Senior Environmental Scientist I

Summary

The Environmental Scientist supports Authority/Canal Corporation staff to ensure that the Authority/Canal Corporation meets its environmental regulatory and stewardship obligations and licensing commitments related to fisheries , and aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in a sound and cost-efficient manner. The incumbent ensures environmental compliance associated with Authority/Canal Corporation projects and program areas including, but is not limited to, fisheries, stream and wetland protection, threatened and endangered species, SEQR and FERC licensing. Incumbent facilitates consensus for action among a diverse set of stakeholders, including regulatory agencies and non-governmental organizations. This position requires a strong background in biology, ecology, and environmental science, with experience developing various wildlife management plans. #LI-VB1

Responsibilities

• Senior level position.
• Incumbent must maintain expertise as staff specialist in one or more particular areas of environmental management. 
• Apply advanced knowledge and practice to proposing methodologies for answering regulatory concerns.  Provide sound direction that can be applied in an operating and/or construction environment.
• Responsible for planning own work while coordinating end products with larger, more complex undertakings. 
• Seek out and work with the Law Department, Licensing, Energy Services, Engineering, Project Management and others as appropriate to provide support to accomplish specific tasks within one or more areas of expertise.
• May be called upon to supervise junior staff and contractors.
• Work independently and must show sufficient initiative to move projects along to completion.  Supervisor guidance is limited to overall objectives and policy issues.
• Maintain currency with evolving state and federal agency regulatory requirements regarding environmental issues and hydropower licensing so as to communicate complex regulations and related environmental management issues to Authority management that could impact Authority operations and/or budgets
• Ensure application of sound environmental management principles to technical issues and in-field or in-facility activities.
• Support implementation of best management practices at the Authority’s facilities that respond to the findings of natural resources studies or are required by permit provisions. 
• Ensure that work conducted on Authority property is conducted in an environmentally sound manner, meeting all regulatory requirements in a cost-efficient manner.  The intent of this responsibility is to create value for the Authority through compliance with regulatory requirements while minimizing the adverse effect on Authority operations.
• Document regulatory requirements and manage the process of informing outside audiences (including agency personnel, landowners, government officials) of the Authority’s work and the conclusions drawn therefrom.
• Develop scopes of services, review bid proposals, evaluate the suitability of proposed vendors and participate in contract negotiations for a broad suite of environmental services; maintain current Trustee approvals; provide quality assurance oversight of vendor services through feedback from other departments.
• Review and interpret State and Federal Regulations in the areas of responsibility that may affect Authority operations including the preparation of applications to attain/maintain the permits for compliant operation under all applicable regulations and statutes.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Substantial knowledge of other disciplines; capable of representing technical issues associated with the Authority’s interests at senior-level meetings and outside groups.
• Knowledge of state and federal agency regulations regarding environmental issues, hydropower plants, and fossil fuel plants is required.
• Ability to write concise analyses of alternatives, present the results of deliberation in a concise fashion, and develop consensus within a group of varying disciplines.
• Ability to make independent decisions through the extension of a highest technical understanding of one or more specific facets of environmental management.
• Strong project management and planning skills; ability to manage contractual matters and consultant work efforts, develop and implement work plans, coordinate the activities of all persons involved in projects to ensure on-time products that meet goals.
• Ability to work with colleagues to coordinate environmental compliance efforts related to issues from Authority Operating Facilities, Business Units, the regulatory community (including but not limited to NYSDEC, NYCDEP, EPA, and DOT) and Authority customers as required.
• Ability to influence decision-making by other disciplines through technical understanding and interpersonal skills.  Leadership is exercised through depth of knowledge and recognition as discipline expert.

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree with more than 10 years of service in Geosciences, Biological Science, Environmental Science or comparable field.
• An advanced degree and/or Professional Certification in a related field, is preferred.
• Experience in a variety of utility industry issues, FERC licensing, transmission line siting, utility ROW vegetation management and environmental permitting with particular expertise in one or more specific environmental area.

Physical Requirements

Approximately 30% travel primarily within NY State