SeniorNEPA Specialist/Project Manager

Mahalo for your interest in this role! Please see the full position description below and click Start Your Application when ready. For more information about DAWSON, please visit dawsonohana.com.

Summary:

DAWSON is a Native Hawaiian Organization 8(a) small business that brings the Spirit of Aloha to our employees. As part of the DAWSON "Ohana," you will be provided a best-in-class benefits program that strives to ensure our great people have peace of mind when it comes to health and wellness. For more information about DAWSON and our benefits programs, please visit www.dawsonohana.com.

We are seeking a Senior NEPA Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join our growing environmental and conservation planning team. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance and related environmental planning work - preferably within Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) programs.

This position is designed for an experienced NEPA professional who wants to take on a leading technical role while having the option to expand into project management responsibilities as part of career development. You will work on complex environmental analyses and documentation while collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams to support federal projects across the U.S.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and provide expert guidance on NEPA compliance, including preparation and review of Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), and Categorical Exclusions (CATEXs).
• Serve as a senior technical advisor for NEPA strategy, regulatory coordination, and document quality.
• Provide expert support for environmental impact analyses under related laws (ESA, CWA, NHPA, CAA).
• Coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies, including DHS/CBP, to ensure regulatory consistency.
• Contribute to the preparation of public involvement materials, responses to comments, and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborate with Program Managers on task delivery, quality assurance, and technical oversight.
• Optionally expand into project management by supporting or leading project planning, budgeting, and scheduling activities.
• Support internal training and mentorship of junior staff.
• Business development experience (proposal writing, client interface, or capture support) is welcomed but not required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Bachelor's degree (minimum) in Environmental Science, Biology, Planning, Geology, or a related discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• Experience:
  
  
  
  • 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in NEPA compliance and environmental planning.
  • Prior work supporting federal NEPA projects, ideally with DHS, CBP, or similar federal agencies.
  • Demonstrated expertise leading or advising on large, complex NEPA efforts (EIS/EAs).
  
  
  
  
• Strong technical writing and document management skills.
• Working knowledge of major environmental regulations (NEPA, ESA, NHPA, CWA, CAA).
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to pass a government background check.

Desired Requirements:

• Familiarity with DHS/CBP NEPA program requirements, project siting, and operational contexts.
• Experience mentoring or supervising junior NEPA professionals.
• Knowledge of geospatial and data visualization tools for environmental analysis.
• Professional certifications (e.g., PMP, CEP, AICP) are a plus.

Travel Requirements:

• Periodic business travel is required and is expected about 10-25% of the year.
• Overnight travel is required.
• Travel is anticipated to consist of field work at project sites, client visits, and work at partner offices across the United States.
• The position may involve outdoor fieldwork at sites across the United States. Fieldwork may require candidate to walk over uneven terrain up to 8 hours a day and carry heavy equipment. Candidates are subject to "fit for duty" baseline physical and subject to medical monitoring protocols.