Director of Environmental Permitting & Sustainable Development - BNSF Railway : Job Details

The BNSF Railway Environmental & Sustainability Department leads our company's environmental efforts. This team oversees environmental and hazardous materials compliance, liability management, and spill/emergency response. Additionally, they are dedicated to stewardship of sustainable solutions and related initiatives, ensuring that BNSF remains a responsible corporate citizen.

Position Overview:

BNSF is searching for a Director of Environmental Permitting and Sustainable Development to serve as:

• Group Leader, of BNSF's Permitting and Sustainable Development Team and partners to proactively guide construction and expansion permitting projects across our 32,500-mile railroad network and assure compliance with environmental conditions placed on permits by regulatory agencies.
• Champion, to continuously improve and incorporate Sustainable Development principles and practices into BNSF's land development and management efforts, leveraging the sustainability advantages of rail to support growth.
• Subject Matter Expert, for BNSF's Permitting and Sustainable Development Program, collaborating with BNSF's permitting team managers; internal Engineering, Operations, and Economic Development partners; and external consultants and contractors.
• Innovative Creator, of Permitting and Sustainable Development principles and best practices that include our Sustainable Development Playbook to avoid/minimize overall environmental impact, reduce permitting timelines, and Total Cost of Ownership.
• Strategic Advisor, incorporating sustainable business solutions into short- and long-range business, capital, and operations planning.
• Proactive Collaborator, with federal, state and local environmental agencies, community and tribal representatives, and other external stakeholders, in support of ongoing projects as well as leading permitting regulatory reform efforts with our Government Affairs Team.

Key Accountabilities:

The Director of Environmental Permitting and Sustainable Development will lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and measurement of BNSF's Permitting and Sustainable Development program, that includes:

• Overseeing the Environmental Permitting and Sustainable Development Team and function, including providing strategic permitting advice for projects on BNSF's annual capital plan and Long-Range-Plan (LRP).
• Managing or serving as a subject matter expert on cross-department sustainable transportation projects that include sustainable development planning; rail yard technologies; efficient use of land, ecosystem, and water resources; and leveraging the sustainability advantages of rail to support growth.
• Assuring compliance with environmental conditions placed on permits by regulatory agencies and ensuring timely closeout of permits, minimizing cost and resources by unnecessarily keeping permits open.
• Providing interface between the Environmental Permitting and Sustainable Development function, and key BNSF operations teams to influence the business to drive for sustainable development and operations in communities where we operate.
• Serving as the internal BNSF leader and “go to” expert for Environmental Permitting and Sustainable Development, monitoring emerging regulations, trends, programs, and issues.
• Providing support to BNSF's Engineering Services and Structures Teams during project construction to ensure compliance with permit conditions and providing support should permits require modification during construction.
• Supporting development of training materials and participating in outreach activities to diverse internal and external audiences concerning BNSF's permitting program and related sustainable practices.
• Managing key relationships with environmental agencies, external community representatives, and other stakeholders.
• Creating, managing, and continually improving BNSF's environmental permit tracking and scheduling program to ensure that: (1) BNSF knows how many permits are currently open or have been applied for at any time; (2) Permits do not expire accidentally; (3) Permit conditions are complied with, limiting possible legal liability, and (4) Permit delays are proactively identified and resolved.
• Supporting the development and content of BNSF's Annual Report, biennial Corporate Social Responsibility Report, and triennial Materiality Assessment.

The duties and responsibilities in this posting are representative categories to be used in deciding whether to apply for this position. This is not an exhaustive list of the position's duties.

At BNSF Railway, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, showcasing their skills, experiences and development. We provide resources and tools to help you reach your full potential, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science, a Science Discipline, Engineering, or Bachelor of Public Administration (with environmental focus); or a Bachelor's Degree in Business or other closely related field.
• Ten (10) years of experience working with the concepts of environmental permitting.
• Five (5) years of experience with sustainability or sustainable development; experience can include climate change initiatives, energy efficiency, environmental management systems, sustainable land use/development, or similar.
• Five (5) years of team leadership experience (i.e., having direct reports) with an environmental focus.
• Five (5) years of experience supporting the railroad or other transportation industries, preferred.
• Possess an established network with other Permitting and Sustainability subject matter experts and professional organizations/contacts to support best practice sharing and continual improvement.
• Extensive and demonstrated knowledge of environmental permitting regulations, inclusive of but not limited to:

• • The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Section 401, 404, and 408 permitting programs and related permits.
  • Other clearances and permits and the laws requiring them (e.g., Endangered Species Act, Flood Control Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act).
  • Railroad engineering/construction standards, a plus.
  • Railroad operations and capacity planning, a plus.

• Creative thinker with strong interest in executing new strategies to drive increasing value to our customers, partners, suppliers, shareholders, and employees.
• Familiarity with sustainable development standards such as ENVISION, LEED, etc.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to quickly build partnerships and forge trust with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to mine and build out permitting and sustainability metrics and synthesize data.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills (e.g., MS Office, GIS, Salesforce, Enablon/EMIS, etc.).