Entitlement Permitting Specialist

ABOUT THE POSITION

Entitlement Permitting Specialist| Boston, MA

The entitlement permitting process involves securing approvals for a variety of development projects based on their intended use, design, impacts, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Entitlements are issued by government agencies and include a public review process. VHB's Urban Permitting Team (UPT) works with private sector, institutional and public sector clients to coordinate and perform required analyses of the potential impacts of real estate, transportation, energy and aviation projects. We then organize and present this information to government agencies and liaise between our clients and those agencies to refine project design, demonstrate regulatory compliance, and ultimately gain the approval necessary to move the project forward to final design and technical permitting. This is a vital step in the development process and provides the UPT with the chance to positively influence projects and ultimately increase the livability of our communities.

This position provides opportunities for a broader understanding of all aspects of real estate development as well as specialization in topics of professional interest, such as sustainability, energy, climate resiliency, policy and regulations, housing, multi-modal transportation, campus planning, and more, . Working as part of the UPT provides a career development path, opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing, and support for professional interests and growth.

You'll have the opportunity to form relationships with:

Regulators who review development proposals in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and other municipalities throughout the Commonwealth
• Real Estate Developers
• Public Sector Agencies
• Institutions (Higher Education, Healthcare, Civic & Cultural)
• Professional Architects
• Professional Engineers
• Urban Planners
• Real Estate, Land Use, and Environmental Attorneys
• Environmental & Climate Advocacy Groups
• Professional Real Estate Organizations

Responsibilities

The candidate will work with and eventually lead multi-disciplinary project teams to assess potential project impacts related to urban design, transportation, wetlands/waterways, sustainability, climate change, wind and shadows, air quality, infrastructure, and historic resources, among other impacts. Problem solving, collaboration, and team leadership skills will be applied on a daily basis to complete a variety of tasks, including providing guidance on entitlement permitting strategies, developing work plans, drafting project narratives, coordinating project team member activities, and liaising with government agencies.

The successful hire will manage projects requiring compliance with various environmental/development impact review-related processes and regulations, including:

• The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)
• City of Boston Article 80 Review
• City of Cambridge Article 19 Review
• Somerville Special Permit Process
• Massachusetts Chapter 91 Public Waterfront Act
• Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• Other local, state, and federal approvals.

Skills & Abilities

The best candidates will thrive in a team environment and excel at managing high-profile complex projects with challenging timelines. Critical skills and abilities include:

• Ability to be self-motivated and to motivate others
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Interdisciplinary external and internal project team coordination
• Superior ability in collaborative problem solving with stakeholders, clients, and teammates
• Evaluation of project compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Communication about development projects and their impacts through reports (narrative text and graphics) and presentations
• Experience with presentations before regulatory and reviewing agencies, and/or community boards
• Business development, including proposal writing
• Project management skills, including project timeline and budget management/invoicing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration/Management, Real Estate Studies, Environmental Science or related field
• Masters degree a plus
• 5-8 years of related professional planning/permitting experience
• Experience with public presentations and community meetings
• Experience in business development/proposal writing and preparing contracts a plus
• MEPA and/or Article 80 review experience a plus
• Experience with Chapter 91, wetlands permitting, climate change resiliency policy and compliance, and sustainable/green building design a plus
• Relationship with regulators a plus

We are VHB! We're an inspired and innovative team of engineers, scientists, planners, and designers who partner with clients in the transportation, real estate, institutional, and energy industries, as well as federal, state, and local governments. Our work helps improve mobility, enhance communities, and contribute to economic vitality. We do this while balancing development and infrastructure needs with stewardship of our environment.

Our people make us great! VHB provides a differentiating employee experience, which includes:

• Diverse and inclusive culture of collaboration and innovation
• Opportunity to work on complex, transformational projects
• Community and social responsibility as sustainable stewards
• Focus on learning, development, and career growth
• Best-in-class benefits, including flexible, hybrid workplace

We are consistently rated one of the top AEC firms to work for across our 30+ offices on the East Coast. We're growing, and we hope you'll join us!

VHB is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Since our founding, we have intentionally fostered a culture of inclusion and belonging, supported by deep-rooted core values, one of which is diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

#LI-DB2

#LI-Hybrid