NEPA Sr. Director

Job Description:

The Great Basin Institute (GBI), in partnership with US Forest Service (USFS) and agency collaborators, is seeking a Senior NEPA Program Director / Planner to contribute to, develop, and direct NEPA Program initiatives. This highly dynamic position oversees the Institute’s NEPA interdisciplinary resource specialist team and subconsultants. The Director also examines and evaluates programmatic functions and develops partnerships in support of an annual budget of $8MM. As both a subject matter expert and administrator, the successful candidate must possess a working knowledge of environmental law, public land policy, and best management practices.

Essential Job Functions:

• Apply understanding of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements to determine the permitting strategy for projects;
• Perform research, strategic consultation, and prepare Plans of Operation, Plans of Development, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and other permitting documents;
• Analyze environmental impacts from project activities and develop written descriptions of impacts for environmental documents;
• Contribute to partnership development activities, including client relations and proposal development for new project work;
• Review and interpret highly technical reports on a variety of subjects (air quality, archaeology, biology, geology, hazardous materials, historic resources, hydrology, etc.) and summarize in non-technical language understandable to a layperson;
• Coordinate public meetings and other public outreach and engagement tasks, including travel logistics, project newsletters, notices, public announcements, and related activities;
• Supervise an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) of resource specialist and support staff;
• Generate and manage grants, agreements, program budget and fiscal forecasts;
• Promote effective internal and external communication;
• Provide cross-program/department support;
• Perform other program- or institute-level functions as needed.

Contract Timeline:Exempt, FT Regular Permanent
Location:Based at GBI offices in Reno, NV The “Biggest Little City in the World” the greater Reno-Sparks metropolitan area has a population of over 400k. The city is a high desert landscape ~4,500 feet above sea level, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains along the Truckee River, as it flows from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. Weather is relatively mild, but with distinct four seasons. Reno offers easy access to world-class outdoor recreation including driving distance to Yosemite and Death Valley National Parks, the Pacific Ocean, and California redwood forests. Closer to home, Nevada offers more natural hot springs than any other state in the country, over 150 named mountain ranges, and 30 peaks over 11,000 feet. Recreation and entertainment includes eight major ski resorts in proximity to the Reno-Tahoe airport; fishing and boating on Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, and Pyramid Lake; cultural festivals throughout the summer along the banks of the Truckee River; a thriving food scene and more.

Compensation and Benefits:Starting annual salary is $110 – $120k DOE. In addition to a competitive base salary, this full-time, onsite position includes comprehensive medical, dental, life and vision insurance, as well as mental health support resources, 401(k) retirement savings with up to 4% GBI match, competitive PTO accrual, paid holidays (10 per year), and family leave. Total compensation package is $120 – $130k per year, DOE.
This exciting role contributes to GBI’s significant positive impacts within the fields of environmental research, education, and conservation.

Job Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

• 7-10 years of experience successfully managing and preparing environmental documents and associated technical studies;
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the editing, oversight, and preparation of technical reports;
• Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously;
• Excellent critical thinking skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team in a fast-paced and creative environment;
• Ability to work independently with a strong work ethic;
• Excellent oral, writing, communication, presentation, strategic thinking, and “people” skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3 to 4 years of supervisory experience and/or process or project-management preferred;
• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) Certification preferred;
• Experience with and an understanding of the environmental regulatory framework for the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada region, including applicable state and federal laws
• NEPA and CEQA Experience;
• Experience in forestry, fire and fuels, or other related project for forest health and post-fire recovery;
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS);
• Experience in environmental consulting;
• Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences, Cultural Resources, Urban Planning, Geology, Biological Sciences, or related field (plus).