• Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood) is seeking a Permitting Lead for our Minneapolis office to assist clients in obtaining regulatory approvals for wind, solar, transmission and energy storage projects.
• The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in leading site and route permitting projects in the Midwest.
• Applicants should possess expertise with permitting processes such as Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), Minnesota Public Utility Commission (MPUC) Site and Route Permitting, North Dakota Public Services Commission (PSC) Certificate of Site or Route Compatibility, Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Certificate, and the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (CECPN).
• The candidate will have considerable experience in renewable energy project development and permitting utility-scale wind, solar, and/or energy storage facilities, as well as high-voltage transmission lines. Experience with data center and collocated project permitting and approvals is a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of environmental reviews (federal NEPA and equivalent state programs), state site and route permit processes and applications, associated federal, state and local regulatory programs and permits, directing and managing environmental and cultural resources desktop and field investigations, and construction-related federal, state, and local approvals is essential, as well as having familiarity with specific application filing requirements, rules, and guidance for various Midwest states. Additionally, the candidate should have experience attending public hearings and meetings on behalf of clients and providing testimony.
• The successful candidate will be highly organized, possess effective communication skills, and demonstrate superior project management, writing, research, time management, project scheduling, quality assurance and related project skills. Responsibilities include managing projects, leading teams, drafting and reviewing permit applications, attending client meetings, interacting with design professionals, directing subject matter experts and administrative staff, mentoring junior staff, and developing work scopes and budget proposals for expanding business opportunities with new and existing clients.

• Computer-Aided Design and Drafting: Create and draft all engineering products and deliverables using CAD software, specifically for substation projects.
• Collaboration: Work closely with engineers and other drafters to identify and correct discrepancies in drawings and designs related to substations.
• Drafting Tasks: Produce various types of drawings specific to substations, including:
  
  • General Arrangements of substation layouts
  • Plan Views and Elevation Views of substation structures
  • Grounding Plans and Details for substation grounding systems
  • Foundation Plans and Details for substation equipment
  • Cable Trough/Conduit Plans and Details for cable management
  • Foundation Layout Plans for substation components
  • Import tables and calculations (e.g., BOMs) and create notes for each drawing.
  • Steel Structure Fabrication Drawings (preferred) for substation structures
  • Concrete Foundation Detail Drawings (preferred) for substation equipment
  • Oil Containment Detail Drawings (preferred) for transformers and other equipment
  • Metal Grate Platforms Detail Drawings (preferred) for access and safety
  • Fire Wall Detail Drawings (preferred) for fire protection in substations
• Self-Checking: Review and verify all work for accuracy before submission to the supervisor or designated reviewer.
• Project Management: Understand and meet project schedules and quality requirements specific to substation projects.
• Efficiency: Complete drawings accurately and efficiently, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
• Detail Orientation: Maintain a high level of detail and quality in all work related to substation design.
• Multi-Project Handling: Manage multiple substation projects simultaneously and adapt to changes in work assignments as needed.
• Project Delivery Support: Assist in the overall delivery of substation projects, including communication via phone or email, attending meetings, and preparing necessary project documents.
• Provide interdepartmental support when required.
• Project Execution: Ability to coordinate designer efforts to develop required deliverables while working on multiple projects concurrently.
• Ability to coordinate designer efforts to develop required deliverables while working on multiple projects concurrently.
• Ability to coordinate efforts with other various external and internal project team members
• Familiarity in identifying when coordination is needed with certain design disciplines such as transmission line engineers, distribution line engineers, civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, and surveyors.
• Act as the QA/QC lead for drafting reviews
• Support assigned PM in project management activities, including but not limited to proposal development, resource allocation, and schedule adherence.
• Coaching Others: Leverage experience by mentoring and training members of the team.
• Lead by example and be accountable for own actions.
• Support Consistency: Follow department processes and procedures.
• Continue strong customer focus attitude that Westwood is known for.
• Support Business: Serve as a specialist for Physical design and provide consultation and guidance to colleagues and other project teams.
• Provide clear and honest feedback to project team, external stakeholders, and clients.
• Help develop approaches to accommodate client unique requests.
• Work to advise Management about how to maximize return on investment for the team.

• Manages project tasks, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Manages project budget and analyzes project profitability, revenue, margins, billing rates, and utilization.
• Conduct team meetings with project team to evaluate and coordinate the project.
• Stay current on service-specific trends, technology, software, hardware, and equipment.
• Drive value based on innovation.
• Work with the Survey Service Leader to establish, implement, monitor, and maintain procedures and quality standards for the survey group.
• Ensure that survey work products have a consistent appearance across the local land survey team and are delivered efficiently.
• Work with Survey Service Leader and Market Leaders on staffing, utilization and workload as it relates to survey.
• Work with the division Survey Leaders, and Market Leaders to grow Westwood’s local and national land survey presence with a focus on developing strategic pursuits of large survey projects.
• Support office and market-based business development by providing technical expertise and generating revenue.
• Build, maintain and grow a strong culture for survey that aligns with the division’s goals, objectives and strategies, and Westwood’s core values.
• Ensures division, regional, and company, values, policies and practices are consistently followed within the survey service.
• Lead by example – display solid judgment, good values, trust, honesty, openness, and professionalism.

