Independent Contractor Environmental Studies Jobs in Riverside, CA

Stantec's Southern California team is currently seeking a Deputy Project Manager with Planning experience to join our Environmental Services Practice working within our power utility sector. The successful candidate will work in a team environment and will be responsible general project management support (scheduling, cost control, risk management, change management, document control), managing tasks and/or projects, leading the development of technical documents, and coordinating and/or leading environmental permitting for our utility clients. They will also be responsible for assisting and/or leading with proposals.
Your Key Responsibilities
As a Deputy Project Manager and Environmental Planner, you will provide land use planning knowledge to support environmental review needs for public and private projects on utility programs. You will manage and lead multi-disciplinary project/program teams. Task duties may include managing environmental permitting efforts, land use planning, managing technical study support for electrical transmission and distribution projects, environmental impact analysis support, and CEQA/NEPA support, land use planning, and coordination/management for environmental projects.

• Management support of multi-discipline program or project schedules, deliverables, budgets, staff, and bring program/project schedules, budgets, and scopes of work to successful completion.
• Develop effective and efficient work-flow processes and program/project appropriate communication plans.
• Pro-actively identifying client needs and programmatic/project initiatives required to address potential program/project delivery risks and challenges.
• Provide planning and permitting support for electrical transmission and distribution projects.
• Overseeing the work of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure delivery of technical documents and deliverables, such as technical studies (biological, cultural, paleontological, waters/wetlands), regulatory compliance (National Historic Preservation, Clean Waters Act, federal and state Endangered Species Act), CEQA/NEPA, etc.
• Interacting and communicating effectively with multi-disciplinary teams, clients, and agencies.
• Help develop and mentor a team of high performers through coaching and training staff to expand understanding of business development, delivery on technical reports (e.g., biological, cultural, paleontological and waters resources), environmental permitting, and project delivery/management.
• Assist developing proposals (scope and budgets) for environmental services tasks, independently or as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• Familiarity with utility-related environmental review process and permitting assessment process, and a general understanding of local municipal planning within the Southern California region are preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of past project management experience with a preference for experience in the natural resources planning and permitting within California.
• Experience leading consulting teams of 15+ staff and fostering an inclusive and productive team culture.
• Ability to prioritize and balance workloads to achieve goals while keeping up with a highly mobile and changing environment.
• Effectiveness in resource planning and results delivery, and ability to identify opportunities and build relationships with clients.
• Ability to proactively identify issues and provide solutions at a project level across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to validate and accurately analyze information and make sound decisions within a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage risks and safety appropriately, manage information, and provide exceptional service to internal and external clients.
• Must have a valid drivers license and a clean MVR.

Education and Experience

• Basic: BA/BS degree in Environmental Science, Urban, Regional or Environmental Land Use Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, or a related field Bachelor of Science Degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of three years of experience managing projects or programs.
• Minimum of 5 years of environmental planning experience.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
This position will be in a typical office environment or a flexible (partial home, partial office) work environment working with computers and working at a stationary desk for long periods of time. Our Environmental Services team generally works remotely and meets frequently; however, an office desk is available if preferred. Because of this, the successful candidate will be expected to reside within a reasonable commuting distance to one of our Northern California offices.
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Pay Range:
• Locations in CO, HI, IL, MD & Various CA, NJ, VA Areas-$94,300.00 - $136,700.00 Annually
• Locations in WA, DC & Various CA, MA, VA Areas-$101,100.00 - $146,700.00 Annually
Pay Transparency: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.
Benefits Summary: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.
The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements
Primary Location: United States | CA | Los Angeles
Other Locations: United States | CA | San Bernardino
Organization: BC-1858 EnvSvcs-US West S California
Employee Status: Regular
Business Justification: New Position
Travel: Yes
Schedule: Full time
Job Posting: 10/07/2026 06:07:14
Req ID: 1006646
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Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.