Staff Environmental Sciences Specialist - Industrial Wastewater Permitting Focus

The Opportunity

In this role as a Staff Environmental Sciences Specialist, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Work with a dynamic team within an established global infrastructure consulting and engineering company. 
• Work as part of a team of environmental scientists and consultants to support our clients in achieving compliance with a wide range of state and federal environmental programs and regulations spanning multiple environmental media through every phase of a project; from feasibility, to design, to construction, to operations.  
• Join Black & Veatch’s Environmental practice to work with a team of professionals focused on ensuring environmental stewardship for our clients.  

The Team

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and compliance projects for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities and industrial dischargers across the United States. 
• Prepare new, renewal, and modification applications for individual and general NPDES permits, including technical narratives, process descriptions, wastewater characterization evaluations, flow and pollutant loading evaluations, treatment system assessments, sampling and monitoring plans, antidegradation demonstrations, and supporting documentation. 
• Evaluate regulatory applicability, permitting and compliance strategies under the Clean Water Act, federal and state NPDES programs, and local pretreatment programs, including requirements for direct discharges, indirect discharges, pretreatment, and land application or reuse where applicable. 
• Review and interpret technology-based and water quality-based effluent limitations, water quality standards, total maximum daily loads, mixing -zone requirements, reasonable potential analyses, and antidegradation requirements, and Clean Water Act Sections 316(a) and 316(b) requirements, including thermal discharge demonstrations and cooling water intake structure evaluations. 
• Assess wastewater characterization data, discharge monitoring reports, compliance histories, treatment performance, and proposed facility changes to identify permitting risks and practical compliance solutions. 
• Coordinate with facility owners, operators, engineers, laboratories, legal counsel, and federal, state, and local permitting authorities throughout permit development, agency review, negotiation, public notice, and final permit issuance. 
• Support and lead the development and implementation of permit compliance programs, including monitoring and reporting plans, operational stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) discharge monitoring data evaluations, best management practices, compliance schedules, corrective action plans and responses to agency information requests, notices of violation, or enforcement matters. 
• Provide technical guidance to multidisciplinary project teams on wastewater permitting considerations during planning, design, construction, startup, and operation of treatment systems and related infrastructure. 
• Manage assigned scopes, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and client communications; contribute to proposals and business development for wastewater permitting and compliance services. 
• Conduct occasional site visits and field reviews to understand wastewater generation, treatment processes, discharge locations, and compliance conditions. 

Management Responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, environmental science, or a related field; advanced degree in a relevant discipline is a plus. 
• Five to ten years of progressive experience in industrial and/or municipal wastewater permitting, regulatory compliance, or environmental consulting, with substantial experience preparing or supporting NPDES permit applications in the United States. 
• Demonstrated experience with industrial and/or municipal wastewater treatment facilities, including familiarity with treatment processes, wastewater characterization, monitoring programs, operational considerations, and regulatory requirements that affect permit conditions. Experience supporting Clean Water Act Section 316(a) and Section 316(b) studies, evaluations, or compliance programs is highly desirable. 
• Experience and knowledge of wastewater and related utility systems that support data centers, power plants, municipal wastewater treatment facilities, manufacturing operations, pharmaceutical facilities, mining and other industrial operations is a plus. 
• Working knowledge of the Clean Water Act, 40 CFR Parts 122–125, applicable effluent limitation guidelines, antidegradation requirements, state water quality standards, and delegated state NPDES permitting programs. 
• Experience evaluating and developing technology-based and water quality-based effluent limitations, including analyses of receiving-water characteristics, water quality data, reasonable potential, antidegradation requirements, total maximum daily loads, mixing zones, compliance schedules, and other permit development considerations. 
• Experience with industrial pretreatment requirements, categorical pretreatment standards, indirect wastewater discharge permitting, or municipal pretreatment programs, including local limits development is highly desirable. 
• Experience communicating and negotiating with EPA, state environmental agencies, publicly owned treatment works, and other permitting authorities. 
• Ability to analyze technical and regulatory information, identify permitting risks, and develop practical, defensible strategies for clients and project teams. 
• Strong technical writing, verbal communication, project coordination, and client-service skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines. 
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Engineer in Training (EIT) certification is preferred for engineering-degree candidates Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), or Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), as applicable to the candidate’s background and responsibilities. 
• Completion of recognized NPDES, wastewater compliance, pretreatment, or water quality training is a plus. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, or a related scientific discipline, or relevant specialized training and experience that uniquely qualify the individual to perform the job responsibilities. 
• Minimum of 5 years of related professional experience in environmental permitting or compliance, including direct experience with NPDES wastewater discharge permitting and the national pretreatment program. Candidates with approximately 5–10 years of relevant experience are preferred for this role. 
• Experience preparing technical documents, permit applications, or compliance deliverables for industrial or municipal wastewater treatment facilities in the United States. 
• Ability to travel domestically for client meetings, agency meetings, and occasional site visits. 
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected), which may include any or all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments. 
• Ability to utilize audio/videoconferencing software tools for internal/external communication 
• Sitting/standing/computer usage for extended periods of time 
• Domestic travel is required 

Compensation Transparency

In accordance with local requirements, the annual compensation ranges for this role are listed below by state or jurisdiction and reflect the applicable office location(s) within each. Final compensation is determined based on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, internal alignment, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law.

Salary Plan

Job Grade