ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER

DOT-ADMIN-EXEMPT-2026-04 THIS POSTING WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR TWO WEEKS OR 14 DAYS ONLY. PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. NOTE: This position is exempt from civil service and considered temporary in nature. Therefore, if you are appointed to this position, your employment will be considered "At Will", meaning that you may be discharged from your employment at the prerogative of your department head or designee at any time. The Environmental Planner is an integral part of HDOT’s environmental planning and compliance functions and supports HDOT’s mission to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain a safe, efficient, accessible, and sustainable inter-modal transportation system for Hawaii. Transportation projects in Hawaii must comply with complex federal and state environmental laws while balancing community priorities, cultural stewardship, and climate resiliency objectives. This position plays a key role in preparing HDOT for NEPA Assignment, supporting the development of internal policies, procedures, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols, training, documentation standards, and administrative record systems necessary for assuming federal NEPA responsibilities. The Planner is part of the Office of Energy Security and Community Outreach within HDOT’s Administration Division, which supports all three modal divisions—Highways, Airports, and Harbors. The Planner provides expertise and support to all modal divisions as needed and works closely with HDOT project managers, federal and state regulatory agencies, consultants, county partners, community organizations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. Through technical rigor, regulatory fluency, and proactive coordination, this position helps HDOT strengthen environmental compliance systems, maintain defensible documentation, improve project delivery timelines, and build trust with communities statewide. Major Duties and Responsibilities A. NEPA Assignment Readiness & Program Development Assist HDOT in preparing for NEPA Assignment by helping develop policies, procedures, manuals, templates, training materials, and internal QA/QC processes consistent with FHWA guidance. Support readiness assessment efforts and gap analyses. Help establish documentation standards and administrative record protocols necessary for federal assumption. Provide training and technical guidance to HDOT staff on environmental compliance responsibilities under NEPA Assignment. Assist with audit preparation and continuous improvement efforts to ensure consistent and ongoing compliance with federal oversight requirements. B. Environmental Review & Project Advisory Serve as environmental planning subject matter expert on project development teams across modal divisions. Provide guidance on NEPA (CE, EA, EIS) and HRS Chapter343 (Exemption Declarations, DEA, FEA, EIS) document preparation, alternatives analysis, cumulative effects, and significance determinations. Advise project managers on permitting pathways, sequencing, and documentation strategies to improve efficiency while maintaining compliance. Assist in preparing purpose and need statements, impact analyses, mitigation commitments, and findings documents. Support integration of energy security, climate adaptation, and resiliency considerations into transportation planning and environmental documentation. C. Environmental Commitments, Monitoring & Documentation Track environmental commitments from planning through construction. Support development of environmental commitment tracking systems consistent with NEPA Assignment requirements. Assist with pre-construction environmental briefings and ensure commitments are incorporated into plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E). Review consultant deliverables for compliance with regulatory standards and internal QA/QC procedures. Maintain organized administrative records that are legally defensible and audit-ready. D. Regulatory Compliance, Permitting & Interagency Coordination Prepare, review, and coordinate environmental documents and permit applications required under NEPA, HRS Chapter343, Clean Water Act Sections401/404, Coastal Zone Management, Section106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and other applicable federal, state, and county regulations. Coordinate with agencies including FHWA, FAA, USACE, DLNR, DOH, SHPD, and county planning departments to align project requirements and mitigation commitments. Track permit conditions, environmental commitments, and regulatory milestones; maintain organized and defensible administrative records. Facilitate interagency meetings and support resolution of regulatory conflicts or schedule risks. E. Community & Stakeholder Engagement Support public involvement processes for environmental review documents, including community meetings, public notices, and comment response coordination. Prepare clear, accessible materials explaining project impacts, environmental findings, and mitigation measures. Coordinate with Native Hawaiian Organizations and community groups to incorporate cultural considerations and respectful engagement practices into project development. Respond to public and agency comments in a professional and technically sound manner. Perform other duties as assigned. Required Licenses Hawaii State Driver's License, Class3. Recommended Qualifications Knowledge of: Environmental planning principles and transportation project development processes. Federal and state environmental laws and permitting processes, including NEPA, HRS Chapter343, Clean Water Act Sections401/404, Section106, Coastal Zone Management, and related Hawaii requirements. Environmental documentation standards, cumulative effects analysis, mitigation development, and public involvement practices. NEPA Assignment program requirements and quality assurance principles. Skills/Abilities: Prepare clear, concise, and legally defensible environmental documents and technical memoranda. Analyze complex regulatory requirements and translate them into practical project guidance. Coordinate effectively with federal, state, and county agencies. Facilitate meetings and communicate complex environmental issues to technical and non-technical audiences. Exercise independent judgment; manage multiple assignments and deadlines; conduct QA/QC reviews of consultant deliverables. Develop and implement programmatic systems supporting NEPA Assignment compliance. Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental planning, environmental science, urban and regional planning, natural resources management, public policy, geography, or closely related field. Experience: Typically, 3–5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in environmental planning, permitting, or environmental review for transportation or infrastructure projects in Hawaii. Demonstrated experience preparing or reviewing NEPA and/or HRS Chapter343 documents. Experience coordinating with regulatory agencies and participating in public engagement processes. Experience supporting environmental compliance systems or program development is preferred. Equal Employment Opportunity & Disability Accommodation The State of Hawaii complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call the DOT Personnel Office at View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance. Legal Authorization to Work Requirement The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States. #J-18808-Ljbffr