Prepare design documents for civil systems associated with utility-scale renewable projects.
Review plans and specifications for constructibility and risk management.
Coordinate technical activities and designs with personnel in other disciplines and departments within the local office.
Serve as a liaison between other engineers and design team.
Assist the Project Manager or Lead in preparing the conceptual, preliminary and final design and attend meetings and participate in phone calls with client to coordinate various design activities.
Assist with other duties assigned by Project Managers.
Spatial Analysis & Cartography: Create, manage, analyze, and display spatial data using GIS software.
Data Interpretation & Management: Independently interpret data while maintaining comprehensive documentation. Manage and update existing GIS datasets, ensuring their relevance and accuracy.
Project Support: Contribute to the design and improvement of GIS methodologies for project efficiency. Anticipate the informational needs of the project team, delivering tailored data and graphics solutions.
Technical Solutions: Craft detailed and technically proficient solutions, presenting spatial data clearly and accurately across various media.
Collaborative Projects: Engage in diverse energy and land development projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams to provide GIS support and insights.
GIS Application Development: Innovate in desktop and mobile GIS applications, adhering to stringent quality assurance and control standards.
You will be expected to:
Challenge current processes to develop new and more efficient processes
Create tools and scripts to streamline frequently performed tasks.
Work with end users, create mapping products, and perform complex GIS analyses using the ArcGIS Platform
Produce technically skilled and detailed solutions by preparing clear, complete, and accurate representations of spatial data using hardcopy and/or electronic media.
Develop and maintain geospatial data on desktop and mobile applications. Ensure data meets appropriate data accuracy and content standards for quality assurance and quality control.
You will work on energy projects, such as wind, solar, and transmission projects, land development and public infrastructure projects.
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.
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.
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.
