Regulatory Specialist

Regulatory Specialist

Sacramento, California, United States; San Francisco, California, United States

At RES, we're looking for purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about restoration and sustainability, and who want their work to make a lasting environmental impact. Our team members go above and beyond, bringing initiative, integrity, and a strong work ethic to every project. Collaboration is key—we thrive on teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives. In a field that constantly changes, we value those who are resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in the face of challenges. If you're intellectually curious, eager to learn, and ready to help restore ecosystems and protect natural resources, you'll find your place here.

RES is looking for a Regulatory Specialist II to join our team. As a Regulatory Specialist II at RES, you will play an essential role in supporting permitting, field documentation, and regulatory strategy for environmental restoration projects. You'll collaborate with project managers, scientists, and agency partners to ensure that permit documents, monitoring reports, and regulatory deliverables are timely, accurate, and aligned with federal, state, and local requirements. You will help resolve compliance questions and solve regulatory issues to ensure restoration project delivery. This position is ideal for someone with 2+ years of applied experience and a growing interest in the intersection of ecological science, environmental regulation, and applied restoration.

Why You'll Love This Job:

• You'll contribute to projects that restore land and water. From wetlands to stream banks, your work will directly support ecological restoration and mitigation efforts.
• You'll build your regulatory knowledge and leadership. You'll gain exposure permitting processes and take the lead on drafting documents and coordinating with agencies.
• You'll learn across disciplines. From design to ecology to construction, you'll work with a cross-functional team that values both rigor and real-world outcomes to inform permitting compliance.
• You'll have opportunities to grow. This role offers a path toward senior-level regulatory strategy, agency engagement, and team leadership.

A Day in the Life:

Your day might begin with reviewing a permit draft or QA/QC-ing field data collected by the project team. You'll work closely with project scientists to compile monitoring reports, support permit applications, and summarize agency guidelines or credit release schedules. You may help prepare for a field visit or regulatory meeting, or even lead a site evaluation to identify potential permitting risks.

You'll translate complex scientific and design data into regulatory-ready documents, participate in calls with agency staff, and work with senior staff to interpret project plans and sampling protocols. Throughout the week, you'll balance writing, analysis, coordination, and an occasional site visit, all supporting restoration projects that deliver real environmental outcomes.

We would love to talk to you if you have many of the following:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, ecology, geology, biology, or a related natural or physical science field
• 2+ years of relevant environmental permitting or regulatory experience (or 1+ year with an advanced degree)
• Experience supporting or drafting permit documents and reports (e.g., 404/401, NWP/IPESA, CESA, LSAA 1600, NPDES, BCDC major permits etc.)
• Proficiency in field data collection and sampling protocols
• Ability to read and interpret maps, design plans, technical and financial documentation

What will make you stand out:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field
• Additional professional certifications (e.g., ArcGIS, drone pilot, RTE species survey, etc.)
• Demonstrated consultation experience with California state or federal resource agencies

You Will Thrive in This Role If You:

• Enjoy translating science and design into regulatory strategy
• Are comfortable working across field, office, and agency settings
• Are proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing your own workload
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally with internal and external stakeholders
• Like being part of collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams that solve problems together

California Pay Range

$71,500 - $84,000 USD

Please note that the "Day in the Life" section is not intended to be an exhaustive list of job duties, but rather a representative snapshot of typical responsibilities and work experiences at RES.

RES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.