CEQA Permitting Lead

Renewable Energy CEQA Permitting Lead

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a CEQA Permitting Lead to join our renewables team in one of our California offices. The CEQA Permitting Lead is responsible for leading permitting efforts related to development of renewable energy, battery storage and transmission projects throughout California. The primary responsibilities include navigating permitting processes and utilizing subject matter experts and technical staff to complete projects. The Lead serves as a subject matter expert and a trusted technical advisor to our clients while also directly supporting projects as a technical specialist. Westwood has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients.

• Lead site and route permitting for utility-scale renewable energy and high-voltage transmission projects, with a primary focus on Midwest regulatory processes including PSC, MPUC, MPSC, ND PSC, and OPSB approvals.
• Manage and prepare state-level site, route, and construction permit applications for wind, solar, energy storage, and transmission projects, including collocated and data center-related developments.
• Direct environmental reviews under NEPA and equivalent state programs, oversee environmental and cultural resource investigations, and coordinate associated federal, state, and local regulatory approvals.
• Serve as the primary client and agency liaison, representing clients at public hearings and meetings, providing testimony, and maintaining direct communication with regulatory agencies.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams by coordinating design professionals, subject matter experts, and internal staff, while mentoring junior team members and ensuring quality, schedule, and budget performance.
• Collaborate with market and service leaders to pursue new work, develop scopes, budgets, and proposals, and support marketing efforts for permitting, environmental, and related consulting services.
• Build and maintain industry relationships to monitor renewable energy and transmission market trends, regulatory initiatives, and evolving permitting requirements.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Knowledge of renewable energy and HVTL transmission line project permitting, federal and state environmental studies, agency guidelines for energy development.
• experience and knowledge of key energy-producing-state regulatory processes, energy developer and utility operating procedures, industry trends and regulatory initiatives.
• Approximately 10-15 years of experience in federal, state and local energy facility permitting, permitting processes, and associated environmental studies.
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulatory structures, existing renewable energy and HVTL transmission projects and key developers in these markets and industries.
• Proficiency in technical writing including proposals, subject matter reports and permit applications.
• Proficiency with business development and client tracking software, such as Vision.
• Proficiency with project management, budgeting, invoicing, and cost-tracking, including multiple-service projects and cost management.
• Effective written and verbal communication is necessary and independent judgment is essential.
• Mentor and coach permitting and environmental staff on technical writing, agency coordination, regulatory approval processes, and client engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resources, policy/permitting, earth sciences, engineering or related field (Master’s Degree preferred).
• Experience with state-level route and site permits in multiple states, federal NEPA process including EA and EIS, and equivalent state-level environmental review processes.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.

We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2024, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #13 and #40, respectively, on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood one national 1st place award for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #83 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2024. The firm consistently ranks on the industry’s top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.