Mid-level Environmental Planner

Mid-level Environmental Planner

AECOM is actively seeking an experienced Mid-level Environmental Planner III to join our Environmental Planning and Permitting Group. This hybrid role will be based out of Indianapolis, IN.

In this role, you will play a central part in the environmental project lifecycle by providing technical assistance and task management for a variety of planning and permitting efforts. You will collaborate with senior staff to help draft and refine critical regulatory documents, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permit applications. A significant portion of your role will involve task management, requiring you to stay organized and keep pace with multiple moving parts by tracking project tasks, timelines, and deliverables. You will serve as an agency liaison with state and federal agencies, such as the USACE and USFWS, assisting with the consultation process and helping to resolve technical permitting questions. Additionally, you will support the growth of our junior staff by providing peer reviews of field data and technical writing, while continuing to develop your own expertise.

Responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Technical Writing & Authoring: Supports the preparation of natural resources documents such as Biological Technical Reports, Biological Assessments, Habitat Conservation Plans, and Wetland Delineation Reports, operating as the primary author when appropriate.
• Permitting & Compliance: Assists in the development of environmental permit application packages, technical reports, and mitigation and monitoring plans, ensuring all documents accurately interpret and apply applicable government codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Task Management: Performs essential task management duties to keep projects on track, including facilitating recurring status meetings, managing milestone check-ins, and handling day-to-day interfacing with internal teams and sub-consultants.
• Field Investigation: Supports field efforts by performing field inspections to gather data relevant to the project development, environmental review process, and permitting efforts.
• Data Research & Analysis: Collects and synthesizes environmental, land use, and resource data (e.g., GIS layers, agency databases, field results) to support NEPA documentation, permitting strategies, and impact analysis.
• Public & Agency Outreach: Assists project managers with the development of meeting materials, including presentation boards, handouts, agendas, and PowerPoint presentations; supports public meetings by compiling results and maintaining project records.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental planning, biology, ecology, natural resources management or a related field.
• 4 years of relevant experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education in environmental planning, permitting, or natural resources.
• Valid Driver's license and the ability to travel to project sites and safely operate a vehicle is required.
• Due to the nature of the work, US Citizenship is required.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Master's Degree in a related environmental or planning field.
• Development and review of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, including Categorical Exclusions (CE), Environmental Assessments (EA), and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), as well as regional state-level environmental reviews.
• Demonstrated experience with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and Clean Water Act (Sections 404 and 401) permitting.
• Technical Writing: Proven track record of authoring technical reports, environmental assessments (EAs), or permit application packages that have been successfully submitted to regulatory agencies.
• Professional certification such as AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners), PWS (Professional Wetland Scientist), or CEP (Certified Environmental Professional).
• Proficiency in the Midwest or Northcentral/Northeast Regional Supplements for wetland delineations.
• Established experience coordinating with Midwest regional agencies (e.g., USACE Chicago/Rock Island/Detroit Districts, USFWS, or state-specific agencies like IDEM, IEPA, or MDNR).
• Species Expertise: Knowledge of Midwest-specific threatened and endangered species (e.g., Indiana Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, or Rusty Patched Bumble Bee) and experience with Section 7 consultation.
• Experience serving as a Task Lead or Deputy Project Manager, including managing budgets, schedules, and multidisciplinary sub-consultants.
• Advanced proficiency in ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Field Maps for spatial analysis and environmental constraints mapping.
• Ability to conduct field assessments (e.g., wetland delineations or habitat surveys) in various Midwest terrains and weather conditions.