What drives you? Whether it's knowing that the work you do makes a difference, having great work/life balance, working on exciting and challenging projects, leading innovation, and championing change or simply working with a great group of people who are committed to your professional development, at the Virginia Department of Transportation, we have something for YOU!

The VDOT Richmond District Environmental Team is seeking two Environmental Planners to serve the 14 counties of the Richmond District and to provide environmental leadership, technical guidance, and assistance by assessing the applicability and scope of various environmental activities, including representation of those scopes at interdivisional meetings, and contributing to interdivisional work products. This position will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to implement preliminary engineering activities for VDOT projects and provide recommendations and solutions to environmental issues.

In this position you will:

• Develop NEPA and SERP documents, and other environmental documents including NEPA re-evaluations and Section 4(f) evaluations.
• Serve as the environmental team lead for VDOT projects, participate in project development meetings, and coordinate project milestone plan reviews.
• Advocate options to design engineers for environmental impact avoidance and minimization and identify mitigation alternatives.
• Provide oversight and assistance to VDOT's Locally Administered Project (LAP) program.
• Serve as District environmental team lead for the development of RFP documents for Design Build projects.
• Review contracts and plan sets with an eye towards all environmental implications.
• Complete other environmental review tasks.
• Additional areas of responsibility may be assigned as required or needed.

These positions offer exceptional recruitment incentive options for new external candidates which may include one or more of the following: sign-on bonus, student loan repayment, VA College 529 plan, or annual leave grant.

Additional positions may be filled from this applicant pool in the next 90 days.

Resumes are required with the submission of a state application.

We are a “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application.

VDOT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, please visit “Information for VDOT Employees and Applicants”.

We have Shared Values and a Code of Ethics: Your success in our organization depends upon modeling these values, therefore please access the following link: http://www.virginiadot.org/about/missionandvalues.asp to review them and, if in agreement, we welcome you to apply.

In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDOT offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short- and Long-Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, policies, programs, and procedures relative to transportation.
• Knowledge of transportation project development practices involving planning, traffic, design, right of way, and construction.
• Knowledge and experience performing technical environmental analysis and compiling reports of analytical results to include environmental impact analysis.
• Ability to work as a team member or leader of inter-disciplinary teams under the pressure of deadlines.
• Ability to read and interpret project plans, contracts, special provisions, laws and regulations and environmental program and project documents.
• Ability to effectively negotiate solutions to environmental obstacles.
• Ability to build rapport and to convey technical information in a format easily understood by diverse groups.
• Skilled in computers to include spreadsheet and database software.
• Valid driver's license.

Additional Considerations

• Degree in environmental sciences, natural sciences, forestry and vegetation management, biology, ecology, chemistry, geology, cultural resources, hydrology, hydraulics, social sciences, environmental or urban planning preferred; equivalent experience or training may substitute for progressively responsible experience in professional level. environmental technical programs, planning, and engineering.
• Experience preparing NEPA and/or Section 4(f) documents for transportation projects, including but not limited to Categorical Exclusions.
• Progressively responsible experience in professional level environmental technical programs, planning, and engineering.
• Experience reflecting knowledge of highway transportation environmental processes and programs and ability to apply that knowledge to all phases of the project development process.
• Knowledge of transportation project development practices involving planning, traffic, design, right of way, and construction.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing to include preparing and delivering presentations regarding construction projects and environmental impacts.
• Ability to effectively negotiate solutions to environmental conflicts and adverse impacts.
• Mapping and GIS knowledge preferred.