Senior Natural Resources & Permitting Specialist

Senior Natural Resources & Permitting Specialist

Department: Natural Resources & Environmental Planning

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hartford, CT

Compensation: $100,000 - $125,000 / year

Description

Creativity. Innovation. A desire to effect positive change. That's what it takes to work at Fuss & O'Neill - because that's what we do for the communities in which we work: we create, innovate, and design long-lasting improvements that improve quality of life. Quality of life is also important on the job, so we've prioritized work-life balance by offering flexible/remote work opportunities, part-time benefits, and generous PTO. We believe that each day is an opportunity to support one another, to support our clients, and to support our communities. If you feel the same, then you've found your future.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Natural Resources & Permitting Specialist to lead and manage environmental permitting efforts with a strong focus on Connecticut regulatory programs and approvals. This role is ideal for a senior-level environmental professional who brings deep permitting expertise, agency coordination experience, and strong project management skills across infrastructure, restoration, and redevelopment projects.

The selected candidate will serve as a key permitting lead supporting multidisciplinary teams and clients through complex federal, state, and municipal environmental review processes. While the primary regulatory focus is Connecticut, candidates may be based in Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, with hybrid flexibility and limited travel.

This is a high-impact role supporting critical infrastructure, ecological restoration, and redevelopment projects while helping expand internal permitting capacity and mentoring junior staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage preparation and review of environmental permit applications, with emphasis on Connecticut environmental permitting
• Prepare and manage applications and reviews including:
  • USACE Sections 404 / 10 / 408
  • CZMA consistency review
  • CTDEEP tidal and inland wetlands permits
  • Certificates of Permission
  • Section 401 Water Quality Certifications
  • Floodplain and water diversion permits
  • Coastal and FEMA-related reviews
  • Municipal wetlands, zoning, stormwater, and erosion control permits
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies, municipalities, and stakeholders to support timely approvals
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and permitting strategies across multiple concurrent projects
• Oversee and coordinate wetland delineations, natural resource evaluations, and field studies supporting permit submissions
• Advise internal teams and clients on permitting risk, strategy, and regulatory pathways
• Monitor regulatory updates and adjust permitting approaches accordingly
• Mentor and train early-career staff in wetland delineation, environmental permitting, and project management practices
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and environmental teams on infrastructure and restoration projects

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Bachelor's degree in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, or related discipline
• 8+ years of experience in environmental permitting, including project management responsibility
• Demonstrated experience managing permit submissions under local, state, and federal environmental regulations
• Strong working knowledge of Connecticut environmental regulatory frameworks
• Professional certification such as Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or Professional Soil Scientist strongly preferred
• Experience with projects such as:
  • Ecological restoration
  • Infrastructure repair and replacement (bridges, culverts, dams)
  • Redevelopment projects
• Proven ability to manage multiple permitting efforts simultaneously
• Strong coordination and communication skills with agencies and multidisciplinary teams
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; ArcGIS and project management software are a plus

This is a hybrid role , offering the best of both worlds-collaborate in-office with a high-performing team and enjoy the flexibility of working remotely part of the week. We're committed to supporting work-life balance while maintaining strong team connection and project delivery.

Why You'll Love Working with Us

• Schedule Flexibility : Customize your work schedule to fit your life.
• Health & Wellness : Comprehensive health benefits to keep you and your family healthy.
• Continuous Learning : Access to online courses, conferences, and learning materials to fuel your professional growth.
• Paid Time Off : Take the time you need to recharge with our generous paid time off policy.
• Career Advancement : Clear paths for promotions and the opportunity to take on new challenges.
• Fun Team Culture : Regular team-building activities, happy hours, and company outings.

The base salary range for this role is indicated in the posting. This range reflects the company's good faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and geographic location.

Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position

All offers are contingent upon a successful criminal background check. Fuss & O'Neill, Inc. is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Fuss & O'Neill participates in the Federal e-Verify program.

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