Environmental Director

Overview

ABOUT THE POSITION

Senior Environmental Director| MassachusettsAre you passionate about urban planning, permitting, and development? Eager to deliver transformative projects with positive impacts on urban and suburban environments?  Adept at navigating complex environmental regulations? VHB is seeking a Senior Environmental Director to join our Massachusetts environmental team.

VHB is known throughout the industry as being passionate about our work, dedicated to our clients, collaborative in our approach, and highly effective at navigating the planning, environmental, transportation, engineering, and operational challenges for our real estate clients.

We are looking for an exceptional leader to join our Massachusetts based Environmental team to advance VHB’s sustainable growth and industry prominence within the Real Estate market.

The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of environmental permitting strategies, regulatory requirements, and initiatives such as sustainability, environmental justice, climate adaptation and resiliency. We are looking for a driven and strategic leader who is passionate about delivering solutions to complex projects, and who will shape sustainable outcomes for our real estate clients.  

Responsibilities

• Function as one of VHB’s Massachusetts Environmental Directors through managing, guiding, and developing a talented team to expand VHB’s prominence and maintain our strong reputation.
• Train and mentor VHB staff on current regulatory policies, processes, and programs that are relevant to our projects including technical skills, business development, and project management.
• Work with market leaders and project managers to generate and manage business.
• Manage strategic projects
• Work with project managers to develop appropriate scopes of service; contract terms and conditions; labor and expense budgets; schedules; and planning, design, and permitting strategies for projects.
• Develop, manage, and maintain excellent relationships with key state and municipal policymakers and regulators.
• Develop, manage, and maintain excellent relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Provide strategic guidance and assistance to staff and clients; interface with clients and public regulatory boards, commissions, and agencies; and develop and implement QA/QC protocols.
• Provide high‐level thinking and leadership on major and critical issues regarding staff recruitment and retention, business planning, and project management.
• Actively participate in external industry organizations.
• Actively participate in the annual business planning process and in the development of new strategic initiatives

Skills and Attributes

• Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of urban planning, environmental permitting, and data collection.
• Knowledge of MEPA, Article 80 and entitlement processes.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with federal, state, and local regulations and agencies.
• Excellent technical, organizational, and critical thinking skills.
• Extensive experience in preparing MEPA documentation.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to foster new business development opportunities
• Advanced skills and knowledge in project and client management and collaborative problem solving with stakeholders, clients, and teammates.
• Team-oriented with the ability to perform multiple tasks independently in a timely manner and collaborate effectively and positively with co-workers.
• Self-motivated, highly organized, and detail oriented.
• Supervising staff and consultants, including careful review of draft deliverables, providing constructive feedback, vetting consultant recommendations with colleagues, and ensuring high quality final deliverables.

Qualifications

• 15 years of environmental permitting and project development experience.
• BA in Planning or related area of study relevant to specialization (e.g., Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, Urban Design/Studies, Regional Planning, Sustainability Planning, Economics, Civil Engineering, Urban Transportation Planning).
• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience in managing and growing teams
• Marketing and new business development experience.
• Working knowledge of urban real estate markets and complexities associated with planning projects and associated environmental processing.
• Existing relationships with Massachusetts regulators and municipal officials.

WE ARE VHB! We’re an inspired and innovative team of engineers, scientists, planners, and designers who partner with clients in the transportation, real estate, institutional, and energy industries, as well as federal, state, and local governments.

Our work helps improve mobility, enhance communities, and contribute to economic vitality. We do this while balancing development and infrastructure needs with stewardship of our environment.

Our people make us great! VHB provides a differentiating employee experience.

• Inclusive culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Opportunity to work on complex, transformational projects.
• Amazing co-workers
• A focus on learning and development
• Flexible, hybrid workplace

It’s not surprising that VHB has consistently been rated one of the top AEC firms to work for across our 30 offices on the East Coast. We’re growing and we hope you’ll join us!

We regret that we are unable to provide sponsorship for employment visas for this position.

VHB is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

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