Environmental Permitting Specialist/Wetland Scientist/Biologist

KPFF, a multi-office, multi-discipline engineering firm, champions Excellence, Trust, Relationships, Stability, and Passion. With over 60 years of experience, we foster a dynamic environment for creative solutions across diverse projects and scales. KPFF’s decentralized structure allows each office the flexibility to pursue projects aligned with their regional strengths and offers 1,300 team members in 27 nationwide offices abundant flexibility and growth opportunities. Rooted in Seattle since 1960, KPFF excels as a collaborative team of consulting professionals driving innovative solutions and sustainable design. Join us to shape the built environment and drive impactful engineering solutions with your creativity and passion. Learn more at www.kpff.com.

In our Portland Civil + Survey office, we work on a wide variety of project types, serving public and private clients in land development, transportation, and municipal projects. This includes architectural-led building projects for higher ed campuses, sports facilities, schools, medical campuses, and mixed-use housing. In addition, we work on parks, trails, master planning, and include stormwater management and a sustainability focus on everything we do. We believe in encouraging personal and professional growth, and we work hard at providing a solid structure with minimal organizational restrictions. We have a great group of collaborative and dedicated engineers in a family-friendly, business casual environment located in downtown Portland. KPFF is more than just the work we do, we are the relationships we build, both with our clients and with our co-workers. KPFF Portland provides a hybrid, flexible work environment (3 days in-office/2 remote).

We are seeking a full-time Environmental Permitting Specialist/Wetland Scientist/Biologist to join our Environmental Group in KPFF’s Portland Civil + Survey office. This position will work alongside our Senior Environmental Lead and will be an integral part of our environmental team as we continue to grow our environmental services capabilities and capacity. Our Environmental Group currently works on a wide variety of projects including but not limited to transportation, fish passage, port, boat ramp/kayak launch, parks, water intake, and school/campus projects.

A successful candidate will be interested in working in KPFF’s unique entrepreneurial environment – where you will experience growth based on your own competency, passion, and commitment and will be encouraged to work on what inspires you. Our flat organizational structure and minimal restrictions allow employees to work directly and independently with clients, while drawing upon the experience and resources of other professionals on the project team. We are passionate about developing great engineers, surveyors, and environmental professionals. We offer generous benefits, competitive salaries and pay you for every hour you work.

Core Responsibilities (including, but not limited to)

• Prepare federal, state, and local environmental permit applications
• Perform environmental fieldwork and reporting
• Coordinate with project engineers regarding environmental impacts
• Prepare, or assist in the preparation of, project scopes and fees for senior level review
• Assist with business development

• B.A./B.S (and/or advanced) degree in an applicable field (e.g., biology, botany, ecology, environmental science, water resources, or a related field)
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, including the majority of the following:
  • Knowledge of, and experience with, federal, state, and local environmental permitting regulations, including Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, Clean Water Act (CWA) Sections 401 and 404, Endangered Species Act (ESA), Oregon Removal-Fill law, Washington hydraulic code, and local environmental ordinances in Oregon and Washington
  • Wetland and Ordinary High Water delineation fieldwork and reporting, including ORWAP, SFAM, and Washington State Wetland Rating System; Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) preferred
  • Experience preparing Joint Permit Applications (JPAs) and Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Applications (JARPAs), Mitigation Bank Use Plans and/or Compensatory Mitigation Plans, planting plans, Natural Resource Assessments, local Land Use Review documentation (for example, City of Portland E-zone permitting), Critical Areas Assessments, etc.
  • Experience writing biological assessments and no effect letters; WSDOT and/or ODOT certification preferred
  • Experience writing NEPA Categorical Exclusion and/or Environmental Assessment documentation
  • Environmental construction observation experience
  • Nesting bird survey experience
  • Water quality sampling
  • CAD and/or GIS skills
  • GPS data collection skills
  • Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills with high attention to detail
  • Ability to handle multiple concurrent projects and priorities
  • Ability to have a driver’s license and perform environmental fieldwork including walking over rough ground while carrying a pack in a variety of weather conditions. Most fieldwork is local and does not require overnight travel, but occasional overnight travel may be required.
  • Enthusiastic about providing exceptional client service
  • Motivated to learn and grow in the position and eventually lead internal teams
  • Experience managing small- to medium-size projects is a plus

Ideal Candidate

You understand that success requires more than handling the task at hand – it requires the ability to think beyond the task and consider ‘big picture’ process and effects. You don’t wilt under pressure, are excited to problem solve, and are passionate about attention to the details. You seek to work collaboratively, do not hesitate to raise questions, and desire to be part of the solution. You take pride and ownership in your work and understand your role in our company’s success.

Compensation

The base salary for this role is competitive and will be determined based on the candidate's experience, education, and skills. The expected range for a qualified candidate for this Environmental Permitting Specialist/Wetland Scientist/Biologist position is $85,000 to $115,000. Additionally, we offer performance-based bonuses to recognize and reward outstanding contributions in each Reporting Center. KPFF is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

KPFF Employee Benefits

• Medical Plan Options: Choice of Traditional PPO or HDHP with HSA, covering preventive care and prescriptions.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Tax-advantaged accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Dental & Vision: Full preventive care, plus coverage for major dental services and vision allowances.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential support for personal, family, and work challenges.
• Life & AD&D Insurance: Company-provided life insurance equal to one year’s salary, plus AD&D.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: KPFF contributes 3% of salary, with no match needed. 
• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term coverage at 60% income, fully covered by KPFF.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO, two floating holidays, and paid company holidays.
• Paid Family Leave: Six weeks at 60% pay, with options to use PTO for full income.

Other Perks

• Hybrid work schedule
• Free secure bike parking
• Public transportation 50% subsidy
• Free use of on-site gym + locker facilities
• Team sports (HTC relay race, co-ed softball)
• Reimbursement for professional association dues
• Office social events, including annual Winter party and Summer picnic
• Office committee opportunities
• Community projects participation

KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex/gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.