Title: Environmental Planner

State Role Title: Environmental Specialist II

Hiring Range: $71,797 to $116,670

Pay Band: 5

Agency: VA Dept of Transportation

Location: Hampton Roads District Office

Agency Website: www.virginiadot.org/jobs

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Hampton Roads District is seeking a Environmental Planner to provide environmental leadership, technical guidance and assistance by assessing the applicability interdivisional meetings or contributing to interdivisional work products.

Core responsibilities for job & position:
Ensure deliverables are reviewed for content and legal sufficiency per current Division policy. Compile environmental commitments on
project assignments and distributing them to other Divisions as appropriate. Manage time to accomplish work tasks and assignments within established deadlines.
Responds to legislative, local government, citizen, consultant and other concerns with regard to VDOT's environmental compliance.
Handles Divisional issues with statewide impact such as workload planning, General Assembly impact statements, audit coordination,
special programs etc.
Provides coordination and oversight of the assigned environmental programs. Ensures effective execution and continual compliance.
Determines improvements and works to execute approved changes to benefit the agency.
Coordinate with others to provide schedule and estimate of environmental deliverables, including NEPA and SERP documents
to project manager. Ensure all project documentation and files are available electronically to support administrative records. Request
schedule revisions for activities and maintain project files. Advocate options to design engineers for avoidance and, or minimization and identify mitigation alternatives. Ensure document deliverables are reviewed for content and legal sufficiency per current Environmental Division policy before distribution.
Collect input and comment from other members of the Environmental Division and consolidate and deliver this input to project teams in written format or by presenting at meetings. Document environmental reviews and clearances consistent with federal regulations and expectations.
Analyze proposed and existing environmental law, regulation, and guidance and determine its impact on VDOT operations facilitating
VDOT compliance with law and regulation. Reviews and analyzes law, regulation, bills and proposed rules and determines impact on VDOT.
Provides technical advisory subject matter expertise for assigned programs. May also develop and deliver training for assigned
programs and projects to a variety of stakeholders.
Provide professional technical expertise and guidance. Represent and coordinate written responses for internal coordination,
communication with other VDOT districts or divisions. Notify other environmental areas of plan availability and need for written
comments. Identify environmental risks to project development and strategies to minimize risk. Manage unplanned changes to project
development. Manage studies in support of environmental documents. Coordinate plan submissions to ensure comments from
previous submissions were addressed. Research and review other environmental study related public relations and complaint responses. Ensure all complaint and inquiry responses are reviewed before distribution and maintain copies in master file.
Provide oversight and assistance to VDOT's Locally Administered Project (LAP) program.
Attend meetings, provide technical environmental guidance to ensure applicant's regulatory compliance on Enhancement or Locally Administered Projects (LAP). Coordinate with staff developing LAPs, as well as VDOT SMEs and those engaged in current LAP policies to provide the most informed input to project development and delivery.

Required skills for job & position:
• Ability to read and interpret project plans, contracts, special provisions, laws, regulations and environmental program and project documents.
• Ability to effectively coordinate consultant activities.
• Skill in the use of computers and various software applications.
• Knowledge of environmental processes with an ability to assess how proposed actions may impact or be mitigated by proposed project plans.
• 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 plan, organize, and work on multiple technical projects and tasks concurrently.
• Knowledge of and ability to interpret state and federal environmental laws, regulations, policies, programs, and procedures related to transportation project development and implementation.
• Demonstrated interpersonal relationship skills.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data.
• Experience planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating programs.
• Negotiation and management skills.
• Knowledge of and experience performing technical environmental analysis and compiling analytical results to include environmental impact analysis.
• Demonstrated experience solving problems effectively and making decisions.
• Knowledge of the NEPA process and its role in transportation project development.
• Knowledge of a broad range of environmental issues, and the experience communicating with a broad range of state and federal environmental agencies and specialists.
• Ability to work with project managers to avoid, minimize, and mitigate environmental impacts on projects.
• Knowledge of project planning, construction alternative analysis and coordination procedures and practices.
• Ability to effectively negotiate solutions to environmental obstacles.

VDOT is an emergency response agency, and this position may be designated to support emergency operations during certain situations. As such, you may occasionally be required to work an assignment that includes hours outside the normal work schedule including weekends and holidays. Not all designated employees are provided an emergency operations assignment.

We have Shared Values and a Code of Ethics. Your success in our organization depends upon modeling these values, therefore please 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

• Skilled in computers to include MS Office Suite and database software.
• Knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, policies, programs, and procedures relative to transportation.
• Valid driver's license.
• Knowledge of transportation project development practices involving planning, traffic, design, right of way, and construction.
• 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.
• Knowledge and experience performing technical environmental analysis and compiling reports of analytical results.
• Ability to build rapport and to convey technical information in a format easily understood by a diverse group.
• Ability to stay organized.

Additional Considerations

• Progressively responsible experience in professional level environmental technical programs, planning, and engineering.
• Experience with GIS or other mapping and data analyses software.
• Experience preparing NEPA documents for highway projects evaluating the impact of development projects on the environment.
• Experience preparing NEPA or Section 4(f) documents, including but not limited to Categorical Exclusions.
• A combination of training, experience, or education in Environmental Science, Natural Science, Forestry, Vegetation Management, Biology, Ecology, Hydrology, Hydraulics, Cultural Resources, Urban Planning or related field desired.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Fingerprint-based criminal history background check, DMV driving record check, references, Pre-Employment Physical and Drug Screen, and work history will be required prior to employment. Valid Driver's License Required.

Position is designated as essential and, as such, will be required to work outside normal hours, weekends, and holidays during emergency situations which may include but are not limited to inclement weather, disaster response and emergency operations. Travel may be required.

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.

DHRM has also published a companion guidance document for the Alternative Hiring Process for persons with disabilities which can be found here.

VDOT utilizes a market-based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.

State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Job Board/Recruitment Management System (RMS).

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.

The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided in the application and optional resume; therefore, those who fully represent their qualifications and work history will be more successful with obtaining an interview. Submitting an incomplete application and/or resume lacking job history and relevant experience detail may impact interview eligibility. State applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered.

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.

Contact Information

Name: Taylor Stump

Phone: 757-956-3292

Email: taylor.stump@vdot.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.