Environmental Project Manager- Natural Resources

Job Description

Job Description

Project Manager - Environmental & Natural Resources

Job Description

This role focuses on growing and helping to lead a Great Lakes Environmental Services Program, providing strategic leadership and project management for a broad range of environmental planning and permitting projects across the energy, government, and private sectors. The position emphasizes work throughout the United States, with particular focus on Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and the broader Midwest region. You will play a key role in business development, client relationship management, and team building, while delivering high-quality environmental services that support complex infrastructure, utilities, and transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Grow and assist in leading the Great Lakes Environmental Services Program, setting direction, priorities, and performance expectations for the practice.
• Provide leadership and project management for a wide variety of environmental planning and permitting projects serving energy, government, and private sector clients across the U.S., with a focus on Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and the Midwest.
• Lead and manage the implementation of complex environmental projects, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives are met.
• Participate in marketing and business development activities within the Great Lakes Utilities and Energy sectors, helping to identify and secure new opportunities.
• Assist with sustaining and growing regional and national clients across diverse energy, infrastructure, and transportation markets.
• Within the Midwest, identify environmental permitting projects, programs, and opportunities, leveraging existing relationships with federal, state, and private sector clients to expand environmental services.
• Help build, grow, and develop a team of high performers by recruiting, mentoring, and retaining specialist staff and fostering in-house sector expertise and best practices.
• Support research and development initiatives to advance environmental services capabilities and enhance technical excellence.
• Actively participate in regional and national industry groups to elevate the organization’s brand and stay current with emerging trends and regulations.
• Oversee and/or perform wetland and stream delineations and assessments, vegetation inventories, wildlife surveys and habitat assessments, and endangered resource reviews.
• Manage or coordinate technical work such as sound and glare modeling, vegetation management plan development, GPS data collection, and mapping support using ArcGIS online and related data collection applications.
• Balance and organize multiple projects simultaneously, documenting project progress, developing communication plans, and reviewing and updating project scope and status.
• Validate and accurately analyze technical and project information to make sound decisions with significant business impact.
• Interface effectively and collaborate with clients, peers, management, and vendors to respond to shifting needs and priorities.
• Motivate yourself and others to overcome obstacles, meet deadlines, and achieve project and business goals.
• Apply strong verbal and written communication skills to prepare clear reports, presentations, and client communications, maintaining a client-focused approach.
• Demonstrate effective resource planning and results delivery while staying current with relevant technology and innovation.
• Uphold strong ethics, demonstrate leadership, and use influence and negotiation skills to align stakeholders and drive successful outcomes.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in an environmental or natural resource-related field.
• Five to ten or more years of experience in consulting or consulting-adjacent roles supporting clients across diverse industries and utilities and energy sectors.
• Demonstrated experience working with state agencies and federal agencies, including state Departments of Natural Resources, Departments of Transportation, state Public Service Commissions, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Proven experience in the management and implementation of complex environmental projects.
• Hands-on experience performing or managing wetland and stream delineation and assessments.
• Experience with vegetation inventories, wildlife surveys, and habitat assessments.
• Experience with sound and glare modeling and endangered resource reviews.
• Experience developing vegetation management plans.
• Experience with GPS data collection and mapping support, including use of ArcGIS online mapping and data collection applications.
• Strong project management skills, including balancing and organizing multiple projects, documenting progress, and updating scope and schedules.
• Ability to work well under pressure and to prioritize and balance heavy workloads in a highly mobile and changing environment.
• Ability to validate and accurately analyze information and make sound, business-impacting decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others, manage large utility-scale projects, and support marketing to existing and new clients.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a client-focused mindset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to interface and collaborate effectively with clients, peers, management, and vendors.
• Ability to motivate self and others to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.
• Demonstrated resource planning capabilities and consistent results delivery.
• Strong ethics, leadership, influence, and negotiation skills.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in an environmental or natural resource-related field is preferred.
• Working knowledge of GIS tools and platforms beyond ArcGIS online is a plus.
• Familiarity with SharePoint filing systems is a plus.
• Experience participating in regional and national industry groups and professional organizations.
• PM experience in utilities, energy, infrastructure, or transportation markets.
• Experience contributing to or leading research and development initiatives in environmental services.
• Comfort with high travel requirements and field-based work.

Work Environment

This role is based out of a home base in the Kansas City area, with approximately 60–70% travel to project sites and client locations across the Midwest and other regions of the United States. Travel typically involves the use of trucks, hotel stays, and per diem coverage while on the road. The position combines office-based work—such as project planning, documentation, data analysis, and client communication—with fieldwork related to environmental assessments and permitting. You may eventually supervise 1–2 team members, contributing to a collaborative, high-performance culture. The environment is dynamic and fast-paced, requiring flexibility, adaptability, and comfort with changing priorities and a highly mobile schedule. Technology tools commonly used include Microsoft Office applications, GIS software (including ArcGIS online), GPS data collection equipment, and SharePoint-based document management systems. Professional attire is expected for client meetings and industry events, while fieldwork may require practical, weather-appropriate clothing suitable for outdoor conditions.

This is a Permanent position based out of Leawood, KS.

The pay range for this position is $107000.00 - $160000.00/yr.

good stable company with travel and benefits

This is a fully onsite position in Leawood,KS.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 5, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.