Environmental Planning & NEPA Specialist

Role Description

Help Protect the Environment While Advancing NASA's Mission. Join a team where your environmental expertise helps shape the future of exploration, innovation, and responsible stewardship. This position is anticipated to begin in October 2026. We are recruiting now and encourage early applications from qualified candidates.

The NEPA Specialist provides technical and programmatic support for environmental planning and compliance activities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Working under the direction of senior environmental professionals, the Specialist supports the development, review, coordination, and implementation of NEPA documentation, policies, guidance, and program initiatives. This position requires strong communication, organizational, analytical, and project management skills to support multiple projects and stakeholders while ensuring regulatory compliance and schedule adherence.

How You Will Fulfill Your Mission

• NEPA Compliance and Documentation
  • Prepare, review, and coordinate NEPA documents, including Records of Environmental Consideration (RECs), Categorical Exclusions (CATEXs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and supporting technical documentation.
  • Conduct environmental reviews and impact analyses in accordance with federal regulations, agency policies, and project-specific requirements.
  • Support development and maintenance of NEPA guidance, procedures, templates, checklists, and standard operating practices.
  • Assist with evaluations of existing NEPA documents, programmatic analyses, and environmental planning strategies to identify opportunities for streamlining and process improvement.
• Program Support and Coordination
  • Coordinate with project managers, engineers, scientists, environmental specialists, legal staff, and agency stakeholders to gather information and facilitate environmental reviews.
  • Participate in meetings, working groups, and stakeholder engagements; prepare agendas, meeting notes, action items, and follow-up documentation.
  • Track project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and action items to ensure timely completion of assignments.
  • Support data calls, information requests, and cross-functional coordination efforts across multiple organizations and facilities.
• Policy, Guidance, and Training
  • Assist in the development, revision, and implementation of environmental policies, guidance documents, toolkits, and training materials.
  • Research federal environmental regulations, executive orders, agency directives, and best practices to support program improvements.
  • Support development and delivery of training presentations, workshops, and informational materials for environmental practitioners and project teams.
  • Contribute to efforts that improve consistency, efficiency, and transparency in environmental compliance programs.
• Data Management and Reporting
  • Maintain project records, environmental databases, document repositories, and tracking systems.
  • Compile, organize, analyze, and summarize environmental compliance data and program metrics.
  • Prepare technical reports, briefing materials, status updates, and management presentations.
  • Support quality assurance and quality control reviews of environmental documents and deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, Geography, Biology, Historic Preservation, or a related field.
• 5–10 years of professional experience supporting NEPA compliance, environmental planning, or related environmental programs.
• Working knowledge of NEPA regulations, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, and federal environmental compliance requirements.
• Experience preparing and reviewing NEPA documentation and coordinating with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and document management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal agencies, including environmental compliance programs.
• Familiarity with environmental permitting, cultural resources, natural resources, or related environmental review processes.
• Experience developing guidance documents, training materials, templates, or process improvement initiatives.
• Experience using SharePoint, Power BI, GIS, environmental databases, or project tracking systems.

Working Conditions

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to walk, sit, or stand for extended periods of time; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear; have sufficient manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, calculator, telephone, and other such office equipment as necessary; may occasionally move and/or lift up to 50 pounds or more with assistance. Specific visual abilities required by the job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust and focus.
• Work Environment: Work will mainly be performed in an office setting and occasionally with irregular hours.
• Travel: A low amount of travel away from office may be required.