Senior Environmental Planner – MTO / Provincial Transportation

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Job Description:

Parsons has been a leader in the planning, design and delivery of transportation infrastructure for more than 75 years. We are seeking an experienced Environmental Planner with strong Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) experience to join our Infrastructure team in the Greater Toronto Region.

The successful candidate may be based in our Toronto, Markham, Oakville or London office, with flexibility for hybrid work. You will help deliver provincial highway projects while strengthening Parsons’ environmental planning capabilities and relationships with MTO and other transportation clients.

Position Overview

The Senior Environmental Planner will lead the environmental planning and assessment components of MTO highway assignments through planning and preliminary design and support the implementation of environmental commitments during detail design and construction.

The position will coordinate multidisciplinary environmental studies, consultation, environmental documentation, permits and approvals, and the integration of environmental requirements into project design and contract documentation.

The successful candidate will also contribute to proposals, client development, technical quality, and the mentoring of junior and intermediate planners.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental planning and assessment for MTO highway projects in accordance with the current Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024).

• Serve as Environmental Lead on planning, preliminary design and detail design assignments, coordinating environmental specialists, engineers, subconsultants and project managers.

• Establish environmental work plans, study requirements, schedules, budgets and deliverables appropriate to the applicable Class EA requirements, project classification and potential environmental effects.

• Apply the MTO Environmental Reference for Highway Design (ERD) and applicable MTO environmental guides, policies, directives, standards, forms and technical guidance.

• Prepare and review Transportation Environmental Study Reports, environmental assessment documentation, consultation records, environmental commitment records and design-phase environmental reports.

• Lead the identification and evaluation of environmental effects, avoidance opportunities, mitigation measures, monitoring requirements and environmental commitments.

• Coordinate public, stakeholder, agency and municipal consultation, including notices, Public Information Centres, presentations, comment-response tracking and issue resolution.

• Support MTO-led consultation with Indigenous communities and organizations, including consultation planning, documentation, comment tracking and the consideration of potential impacts on Aboriginal or treaty rights.

• Support issue resolution under the Class EA and assist MTO in responding to Section 16 Order requests, where applicable.

• Develop and coordinate environmental permitting and approvals strategies with technical specialists, project teams and regulatory agencies.

• Ensure environmental commitments and approval requirements are carried forward into detail design, drawings, specifications, contract documents and construction requirements.

• Provide technical review and quality assurance for environmental planning deliverables.

• Build and maintain productive working relationships with MTO, municipal clients, regulatory agencies and project partners.

• Lead or support proposal preparation, including methodologies, work plans, schedules, staffing plans, budgets and level-of-effort estimates.

• Mentor junior and intermediate environmental planners and support consistent environmental planning practices across the team.

• Monitor changes to environmental legislation, MTO processes, policies and industry practices that may affect project delivery.

Requirements

• University degree in environmental planning, urban or regional planning, environmental studies, geography, environmental science or a related discipline. A relevant graduate degree is an asset.

• Minimum of 10 years of environmental planning or environmental assessment experience, including substantial recent experience delivering MTO highway assignments in a consulting environment.

• Demonstrated experience acting as an Environmental Lead or senior environmental planner on MTO planning, preliminary design or detail design projects.

• Strong working knowledge of the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024), including project classification, consultation, evaluation, documentation, issues resolution and transition requirements.

• Familiarity with the previous MTO Class EA process and the transition of projects from the 2000 Class EA to the 2024 Class EA is an asset.

• Knowledge and practical application of the MTO ERD and associated environmental guides, policies, standards, procedures and technical requirements.

• Experience preparing or reviewing MTO Transportation Environmental Study Reports, consultation materials, environmental commitments and multidisciplinary environmental reports.

• Experience coordinating environmental specialists covering areas such as natural heritage, fisheries, archaeology, cultural heritage, noise, contaminated property, excess soil, groundwater, drainage and stormwater management.

• Experience supporting public, agency, stakeholder and Indigenous consultation for provincial transportation projects.

• Strong understanding of applicable provincial and federal environmental legislation and associated permitting and approval requirements.

• Demonstrated project-management experience, including managing scope, schedule, budget, risk, subconsultants and multidisciplinary teams.

• Strong technical writing, presentation, consultation and issue-resolution skills.

• Demonstrated ability to build client relationships and contribute to proposals and business development.

• Membership or eligibility for membership with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute or Canadian Institute of Planners is an asset. An RPP or MCIP designation is also considered an asset.

• Experience with the Transit and Rail Project Assessment Process under O. Reg. 231/08, federal impact assessment processes, and municipal environmental assessment processes—including the transition from the Municipal Class EA to the Municipal Project Assessment Process—is considered an asset.

• Valid Ontario Class G driver’s licence and ability to travel to project sites and client meetings when required.

This position is part of our Critical Infrastructure team.

For more than 80 years, our experts have designed and delivered the critical infrastructure that connects and protects communities around the world. We work in collaborative teams, both within the company and with our partners and customers, to plan, design, build, and modernize infrastructure. We take special pride in projects and solutions that improve communities as well as people’s quality of life by promoting economic growth, enhancing mobility, and increasing sustainability and resiliency. Powered by our people, we provide the imagination necessary to support our customers’ visions—and to help them see what's next!

Salary Range: $85,000 - $135,000

This job posting is for a current addition or replacement opportunity within Parsons.

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as health, vision, dental, employer paid provincial care premiums, Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP), Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), life insurance, paid time off, sick leave, all province observed holidays off, and gym membership discounts to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace. Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels for indigenous peoples, women, individuals with disabilities, and visible minorities.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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