CEQA Permitting Lead

Overview

CEQA Permitting Lead

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a CEQA Permitting Lead to join our renewables team in one of our California offices.The CEQA Permitting Lead is responsible for leading permitting efforts related to development of renewable energy, batter storage and transmission projects throughout California. The primary responsibilities include navigating permitting processes and utilizing subject matter experts and technical staff to complete projects. The Lead serves as a subject matter expert and a trusted technical advisor to our clients while also directly supporting projects as a technical specialist. Westwood has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage environmental services and deliverables for renewable energy projects.
• Act as a primary technical contact for clients in your area of expertise.
• Work with other subject matter experts in Wildlife, Wetlands and Waters, Cultural, Analytics, and ESAs to ensure the best project outcomes.
• Independently perform environmental tasks on a variety of projects.
• Stay informed about new methods and developments to recommend new practices or system changes.
• Evaluate ethical dilemmas to determine appropriate courses of action.

Required Skills

• Advanced knowledge of CEQA requirements, environmental sciences, formal and informal communication, teamwork, and leadership.
• Advanced knowledge of permitting and environmental deliverables.
• Basic knowledge of project management principles.
• Basic knowledge of construction practices and constructability.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
• Demonstrate empathy and critical listening skills
• Show assertiveness and a collaborative spirit when addressing and resolving conflict
• Ability to lead a technical team with proficiency in resource management and task delegation.
• Ability to sustain a team culture that aligns with the organization’s culture.
• Ability to offer ongoing mentorship to staff to promote individual growth and enhanced capabilities across the organization.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of experience
• 3+ years of experience leading CEQA work as part of a broader multi-disciplinary project team
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., environmental sciences, environmental management, water resources, or engineering) from an ABET/EAC-accredited program.
• Experience working for (1) a consulting firm or (2) an EPC, developer, or construction contractor in the renewable energy sector.

Compensation Range Minimum

USD $110,000.00/Yr.

Compensation Range Maximum

USD $150,000.00/Yr.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomesin everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2024, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #13 and #40, respectively, on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood one national 1st place award for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #83 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2024. The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training