Environmental Compliance Scientist/ Senior Engineer

Location:

Tempe, AZ, US

Date: Jun 2, 2025

Requisition ID : 18852

Join us in building a better future for Arizona!

SRP is one of the largest public power and water utilities in the U.S. providing electricity to approximately one million customers in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area. Since its founding in 1903, SRP has fostered a culture of stewardship and customer service consistently ranking as an industry leader in customer service according to J.D. Power and named one of Arizona's best employers by Forbes. SRP continues to adapt to its changing business environment by seeking innovative ways to reimagine utility service and the provision of critical resources essential to the life and economy of Arizona.

Why Work at SRP

At SRP, we foster an inclusive work environment and believe everyone should have a fair chance to work, regardless of who they are. That’s why we value teams with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to help SRP deliver on its mission of providing reliable, affordable and sustainable water and power.

SRP's success is rooted in our employees' happiness, health, and safety. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and enhance their well-being. In addition to competitive pay and performance incentives, eligible employees can take advantage of the following benefits:

• Pension Plan (at no cost to the employee)

• 401(k) plan with employer matching

• Available your first day: Medical, vision, dental, and life insurance

• Over 200+ hours of PTO (includes vacation days, holidays, floating holidays, and sick leave)

• Parental leave (up to 4 weeks) and adoption assistance

• Wellness programs (including access to a recreation and fitness facility)

• Short and long-term disability plans

• Tuition assistance for both undergraduate and graduate programs

• 10 Employee Resource Groups for career development, community service, and networking

Summary

The successful candidate will provide natural resource planning, compliance and scientific services to support SRP's operation and maintenance and new construction of water and power systems and infrastructure. The candidate must have the ability to work effectively and lead multi-department teams in support of complex and/or highly technical environmental compliance and permitting activities with a focus on energy generation, transmission and distribution projects. The position will coordinate closely with SRP internal teams to conduct biological and cultural resource due diligence work for land acquisition, participate in project development, planning, and siting, and prepare or oversee contracting of compliance and mitigation supporting state and federal lease and rights-of-way applications for energy projects, which include applications on State of Arizona, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service lands, and other public lands. The position may direct contractors and coordinate with other SRP staff in preparation of permit applications and develop, coordinate, and implement SRP programs necessary to support compliance obligations. This position requires a working knowledge of multiple environmental and land-use laws and regulations, with an emphasis on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and an understanding of the Arizona power plant and transmission line siting and Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) process. Work will also include review, analysis, and the development of corporate strategies and responses to emerging state and federal environmental laws, regulations, guidance, and policies. The position may provide litigation support, including preparation and review of the technical content for legal filings, participation in development of legal strategies, and participation in negotiations with regulatory agencies and/or other entities to resolve litigation matters.

What You'll Do

1. Performs as a project leader for natural resource compliance, often coordinating with multi-departments and teams in support of SRP environmental compliance and permitting activities for new construction or operation and maintenance of water or power projects and acts as primary point of contact with regulatory agencies during permit and/or license acquisition actions.

2. Develop, execute and oversee agreements and contracts with consultants and agencies to prepare environmental planning documents, scientific studies and other technical reports.

3. Prepare and maintain environmental compliance project schedules and budgets, and work closely with water and power project managers to integrate compliance needs into overall project timelines and resource needs.

4. Prepare and conduct written and oral reports and presentations to SRP executive leadership, professional forums, stakeholders and the public.

5. Collaborates with governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, often in a leadership role, to advance SRP environmental goals and objectives.

6. Assists with corporate strategies to guide implementation of new environmental regulations, guidance and policies.

7. Provides litigation support, include preparation and review of the technical content for legal filings, participation in development of legal strategies, and participation in negotiations with regulatory agencies and/or other entities to resolve litigation matters.

What It Takes To Succeed

This position requires a high level of coordination, communication and project management skills, including:

• The ability to manage multiple projects at one time, resolve complex permitting challenges and maintain project timelines.

• An understanding of power utility infrastructure and operation and maintenance requirements including fossil and renewable generating facilities substation, transmission and distribution systems and associated right-of-way is beneficial to provide and manage compliance and permitting processes.

• Experience leading or assisting with NEPA approvals and cultural resource compliance requirements for major linear infrastructure projects.

• The ability to successfully develop and manage relationships within SRP, agencies, and stakeholders

• Strong analytical and writing skills to assess scientific and technical resource information, and ability to direct and prepare technical reports and environmental documents.

• The ability to summarize and clearly communicate complex scientific and regulatory information to SRP leadership, internal teams, and the public.

• Occasional travel for projects, training and regulatory program meetings will be required.

Preference: a minimum of five years experience, 10 years of energy or similar natural resource compliance and permitting is preferred; is fully competent in all aspects of functional area of assignment and as such would be recognized as a specialist in area of assignment and have periodic or occasional lead responsibilities.

Experience

A minimum of 5 years of related experience is required.

Education

A bachelor’s degree related to the assignment from an accredited institution is preferred.

Hybrid Workplace

SRP currently offers a hybrid workplace, which allows employees whose jobs can be performed remotely, and who have sufficient technical capability, to telework up to three days per week. Although teleworking is available, all employees must live and work in Arizona.

Drug/Alcohol Policy Statement

To promote the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve, SRP is committed to maintaining a drug/alcohol free work environment. Although marijuana may now be legal in Arizona, except as otherwise specified under Arizona law, SRP considers it to be an illegal drug for the purpose of our drug/alcohol policy because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Any candidate found to be impaired during the hiring process or who has the presence of an illegal drug or unauthorized substance in their system during the pre-employment drug/alcohol test may be disqualified from further consideration in the hiring process.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Salt River Project (SRP) is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state or local law.

Work Authorization

All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Currently, SRP does not sponsor H1B visas, OPT, or other employment-related visa's.

Nearest Major Market: Phoenix