Environmental Documentation and Permit Specialist

Environmental Documentation & Permit Specialist (TPS3, In-Training) | Apply tab | Career Pages

WSDOT is currently seeking two Environmental Documentation & Permit Specialists (TPS3) in our Northwest Region! In this position, you will bring your passion for Washington State’s unique environmental resources, working across disciplines, and problem-solving and strategic thinking to an interdisciplinary team of environmental professionals who support transportation project delivery in the most populous areas of Washington. This position serves as the environmental representative for transportation projects to support environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance throughout scoping, design, construction, and post-construction operations. In this position, you will apply your environmental policy experience and training through hands on collaboration with WSDOT staff, Federal, State and Local agencies, Tribal governments and the public.

Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:

Transportation Planning Specialist 3 (TPS3) Level Qualifications:

• Environmental Regulatory Framework Expertise: Advanced knowledge of environmental laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and state/local environmental permitting frameworks. 
• Environmental Permitting Development and Compliance: Demonstrated expertise in environmental permit development, review, and compliance, including preparing technical permit applications, impact analyses, and supporting documentation. Experience interpreting engineering plans, environmental design documents, and technical drawings, and identifying environmental constraints and permitting requirements.
• Environmental Data Analysis and Regulatory Interpretation: Proficient in analyzing environmental data and translating findings into regulatory compliance recommendations. Competency in evaluating project impacts and recommending mitigation, avoidance, or minimization measures consistent with regulatory standards and best practices. 
• Advanced Technical and Regulatory Writing: Advanced technical writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, defensible, and well-organized technical documents for regulatory agencies, project teams, and the public. 
• Project Coordination: Skilled in project coordination, including tracking multiple permits, identifying compliance risks, maintaining permitting schedules, and ensuring integration with project timelines.
• Regulatory Analysis and Problem Solving: Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex regulatory scenarios and propose compliant, actionable solutions. 
• Environmental Data Management and GIS Applications: Knowledge of environmental data management tools, GIS applications, and digital mapping sufficient to review project impacts and support permit submittals. 
• Interdisciplinary Communication and Engagement: Ability to communicate regulatory requirements clearly, both verbally and in writing, to technical and non-technical audiences. Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, regulatory agency staff, tribes, consultants, and project stakeholders to resolve environmental permitting issues.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrate a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.

Transportation Planning Specialist 2 (TPS2) Level Qualifications:

• Environmental Laws and Regulatory Knowledge: Knowledge of environmental laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and state/local environmental permitting frameworks.
• Customer Service and Professional Relationships: Ability to develop and nurture healthy and effective working relationships with team members and customers in order to provide excellent customer service.
• Technical and Regulatory Writing: Technical writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, defensible, and well-organized technical documents for regulatory agencies, project teams, and the public. Ability to efficiently compile information into reports and/or plans from sources such as field reviews and scientific publications.
• Stakeholder Presentation and Communication: Experience effectively presenting materials and information to diverse stakeholder groups.
• Data Analysis and Technical Reporting: Ability to accurately perform complex mathematical calculations, use a computer to evaluate data, prepare reports, databases, and Word documents.
• Environmental Impact Evaluation and Mitigation: Competency in evaluating project impacts, including reading engineering drawings and contract plans, and recommending mitigation, avoidance, or minimization measures consistent with regulatory standards and best practices.
• Regulatory Analysis and Problem Solving: Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex regulatory scenarios and propose compliant, actionable solutions.
• Environmental Data Management and GIS Applications: Knowledge of environmental data management tools, GIS applications, and digital mapping sufficient to review project impacts and support permit submittals.
• Clear Written and Verbal Communication: Ability to understand and provide clear written and verbal directions.
• Workload Prioritization and Project Coordination: Ability to prioritize and handle multiple work assignments, understand project budgets and schedules, and regularly report work progress.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrate a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service Orientation: Demonstrate a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Strategic Environmental Documentation and Permitting Advisory: Ability to advise project teams on strategic permitting approaches, regulatory risks, and schedule constraints for highly complex multidisciplinary projects. Advanced knowledge of environmental review requirements applicable to transportation projects, including NEPA, SEPA, and related federal, state, and local environmental policies and procedures. 
• Complex Environmental Permitting Coordination: Demonstrated experience coordinating complex environmental permitting for multi-disciplinary transportation or infrastructure projects, including working with regulatory agencies such as Ecology, USACE, USFWS, NMFS, WDFW, and local jurisdictions.
• Agency Processes and Project Delivery Knowledge: Extensive familiarity with agency-specific processes, manuals, and organizational structures, including internal environmental workflows, project development procedures, and cross-functional collaboration expectations.
• Transportation Environmental Policy and Compliance Expertise: Proficiency interpreting and applying transportation-specific environmental policies, mitigation strategies, permit conditions, and compliance requirements throughout project delivery.
• Cross-Functional and External Partnership Development: History of building productive working relationships with internal project managers, design teams, regional staff, and external partners to facilitate timely environmental approvals.
• Environmental Staff Mentorship and Technical Guidance: Experience guiding or mentoring staff in environmental compliance, permit development, and interagency coordination.
• Environmental Data and Project Management Systems: Knowledge of environmental data management systems, project tracking tools, and documentation standards used in transportation agencies.
• Agency Representation and External Engagement: Demonstrated ability to represent the agency in meetings with regulatory partners, tribes, community stakeholders, and other transportation or environmental entities.
• Contract Development Expertise: Experience developing contract language.