary reviews, and providing strategic guidance to project teams and leadership on environmental requirements, risks, and compliance pathways.
The position primarily supports projects funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) programs. The Senior Environmental Specialist collaborates across multiple project teams to ensure timely, consistent, and compliant delivery in support of client objectives.
Job Duties:
- Conducts and manages project-level environmental reviews in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 24 CFR Part 58
- Prepares and coordinates required documentation, including Environmental Review Records (ERRs), Categorical Exclusions (CEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), tiered environmental reviews, Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs), Requests for Release of Funds (RROFs), and floodplain and wetland public notices
- Analyzes direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts, and identifies avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures for incorporation into project decision-making and documentation
- Serves as the primary point of contact (POC) for the Firm, coordinating with the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH), program teams, and external stakeholders throughout the environmental review process
- Oversees and integrates technical studies and discipline-specific inputs (e.g., wetlands delineations, cultural resources surveys, hazardous materials assessments, and noise analyses) into the Environmental Review Record
- Performs quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) of Environmental Review Records and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, internal consistency, and compliance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements
- Coordinates interdisciplinary teams and environmental consultants, providing technical direction to support timely completion of environmental reviews
- Supports public involvement and interagency coordination requirements, including preparation of public notices, management of public comments, and agency consultation processes
- Tracks environmental review schedules, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring documentation is complete, organized, and audit-ready in accordance with HUD recordkeeping standards
- Contributes to the development and refinement of standard operating procedures, templates, and best practices aligned with NEPA and 24 CFR Part 58
- Other duties as required
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Provides mentorship and technical guidance to staff
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Urban and Environmental Planning, or Geography, required
- A graduate degree (Master’s or Juris Doctor) in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Policy, Public Administration (with an environmental focus), Natural Resources Management, Environmental Law, preferred
Experience:
- Minimum of two (2)–three (3) years of professional experience supporting environmental review, compliance, or regulatory processes, required
- Strong knowledge of Puerto Rico’s natural resources, ecological systems, and environmental regulatory framework, with applicability to environmental review processes under federal and local requirements, preferred
Certifications/Licensure:
- N/A
Software:
- Demonstrated proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet analysis, and database applications, with the ability to manage and organize technical information effectively, required
- Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and ESRI platforms(ArcGIS and ArcGIS Online) to support environmental analysis and documentation, preferred
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe applications (Word, Excel, and PDF-based review/comment tools), preferred
Other Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, well-supported, and compliant environmental review documentation
- Working knowledge of applicable federal and state environmental laws and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and HUD environmental requirements under 24 CFR Part 58
- Familiarity with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and its application to environmental compliance, documentation standards, and federal program requirements
- Strong attention to detail, with the ability to ensure accuracy, consistency, and regulatory compliance in environmental documentation
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines, priorities, and concurrent workflows in a fast-paced, client-focused project delivery environment