Senior Level Environmental Specialist Jobs
Senior level environmental specialist jobs place experienced professionals in charge of complex site assessments, regulatory strategy, and the project teams or programs that deliver results. Openings are concentrated across Consulting & Professional Services, Education, and Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote positions, and employers like Atlas Technical Consultants, Curia, and Howard University hiring at this level now.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 11+ Senior Level Environmental Specialist jobs











INTRODUCTION
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.
ESA is seeking a Senior Environmental Compliance Field Lead to lead environmental compliance programs throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona, with a primary emphasis on an energy transmission project in southwestern Nevada. This leader will oversee construction compliance, permitting, agency coordination, environmental monitoring, and strategic project delivery for major energy and infrastructure projects. The position will require oversight of a team of compliance inspectors in the field, with the majority of the time onsite at key project work areas. The Compliance Field Lead will interact with construction personnel and agency staff to document and report field activities and potential compliance issues and support the corrective actions. He/she will report directly to the Project Manager and be located in the Las Vegas, NV area with the ability to travel. This position may be based remotely or in a hybrid arrangement within California. Regular travel to project sites across California, Nevada, and Arizona is expected, including periodic field assignments in the Las Vegas area and southwestern Nevada.
WHO YOU ARE
- You are an experienced environmental compliance leader with at least 10 years of environmental compliance, permitting, regulatory oversight, and project management experience supporting major infrastructure, transmission, utility, transportation, water, or energy projects.
- Bachelor's degree in environmental science, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, Environmental Planning, Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field.
- 10+ years of environmental compliance and project management experience.
- Working knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and related regulations.
- Experience with BLM and other federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
- Experience overseeing construction-phase environmental compliance programs.
- Client management, proposal development, and business development experience.
- Ability to travel throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona and be deployed for 1 week to 2-week intervals.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Lead environmental compliance programs for complex infrastructure and energy projects.
- Serve as ESA’s senior compliance lead for a southwest Nevada transmission upgrade project.
- Responsibilities include oversight of environmental compliance during construction, assessment of contractor compliance performance, implementation of desert tortoise and other resource protection measures, and coordination with BLM personnel and project stakeholders.
- Coordinate with BLM Authorized Officers, developers, contractors, construction managers, and environmental teams.
- Monitor and evaluate compliance with permits, mitigation measures, environmental commitments, and right-of-way requirements.
- Oversee biological, cultural, stormwater, erosion control, air quality, noise, restoration, and related compliance programs.
- Manage compliance reporting, audits, corrective actions, and agency submittals.
- Lead client meetings, construction coordination meetings, and regulatory consultations.
- Mentor project managers, compliance specialists, and technical staff.
- Support other Environmental Compliance projects as needed.
- Support practice growth through business development, proposal preparation, scopes of work, and budget development.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $80,000—$105,000 USD
ESA has established multiple pay ranges tailored to the economic factors in the geographies in which ESA staff reside. For this position, the range is approximately as listed based on our anticipated hiring locations as noted in the above job details. Actual compensation is determined by several factors including but not limited to an individual’s related experience, education, skills, and the city in which the applicant lives.
WHO WE ARE
We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.
In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.
Please note: We do NOT accept unsolicited resumes from agencies.
If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.
Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:
- Full name
- The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
- Title of Job Position Applied
- Description of your accommodation request
ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)
See All 11 Senior Level Environmental Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Level Environmental Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Education
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
Senior Level Environmental Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level environmental specialist job?
Employers at this level look for demonstrated ownership of environmental programs, not just task completion. Candidates who stand out can lead agency negotiations, manage multi-site compliance frameworks, and mentor junior staff. A history of shepherding complex permitting processes or remediation projects from scoping through closure carries more weight than credential lists alone. Technical certifications in areas like NEPA, RCRA, or site remediation strengthen a senior-level profile considerably.
Which companies hire senior level environmental specialists?
Companies hiring senior level environmental specialists right now include Atlas Technical Consultants, Curia, and Howard University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level covers large engineering and environmental consulting firms, energy and utilities companies, and government contractors managing long-term remediation or infrastructure projects.
Are there remote senior level environmental specialist jobs?
Yes, though field and site responsibilities still anchor many roles to a physical location. About 78% of senior level environmental specialist openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, typically covering positions focused on regulatory reporting, program management, or technical review work that does not require routine site presence. Search current listings on Migrate Mate to filter by work setting.
What makes an environmental specialist role senior level?
Senior level roles are defined by ownership and scope rather than task execution. At this stage, professionals are expected to set technical direction on environmental programs, make regulatory judgment calls independently, lead cross-functional project teams, and develop junior staff. They interface directly with agency contacts and clients, carry accountability for compliance outcomes, and often contribute to proposal development or business strategy for their organization.
Which industries hire the most senior level environmental specialists?
Senior level environmental specialist roles concentrate in Consulting & Professional Services, Education, and Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because of their ongoing obligations around site remediation, environmental impact assessment, air and water permitting, and federal or state regulatory compliance requirements that demand experienced program leadership.