NEPA Project Manager

About the role

• EPA Compliance: Lead the NEPA compliance process for USDA projects, programs, and activities, ensuring adherence to NEPA regulations, guidance, and best practices.
• Environmental Review: Conduct environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs) to evaluate potential environmental impacts of proposed actions, alternatives, and mitigation measures.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with USDA program managers, agency personnel, and external stakeholders to identify environmental concerns, gather input, and address stakeholder interests in the NEPA process.
• Project Management: Manage the overall NEPA review process, including scoping, planning, scheduling, and budgeting. Coordinate with project teams, consultants, and contractors to ensure timely completion of environmental documents.
• Consultant Oversight: Oversee the work of environmental consultants and contractors engaged to support NEPA compliance efforts. Provide guidance, review deliverables, and ensure quality control.
• Interagency Coordination: Coordinate with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies to facilitate interagency review and consultation processes required by NEPA and other environmental laws.
• Public Involvement: Plan and conduct public involvement activities, such as public meetings, hearings, and comment periods, to solicit input from the public and stakeholders on proposed actions and environmental analyses.
• Impact Analysis: Analyze environmental data, scientific studies, and technical reports to assess potential environmental impacts on air quality, water resources, wildlife, cultural resources, and other environmental resources.
• Mitigation Planning: Develop and recommend mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, or compensate for adverse environmental impacts identified during the NEPA review process. Work with project teams to integrate mitigation into project design and implementation.
• Documentation and Reporting: Prepare NEPA documents, including EAs, EISs, findings of no significant impact (FONSIs), and records of decision (RODs), in accordance with NEPA requirements. Ensure documentation is accurate, thorough, and transparent.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in environmental science, natural resources management, environmental planning, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in environmental planning, NEPA compliance, or related roles, preferably in the public sector or with federal agencies.
• Thorough understanding of NEPA regulations, guidelines, and procedures, as well as other federal environmental laws and regulations.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience conducting environmental assessments, impact analyses, and public involvement activities.
• Knowledge of environmental science principles, data analysis techniques, and mitigation strategies.
• Proficiency in project management software, GIS (geographic information systems), and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Professional certifications such as NEPA certification or AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certification are preferred but not required.

Additional Information: CORE COMPETENCIES

• Teamwork - ability to foster teamwork collaboratively as a participant, and effectively as a team leader
• Leadership - ability to guide and lead colleagues on projects and initiatives
• Business Acumen - understanding and insight into how organizations perform, including business processes, data, systems, and people
• Communication - ability to effectively communicate to stakeholders of all levels orally and in writing
• Motivation - persistent in pursuit of quality and optimal client and company solutions
• Agility - ability to quickly understand and transition between different projects, concepts, initiatives, or work streams
• Judgment - exercises prudence and insight in decision-making process while mindful of other stakeholders and long-term ramifications
• Organization - ability to manage projects and activity, and prioritize tasks

Other Requirements

• Business Tools - understanding and proficiency with business tools and technology, including Microsoft Office. The ideal candidate is advanced with Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word, and proficient with Adobe Acrobat, data analytic tools, and Visio with the ability to quickly learn other tools as necessary.
• Commitment - to work with smart, interesting people with diverse backgrounds to solve the biggest challenges across private, public, and social sectors
• Curiosity - the ideal candidate exhibits an inquisitive nature and the ability to question the status quo among a community of people they enjoy and teams that work well together
• Humility - exhibits grace in success and failure while doing meaningful work where skills have an impact and make a difference
• Willingness - to constantly learn, share, and grow and to view the world as their classroom

Additional information

Risk Management | Compliance | Business Processes | IT Effectiveness | Engineering | Environmental | Sustainability | Human Capital