Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientist

This position is on-site in Sarasota County, Florida.

Join a purpose-driven team building resilient communities nationwide.

GrantWorks, Inc. is a national leader in planning, community development, and grant management, with a mission to help communities become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. For more than 45 years, GrantWorks has assisted 720+ cities, counties, and states with designing and delivering a wide range of transformative grant-funded projects and programs in disaster recovery, mitigation, coastal protection, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and community resilience.

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GrantWorks' mission is to provide the most efficient and professional services possible. We deliver quality expertise, encourage collaboration, strive for continuous improvement, and respond vigorously to change. We take responsibility for the quality of our work and are committed to open and direct communication to foster long-term relationships. GrantWorks values competence, creativity and teamwork while treating everyone with the utmost respect and consideration.

The Environmental Scientist provides direct support to complete the environmental review process in accordance with US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations under 24 CFR Part 58 and other federal and state regulations needed to achieve clearance for the expenditure of federal grant funds. This position works directly with project managers, local governments, and state/federal agencies to document, develop, publish, and submit the necessary documentation as specified in the NEPA process. This position requires a detail-oriented critical thinker who is resourceful, reliable, able to multi-task and willing to learn. This role is responsible for guiding environmental reviews from initial assessment through approval and closeout, ensuring documentation is accurate, complete, and audit ready.

Essential Functions

Prepare/compile NEPA environmental review records for a variety of state and federal programs including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Disaster Allocations (CDBG-DR), Economic Development, HOME Partnership Program Funds, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grants, Water Development Board funds, Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, and others

Complete Tiered Environmental Reviews which could include the Broad/Tier I process and/or the Tier II Site-Specific Environmental Checklists in accordance with the requirements specified in the Tier I Environmental Assessment for identified addresses receiving assistance in CDBG-DR funded Housing programs

Utilize a variety of state and federal resources to determine a project’s impact on relevant environmental compliance factors

Interpret and analyze maps and other data sources necessary to draft Environmental Assessments and other lesser levels of review

Work with Project Managers to coordinate the environmental clearance process and determine when completed environmental reviews must be re-evaluated

Correspond regularly with state and federal agency personnel as well as engineers or design professionals

Actively track the status of multiple contracts at various stages of completion

Coordinate with third party environmental service providers, if required

May include minimal travel of no more than 50 miles from the duty station

Other tasks as assigned

Typical Duties

Drafting environmental reports and other related documentation

Interpret state and federal regulations

Assist in identifying the environmental requirements for new federal and state grant programs

Discern mitigation measures and best management practices for projects impacting various environmental features

Use online resources to create environmental maps

Provide support to project management team and application team as well as other departments

Verify discrepancies in essential documentation to make sure reports are consistent

Update and maintain files, records and databases

As needed, help train and share knowledge with GrantWorks' staff

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Experience with NEPA reviews, particularly Environmental Assessments, state and federal agency consultations, and floodplain/wetland compliance is preferred

Familiarity with 24 CFR part 58 environmental review procedures is preferred, but not required

Ability to coordinate and prioritize tasks with varying deadlines

Ability to transition from one to project to another without delay and manage a large portfolio of projects

Ability to perform work with a strong attention to detail and with minimal supervision

Ability to effectively work from home and manage time

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate via email, telephone, online messaging, and in online meetings with a variety of stakeholders and GrantWorks' personnel

Strong computer skills: Adobe, Microsoft Office (Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.), and web-based mapping software

Familiarity with Google Earth and other mapping programs is preferred

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Ability to learn complex procedures quickly

Ability to apply new or updated federal or state laws, procedures, and guidance to ongoing projects

Proficient research skills

Ability to troubleshoot provided equipment (Laptop, monitors, etc.)

A basic understanding of city planning, public water and wastewater system components and functions, grant and/or construction management is helpful but not required

Minimum Qualifications

BS Degree (Environmental Science or related field) is required. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in preparing NEPA environmental review records and knowledge of the CDBG and CDBG-DR programs.

GrantWorks offers an excellent benefits package, including company paid health and dental insurance, a company matched retirement plan, a generous paid time off plan and more.

This is not a remote position- this position is on-site in Sarasota County, Florida.

Please send your resume, and three professional references in response to this posting.

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GrantWorks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.