About CDOT 

CDOT employees make a difference by providing freedom, connection, and experience to the traveling public, while also keeping them safe. The State of Colorado offers competitive medical, dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending and health savings accounts. Visit the State of Colorado benefits for details, current premium rates and a summary video about benefits. The state also offers PERA retirement, great optional PERA plans such as 401K, a generous paid time off package of annual, sick, holiday and other leave, strong career growth, tuition reimbursement and professional development. Perks include Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling, wellness, credit union membership and employee discount program. Visit CDOT Benefits for details. Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

CDOT for All

CDOT’s strength is our people, and our commitment to our people is to shape, support, and sustain the employee experience, and ultimately, create a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education, disability, socio-economic status, or any other identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

About the Position

This is a new Environmental Protection Specialist III position that will manage NEPA projects and act as a liaison to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), as well as to CDOT’s Division of Transit and Rail (DTR) and CDOT’s five operational regions to provide technical environmental and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) expertise for CDOT’s projects, with an initial focus on passenger rail corridor projects.

This position: 

• Requires a high level of understanding of NEPA, especially as it relates to rail, transit, and highway transportation projects.  
• Applies knowledge and expertise in the areas of NEPA and pre-NEPA planning, along with state and local environmental permitting documentation.  
• Handles and provides guidance on complex, high level NEPA clearances, especially as it relates to a newer focus on passenger rail projects, along with the FTA and FHWA projects. 
• Handles and provides guidance on USDOT, FRA, FTA, and FHWA environmental compliance requirements for complex corridor planning and large construction projects. 
• Determines statewide programmatic environmental policies and procedures related to environmental compliance and project delivery on passenger rail projects and for FTA corridor projects.
• Creates guidelines to implement programs and policies.
• Develops and provides training to staff regarding FRA, FTA, and FHWA NEPA requirements and their differences from each other.
• Supervises professional consultants and outside agency agreements that integrate environmental programs with CDOT's mission of accelerating the environmental planning/compliance and project delivery process. 
• Utilizes spatial technologies to inventory environmental resources, assessing impacts on a corridor, regional, or statewide level, and developing approaches for cumulative effects analysis at large temporal and spatial scales.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Work Environment:

• Your schedule will primarily be 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday, but we are flexible to meet your work/life balance needs while ensuring CDOT business needs are met.
• You will likely work a hybrid schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work.
• Approximately 10% spent in the field, 90% spent in the office.
• Travel required during work hours throughout Metro Denver/Front Range.
• Occasional overnight travel 1-3 times a year throughout Colorado for meetings and field visits.
• Required to operate CDOT vehicles.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience Only:

• At least eight (8) years of experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, natural resources management, or natural sciences, which included:
• At least four (4) years of professional experience with a primary focus on environmental project management, NEPA clearances, pre-NEPA planning processes, or environmental policy.
• At least two (2) years of this experience must have a primary focus on environmental project management for transportation projects.

OR

Education and Experience:

• A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least eight (8) years.
• Education from an accredited college or university with coursework in environmental science, environmental studies, environmental engineering, natural resources management, natural sciences, or another field of study related to the duties of this position will be considered.
• Experience with a primary focus on environmental project management, NEPA clearances, pre-NEPA planning processes, or environmental policy will be considered. This must include at least two (2) years of experience with a primary focus on environmental project management for transportation projects.

Preferred Qualifications

The exceptional applicant will be an experienced NEPA Project Manager and will possess the proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• Demonstrated success with the duties listed in the Description of the Job section;
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position;
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity;
• Comprehensive knowledge of and experience with NEPA;
• Extensive experience incorporating environmental concerns into the project development process, especially pertaining to transportation and rail projects;
• Experience and skill in environmental aspects of transportation and rail projects is preferred;
• Experience working with the FRA, FTA, and FHWA including any regulatory requirements;
• Experience providing guidance and training related to NEPA and other environmental topics;
• Experience leading high-performing teams, including managing consultants;
• Knowledge of and experience with transit or rail programs or projects;
• Experience interpreting FRA, FTA, and FHWA policies, regulations, and requirements;
• Knowledge of and experience with a broad range of environmental laws, rules, and regulations, such as the CDOT PEL Handbook, CDOT NEPA Manual, FRA/FTA/FHWA regulations, etc.;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and be adaptable to changing assignments;
• Ability to take initiative to solve problems in an innovative manner;
• Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders with sensitivity to their needs, priorities, promises made and commitments;
• Effective interpersonal and relationship-building skills;
• Strong time and project management skills, including prioritization and multi-tasking ability;
• Excellent reasoning, investigative, analytical, and problem-solving ability;
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, both written and oral;
• Strong attention to technical detail and accuracy;
• Passion for safety;
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Gmail and Google Applications, SAP, and the ability to quickly learn other software systems.