Multi-agency Permit Lead - Transportation Planning Specialist 4

About WSDOT
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the steward of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that helps to ensure people and goods move safely and efficiently throughout the state. In addition to building, maintaining, and operating the state highway system, WSDOT operates the largest ferry system in the nation, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and recently completed the world's widest tunneling project.
 
The Opportunity
WSDOT is seeking a Transportation Planning Specialist 4 to take on the highly essential role of Multi-agency Permit Lead. This position will lead statewide programmatic permitting and permit streamlining efforts, serving as a statewide senior permitting strategist and subject matter expert. In this role you will also provide project-level strategy and support for the acquisition of permits and approvals. The primary regulatory focus of this Multi-agency Permit Lead position is Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, and this position supports the Program Lead for implementing workforce development efforts related to these regulations and permits. This position also serves as Program Lead for wetland mitigation site closeouts and credit tracking. We are looking for candidates who have a passion for protecting the environment, problem-solving, continuous improvement, and delivering excellent customer service.
 
What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Multi-agency Permit Lead will:

• Lead statewide programmatic permitting and permit streamlining efforts for Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401 and Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10.
• Lead and manage WSDOT’s negotiation, acquisition, implementation, and reporting of programmatic permits and approval to support WSDOT’s Fish Passage Delivery Program and other WSDOT business needs.
• Streamline the permit application and approval process for maintenance activities and fish passage projects, including coordinating with USACE on how various types of permits and approvals may be implemented for WSDOT’s specific needs statewide.
• Support the development, maintenance, and improvement of WSDOT policies (i.e., manuals), procedures (i.e., webpages and guidance documents), and tools related to Sections 404/401 and Section 10 permits and approvals.
• Develop, deliver, and support workforce development efforts related to Section 404/401 and Section 10 permits and approvals so WSDOT employees and consultants who are responsible for performing permitting and compliance work have the knowledge necessary to implement those policies and procedures effectively and consistently.
• Serve as statewide senior permit strategist and subject matter expert (SME) for Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 permits and Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 permits.
• Lead and manage WSDOT’s mitigation site closeouts and credit tracking.
• Review, influence, and propose language for federal and state bills, fiscal notes, and rule changes.
• Track, analyze and communicate environmental permitting and compliance laws and rule changes to facilitate information sharing among the regions, modes, Megaprograms and HQ Maintenance Office.
• Provide project-level strategy and support for acquisition of Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401 and Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 permits and approvals.
• Provide permitting strategy support and permit application QA/QC review support for complex projects and to support new employee training efforts in regions, modes, and Megaprograms.
• Provide technical support to help WSDOT’s project delivery teams develop and submit complete applications.

 
Qualifications
This is a Transportation Planning Specialist 4 position. However, the hiring manager reserves the right to fill the position at a lower level, depending on qualifications, providing an opportunity for an individual to gain the required experience on the job as part of a formal “in-training” plan.
 
At the Transportation Planning Specialist 3 level, the following is required:

• Associate’s degree with major of study in environmental science, environmental studies, transportation, planning, biology, policy, engineering, or closely related environmental or planning discipline.
• A minimum of three (3) years recent professional work experience in at least five of the following:
  • Analyzing environmental issues and problems that involve transportation.
  • Supporting or leading environmental documentation, permitting or compliance for transportation or other infrastructure projects.
  • Writing or reviewing wetlands, wildlife, or fisheries technical reports.
  • Reviewing or obtaining Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act permits for linear transportation or other linear infrastructure projects.
  • Coordinating and communicating with multiple regulatory agencies for transportation or other infrastructure projects.
  • Writing or reviewing wetland compensatory mitigation proposals.
  • Communicating environmental permitting issues to a diverse range of team members or delivery partners.
  • Using MS Office programs to develop spreadsheets, charts, graphs, and effective presentations.

A bachelor’s degree in one of the above degree fields may substitute for one year of the required experience.
 
At the Transportation Planning Specialist 4 level, the following is required:

• Bachelor's degree with major of study in environmental science, environmental studies, transportation, planning, biology, policy, engineering, or closely related environmental or planning discipline.
• A minimum of three (3) years recent professional work experience in at least five of the following:
  • Analyzing environmental issues and problems that involve transportation.
  • Supporting or leading environmental documentation, permitting or compliance for transportation or other infrastructure projects.
  • Writing or reviewing wetlands, wildlife, or fisheries technical reports.
  • Reviewing or obtaining Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act permits for linear transportation or other linear infrastructure projects.
  • Coordinating and communicating with multiple regulatory agencies for transportation or other infrastructure projects.
  • Writing or reviewing wetland compensatory mitigation proposals.
  • Communicating environmental permitting issues to a diverse range of team members or delivery partners.
  • Using MS Office programs to develop spreadsheets, charts, graphs, and effective presentations.

A master’s degree in one of the above degree fields may substitute for one year of the required experience.

At both levels, the following is also required:

• Ability to develop productive working relationships with customers and coworkers based on trust and mutual understanding.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with diverse group of individuals and multiple teams to track and ensure completion of key tasks.
• Ability to clearly understand and effectively communicate with a wide range of interested parties, in all forms of communication (including at meetings, while giving presentations, in-person, on the telephone, via email, etc.).
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret written material, including federal and state agency laws, regulations, and policies related to the protection of aquatic resources.
• Advanced knowledge of the Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 and Rivers and Harbors Action Section 10 permitting.
• Ability to create and deliver professional presentations to share information and conduct training in front of audiences (in-person and virtual), ranging in size and diversity, so it is meaningful for the target audience.
• Proficiently utilize standard computer software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat).

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Work experience with aquatic resources (e.g., streams, lakes, tidal waters, and wetlands) and fish passage barrier correction in Washington State.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience in design-bid-build and design-build project delivery contracting methods.
• Experience acquiring or managing programmatic environmental permits.
• Experience developing effective resources (e.g., guidance documents, visual tools, web pages) that meet the target audience’s needs.
• Experience using geographic information system (GIS) mapping software to retrieve spatial and geographic data (e.g., about transportation assets or habitat features).
• Understanding of how adults learn and effective training techniques.
• Valid driver’s license.