• Construction document production support for commercial and utility scale wind projects.
• Coordinate with design team disciplines including civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, and surveyors.
• Utilize AutoCAD to create construction documents and perform quantity takeoffs. Construction documents will include site layouts, wire/cable routing plans, one lines, details, equipment/wire schedules, etc.
• Create wiring/cable schedules based takeoffs and sizing input from senior designers/engineers.
• Maintain awareness and knowledge of Westwood design/CAD standards.

• Participate in geotechnical site investigations, assignment and assessment of geotechnical laboratory tests, preparation of investigation reports, and application of site data to analyses and design.
• Interpret and analyze geotechnical data to establish type, classification and engineering characteristics of materials. Complete or assist with geotechnical engineering analyses including, but not limited to, seepage, slope stability, bearing capacity, rotational stiffness, liquefaction, and settlement analyses.
• Keep management advised of work status, workload, problems and progress as related to work assignments.
• Participate in preparation of proposals, bid documents and capital cost estimates, construction drawings and design reports.

Take technical ownership of all aspects of design for high voltage (4kV – 230kV) and EHV (above 230kV) substation projects 

• Development of General Arrangements, Plan Views and Elevation Views, Grounding Plans, Cable Trough/Conduit Plans, Specifications for Major Primary Equipment (transformers, breakers, switches, etc.), Documentation for Design Calculations, Bill of Materials
• Construction Documentation (Sequence and RFP) for studies, grounding, lighting, AC, and DC calculations for Station Service and Battery System Sizing
• Bus Fault Stress Analysis
• Technical Support for procurement and construction
• Ability to work seamlessly with Physical Designer to develop the above listed drawings.
• Ability to coordinate efforts with other various external and internal project team members, with familiarity in identifying when coordination is needed with certain design disciplines such as transmission line engineers, distribution line engineers, civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, and surveyors.
• Keenly focused on the production of high-quality work and supports continuous improvement efforts.
• Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects.
• Responsible for assisting with the identification of key client interests and drivers and may determine the key clients in some instances.
• Communicates client interests and drivers to project team members and develops approaches to accommodate these concerns in the performance of the work.
• Serves as a technical specialist for system protection and communication and has knowledge and skillset to provide consultation and guidance to project teams.
• Remove any impediments that are obstructing the engineering team from achieving its goals.
• Works to advise Management about how to maximize ROI for the team.
• Attending all client technical review meetings.

• Develop and manage a pipeline of environmental work with developers and owners of renewable energy and/or transmission projects over $1M of annual revenue.
• Manage projects, clients, and internal staff in preparing site and route permit applications for renewable energy and transmission projects throughout the U.S.
• Work with internal market and service leaders, senior Westwood staff, project managers, and subject matter experts to pursue job opportunities and successfully execute renewable energy and/or transmission permitting projects.
• Facilitate marketing efforts and proposal preparation for permitting, environmental and other services.
• Maintain contacts within the renewable energy and electric transmission industries to monitor development trends, regulator initiatives and market forces.

• Manage environmental services and deliverables for renewable energy projects.
• Act as a primary technical contact for clients in your area of expertise.
• Work with other subject matter experts in Wildlife, Wetlands and Waters, Cultural, Analytics, and ESAs to ensure the best project outcomes.
• Independently perform environmental tasks on a variety of projects.
• Stay informed about new methods and developments to recommend new practices or system changes.
• Evaluate ethical dilemmas to determine appropriate courses of action.

Work as a key member of a water/wastewater team under the direction of a Project Engineer/Project Manager.

Job duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Research and evaluation of data
• Conduct field reviews and other assessments
• Prepare detailed engineering calculations
• Assist with the creation and submission of technical reports, presentations and exhibits.
• Prepare hydraulic modeling and technical reports for agency review.
• Prepare detailed construction drawings, including horizontal and vertical alignments; plan and profile; utility design and rehabilitation.
• Prepare construction cost estimates/quantity takeoffs
• Coordinate with internal team members, government entities, utility service providers and subconsultants
• Manage task assignments for budget and schedule adherence
• Perform reviews of all work product for accuracy
• Ensures division, regional, and company values, policies and practices are consistently followed within the survey service.
• Lead by example – display solid judgment, good values, trust, honesty, openness, and professionalism.

• Geotechnical and construction materials testing of soil, aggregates, concrete, and asphalt mixes on renewable energy, commercial, municipal, and WisDOT projects
• Perform asphalt mix laboratory testing (including grain size analysis of extracted asphalt, extraction of asphaltic paving mixtures, bulk specific gravity, and theoretical max specific gravity).
• Perform soil and asphalt compaction/density testing on multiple projects for conformance to project specifications.
• Test concrete during placement at project sites for conformance to project specifications.
• Obtain asphalt mix, soil, and aggregate samples from the field and deliver them to the laboratory for testing.
• Prepare and submit written daily field reports summarizing daily activities/observations, test calculations, and results.
• Communicate with laboratory office and on-site personnel about the schedule, testing requirements, and results.
• Calibrate, repair, and perform routine maintenance on field and laboratory equipment and laboratory workspace.
• Organize and process test samples in the lab.
• Perform laboratory tests and report laboratory test data.
• This position is subject to a background check with driving record check and random drug testing in order to drive a company vehicle when needed for field work.  
• Expected work hours during the summer are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday; however, occasional early and later days may be requested based on workload.