Principal Environmental Scientist

Principal Environmental Scientist GFT is seeking a Principal Environmental Scientist to join our growing Environmental Practice! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Morristown, NJ and New York offices. GFT's Environmental team delivers integrated planning, permitting, and compliance solutions that support infrastructure development across North America. With more than 140 professionals in 22 offices, the team guides clients through NEPA and permitting processes, ecological and regulatory assessments, and environmental remediation efforts. Their expertise spans transportation, power, water, and facilities markets — working alongside agencies at federal, state, and local levels. From stream restoration to complex environmental impact statements, GFT helps clients protect resources, manage risk, and meet regulatory requirements with confidence. What you'll be challenged to do: As a Principal Environmental Scientist, you will serve as a project-level environmental lead for transportation infrastructure projects throughout New York State, with responsibility for managing environmental scopes, coordinating regulatory compliance, and delivering high-quality environmental documentation and permits. The role focuses on NEPA and SEQRA compliance, natural resources, protected species and habitat considerations for complex transportation projects including rail, transit, roadway, bridge, and transportation facilities. This position requires an experienced practitioner who can independently manage small to mid-sized environmental projects, interface directly with transportation agencies and regulators, and integrate environmental requirements into planning, design, and construction. In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following: Lead, conduct, and review natural resource baseline inventories and impact assessments for transportation corridors and facilities, including effects to wetlands, waterways, wildlife habitat, and threatened and endangered species. Prepare and manage permitting and compliance efforts under Clean Water Act Sections 401/404, Endangered Species Act (Section 7), and applicable New York State and local permits. Oversee field investigations such as wetland delineations, habitat assessments, and species surveys, including coordination of subconsultants. Serve as the NY extension of the GFT Environmental Business Line reporting and collaborating with the national leaders and team members for NEPA, Natural Resources, and Permitting. Track environmental commitments and mitigation measures and support their integration into design documents and construction-phase activities. Serve as the environmental task lead or project environmental lead for transportation projects, responsible for scope definition, schedule adherence, budget management, team collaboration, and deliverable quality. Manage environmental components of transportation projects subject to NEPA and SEQRA, including joint federal–state review processes. Coordinate and oversee preparation of Categorical Exclusions (CEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and supporting technical studies. Act as a primary environmental point of contact with transportation owners and agencies, including NYSDOT, MTA agencies, FHWA, FTA, USACE, and USFWS. Support coordination with municipalities, tribal entities, and other stakeholders as required for transportation environmental review and permitting. Prepare and lead agency coordination materials, technical correspondence, and meetings. Provide day-to-day technical direction to junior and mid-level environmental staff and review their work for quality and regulatory compliance. Perform QA/QC reviews of environmental documents to ensure defensibility, consistency, and adherence to agency requirements. Contribute project-level input to proposals, scopes of work, staffing plans, and cost estimates for transportation pursuits. What you will bring to our firm: Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or a related field 15 years of progressive experience in natural resources documentation, impact assessments, and regulatory coordination for permit approvals supporting transportation infrastructure projects, and public utility projects preferably in New York or the northeastern U.S. Demonstrated experience leading environmental scopes and coordinating NEPA/SEQRA documentation and permitting for public agency clients. Experience working in multidisciplinary transportation project teams. Strong understanding of environmental regulations as applied to linear transportation projects, active transportation facilities, water utilities Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, and deliverables for environmental project components. Excellent technical writing and review skills for NEPA/SEQRA documents and permit applications. Strong communication and leadership skills, with confidence working directly with clients and regulators. What we prefer you bring: A Master's degree in a closely related field. Relevant professional certification (e.g., Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Ecologist, or similar) is an asset. Compensation: The salary range for this role is $140,000 - $165,000; Salary is dependent upon experience and geographic location. Featured Benefits: Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment. Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan. Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual. Tuition reimbursement for continued education. Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations. Incentive compensation for eligible positions. At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that's why we're the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry's brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more. Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century's experience, together we're building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives. GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ GFT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status or other characteristics protected by law. Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property of GFT. Location: Morristown, NJ and New York, NY Working Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM Employment Status: Full-time Application deadline 6/1/2026