Transmission Siting, Permitting & Environmental Planner I, II, III or Senior

Job Description

Responsible for the development, coordination and implementation of the activities associated with the siting, land use permitting and environmental compliance of construction, operation and maintenance related transmission projects, including transmission lines, substations and telecommunication facilities. Duties include coordinating the routing / site selection process for new facilities, local and federal land use permitting, re-authorization of permits for existing facilities, and the environmental compliance and related permits. Duties may also include providing environmental permitting support for the facilities, corporate environmental, telecommunication and generation departments.

Note : There is one position available, and the position will be filled at one of four job grade levels : Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner I, job grade 7; Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner II, job grade 8, Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner III, job grade 9; or Senior Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner, job grade 10. This decision will be based on the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected, and Tri-State business needs at the time of hire.

Tri-State recognizes the value of a highly-engaged and committed workforce and provides an excellent benefits program that includes : Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Work Schedules including compressed work week and telecommuting opportunities to work remotely up to 50%, Life Insurance, 401K, Long Term Disability (LTD), Short Term Disability (STD), Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and Paid Leave Benefits.

Senior Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner

Hiring Salary Range : $106,000-135,000

Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner III

Hiring Salary Range : $96,000-$121,000

Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner II

Hiring Salary Range : $86,000-$107,000

Transmission Siting, Permitting and Environmental Planner I

Hiring Salary Range : $77,000-$96,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring salary range based upon work experience, education, and / or skill level.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement schedules, budgets, and work plans for the environmental and permitting aspects of capital construction and maintenance project.
• Coordinate the routing / site selection process including documenting the related steps that make up the alternative routing / site methodology.
• Coordinate the local and federal land use permitting for electrical infrastructure including coordinating with local governments and federal agencies, preparing applications, presenting findings, and providing testimony.
• Coordinate the environmental compliance and related permits, concurrences and approvals including planning, development and finalization of environmental reports and studies.
• Develop, coordinate and implement public involvement and inter-agency scoping meetings.
• Develop and implement environmental compliance monitoring programs to ensure projects are implemented in accordance with environmental regulations, permit stipulations and agency conditions.
• Develop and implement plans that detail how proposed transmission capital construction projects will be constructed, operated and maintained. Includes, but is not limited to, Plans of Development, Construction, Operation, Maintenance Plans, and other related plans.
• Provide land use permitting and environmental support to Transmission Maintenance activities.
• Provide awareness training for employees and contractors regarding environmental compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal, state, and local regulatory and permitting requirements.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with land management and regulatory agency representatives including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S Army Corps of Engineers : U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management : Bureau of Reclamation; state wildlife, historic, and environmental offices, and County environmental and land use staff.
• Assist in training other Transmission Siting and Environmental Planners.
• Represent Tri-State on technical committees on siting, land use permitting and environmental issues as assigned.
• Present findings and report conclusions of siting, permitting and environmental matters to the public.
• Prepare Requests for Proposals (RFP) and evaluate proposals for environmental studies and services from outside consultants; prepare technical provisions and evaluate bidders.
• Prepare environmental sections of construction contracts to include relevant Tri-State Environmental Protection Measures and applicable permit conditions or stipulations.
• Monitor, coordinate, and evaluate contractor performance and budgets for siting, permitting and environmental services and studies.
• Assist and / or prepare letters / reports / papers to address Tri-State's concerns on proposed legislation, regulations, and management plans as they relate to the construction, operation, and maintenance of existing and future facilities.
• Prepare reports and special projects, as required.
• Adhere to and demonstrate compliance with appropriate electric utility industry regulatory requirements. Attain knowledge and remain knowledgeable of development in regulations, laws, standards and best practices applicable to the functional area including, but not limited to, Standards of Conduct, Environmental, Employment Law, NERC Reliability Standards and Safety. Must be familiar with, and comply with, all aspects of Corporate Policy C-54, Compliance.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with Tri-State's culture embodied in the Cooperative principles and spirit and core values of technical competency, respect and dignity, accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, and servant leadership to empower or otherwise enable others to optimally perform their job responsibilities. Demonstrate and promote ethics and behaviors consistent with Tri-State's culture, Board policies, and business practices. Understand and fulfill the role and responsibility for all compliance programs within the company.
• Because Tri-State is an electric utility with continuous service obligations to its customers, regular, reliable, and predictable performance of the essential functions and responsibilities is an essential function of the job.
• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

Qualifications

Education and Training

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability :

Experience

Other :

DESIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS

About Us

Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with 44 members, including 41 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states : Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Together with its members, Tri-State delivers reliable, affordable and responsible power and energy services to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West.

Tri-State was founded in 1952 by its member systems to provide a reliable, cost-based supply of electricity. Headquartered in Westminster, Colo., approximately 1,200 people are employed by Tri-State across five states.

Tri-State's electricity is generated from coal, natural gas and hydropower, with a rapidly increasing supply generated from wind and solar. Tri-State delivers power to its members through a transmission system that includes substation facilities, telecommunications sites and over 5,700 miles of high voltage transmission lines. Tri-State's transformative Responsible Energy Plan is reducing emissions, increasing renewable resources, developing new energy services and delivering more flexibility for its members.