Overview

ABOUT THE POSITION

Development Permitting Specialist - Environmental Planning Team | Boston/Watertown, MA (Hybrid)

VHB's Environmental Planning Team contracts with private, institutional, and public sector developer clients to navigate the entitlement permitting process for real estate, transportation, energy, and aviation projects. We coordinate and conduct environmental impact analyses, prepare regulatory submissions, and shepherd projects through the public review process - working directly with regulators to refine project design to address environmental and community impacts, demonstrate compliance, and secure the approvals needed to advance to final design and technical permitting.

The entitlement process is a pivotal stage of a development project: it is where projects are shaped, scrutinized, and ultimately validated against the laws and community expectations that govern how land gets used and how places get built. Our team members sit at that intersection - translating complex regulatory requirements for clients, advocating for projects before regulators, and finding the path forward when the two do not immediately align.

The projects we work on become buildings, transit systems, and infrastructure that define how communities grow and function - and we have a meaningful opportunity to influence that outcome for the better. It also provides an opportunity to work closely with an interdisciplinary project team of design professionals, including urban designers, building architects, landscape architects, civil engineers, transportation planners, sustainable design consultants, climate change resiliency planners, and energy modelers.

Responsibilities

This position offers both breadth and depth - a window into all aspects of land development alongside the opportunity to specialize in areas that match your professional interests, whether that's sustainability, energy, climate resiliency, housing, multi-modal transportation, campus planning, policy and regulations, or something else entirely. Our team invests in its people: expect a clear path for career development, active knowledge sharing, and genuine support for where you want to take your career.

You will also build a professional network that few roles in this field can match. This work puts you in regular contact with:

• Regulators across Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and municipalities throughout the Commonwealth
• Real estate developers, public agencies, and institutions - including higher education, healthcare, and civic and cultural organizations
• Architects, engineers, and urban planners
• Real estate, land use, and environmental attorneys
• Environmental and climate change advocacy groups
• Professional real estate organizations

Skills and Qualifications

Successful team members bring a combination of technical knowledge, communication ability, and project management instincts. We are looking for candidates who have, or are actively building, the following:

Technical Knowledge

• Familiarity with environmental and land use regulatory frameworks, including the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA); National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); municipal development review and approval processes such as City of Boston Article 80 review, City of Cambridge Article 19 review, and City of Somerville Development Review; as well as municipal zoning, and state permitting programs.
• Understanding of the real estate development process, from site control through permitting and into construction.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, drawings, and technical studies produced by engineers and architects.
• Working knowledge of relevant regulations, agencies, and permit triggers.

Analysis and Writing

• Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, well-organized regulatory submissions and public documents.
• Ability to review and summarize third-party technical studies (traffic, stormwater, environmental, and others) and translate findings into permitting narratives.
• Precision with regulatory language and close attention to detail.

Project and Process Management

• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously at different stages of the permitting process.
• Capability to track submission deadlines, agency comment periods, and public hearing schedules.
• Experience coordinating across diverse project teams, including architects, engineers, attorneys, and clients.

Communication and Relationship Management

• Confidence presenting to client/project teams, government agencies, and public audiences.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into plain language for clients.
• Interest in building long-term working relationships with regulators and agency staff.

Judgment and Problem-Solving

• Ability to assess a regulatory situation and identify a practical path forward.
• Comfort navigating agency feedback and knowing when to adapt versus advocate.
• Anticipating concerns before they become obstacles.

Areas of Particular Interest (Preferred but Not Required)

• Policy literacy and curiosity about how land use law and environmental regulation evolve.
• Familiarity with sustainability frameworks, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), Passive House, or climate resilience standards.
• Background or interest in urban planning, housing policy, or community development.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of professional experience in planning, permitting, or a related field.
• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Sustainability Planning, Public Administration, Real Estate, Business, Economics, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience with public presentations and community engagement.
• MEPA and/or Article 80 review experience preferred.
• Experience with Chapter 91, wetlands permitting, climate resiliency compliance, and/or sustainable building design.
• Existing relationships with Boston-area regulators.
• Experience in business development, proposal writing, or contract preparation.

Our best estimate of the salary range for this position located in Boston/Watertown, MA is $100,000 -120,000. The final compensation will be based on a variety of factors such as individual qualifications, education, and experience.

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