Wetland Scientist

Wetland Scientist

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Wetland Scientist to join our team in our Madison, Wisconsin office. The qualified individual will provide research and investigative services for technical environmental report preparation to support the planning, design, and permit approvals for wind and solar energy projects as well as residential and commercial land development projects. Westwood has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients.

The qualified individual will provide field services and office report preparation to support the planning, design, and approvals of site improvements for wind and solar energy projects as well as residential and commercial land development projects. Responsibilities will include:

• initial desktop-level research (photo-review, soils maps, hydrology)
• onsite routine field wetland delineations across Wisconsin and occasionally across the country
• attendance of regulatory meetings
• report preparation
• vegetation and hydrology monitoring
• tree and shrub inventories

• Conducting critical environmental issues analyses (hydrology reviews, rare species investigations, cultural resource inquiries, mapping public lands and easements, zoning and permitting reviews, soils investigations, and environmental hazard determinations).
• Permitting reviews at the federal, state, and local level for projects across the Country. Determining the applicable regulatory process for solar, wind, and battery storage project approvals and the necessary studies to satisfy applicable regulations. Assessing jurisdiction, lead and processing times, fees, and providing additional environmental study recommendations.
• Desktop-based geospatial investigations for a variety of projects, use of publicly available GIS datasets and government resources.
• Providing client liaison services for utilities and developers to explain environmental assessments and permitting processes for a variety of environmental circumstances.
• Consultations with government officials to ensure all permit procedures are understood and communicated properly to our clients.
• Assistance with permit drafting for large-scale renewable energy projects under a federal nexus or state regulatory requirement (Environmental Impact Statement, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Assessment Worksheets, Site and Route Permits, Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity, and more) and attending regulatory meetings.
• General project assistance for report preparation, peer-reviews, technical writing guidance, GIS support, and organizational assistance to meet strict deadlines.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Degree in environmental science, environmental policy, public policy, urban planning , biology, or related natural sciences field with 1-3 years of environmental assessment and/or permitting experience.
• Technical proficiency in report writing, and a solid understanding of state and federal energy facility construction regulations.
• Ability to assess environmental conditions and provide recommendations based on site conditions, regulatory guidelines, industry standards, and permit regulations.
• Familiar with Geographic Information Systems including ArcPro, ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, Global Mapper, Google Earth, or other GIS programs.
• Generalist, adaptable and willing to conduct research and discover environmental conditions.

For Preferred Consideration (Not Required):

• Experience with property transfer due diligence including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments.
• Field wetland delineation experience with knowledge of US Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation manual and regional supplements for multiple regions of the US.
• Rare species identification and birding experience.
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) design, report preparation, and inspection experience.

Evaluation Criteria:

1. Degree and years of experience
2. Knowledge of Federal and State Permitting processes (the buzzwords)
3. Technical writing ability
4. Communication skills
5. GIS abilities
6. For preferred consideration criteria

Abstract:

Looking for a somewhat experienced environmental consultant/permitting specialist who is knowledgeable of the permitting requirements, environmental investigations, and development processes for construction of solar, wind, battery energy storage systems, as well and residential and commercial experience.

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.