Senior Environmental Planner – MTO / Provincial Transportation

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!   At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.   Job Description: Parsons has been a leader in the planning, design and delivery of transportation infrastructure for more than 75 years. We are seeking an experienced Environmental Planner with strong Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) experience to join our Infrastructure team in the Greater Toronto Region. The successful candidate may be based in our Toronto, Markham, Oakville or London office, with flexibility for hybrid work. You will help deliver provincial highway projects while strengthening Parsons’ environmental planning capabilities and relationships with MTO and other transportation clients. Position Overview The Senior Environmental Planner will lead the environmental planning and assessment components of MTO highway assignments through planning and preliminary design and support the implementation of environmental commitments during detail design and construction. The position will coordinate multidisciplinary environmental studies, consultation, environmental documentation, permits and approvals, and the integration of environmental requirements into project design and contract documentation. The successful candidate will also contribute to proposals, client development, technical quality, and the mentoring of junior and intermediate planners. Responsibilities Lead environmental planning and assessment for MTO highway projects in accordance with the current Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024) . Serve as Environmental Lead on planning, preliminary design and detail design assignments, coordinating environmental specialists, engineers, subconsultants and project managers. Establish environmental work plans, study requirements, schedules, budgets and deliverables appropriate to the applicable Class EA requirements, project classification and potential environmental effects. Apply the MTO Environmental Reference for Highway Design (ERD) and applicable MTO environmental guides, policies, directives, standards, forms and technical guidance. Prepare and review Transportation Environmental Study Reports, environmental assessment documentation, consultation records, environmental commitment records and design-phase environmental reports. Lead the identification and evaluation of environmental effects, avoidance opportunities, mitigation measures, monitoring requirements and environmental commitments. Coordinate public, stakeholder, agency and municipal consultation, including notices, Public Information Centres, presentations, comment-response tracking and issue resolution. Support MTO-led consultation with Indigenous communities and organizations, including consultation planning, documentation, comment tracking and the consideration of potential impacts on Aboriginal or treaty rights. Support issue resolution under the Class EA and assist MTO in responding to Section 16 Order requests, where applicable. Develop and coordinate environmental permitting and approvals strategies with technical specialists, project teams and regulatory agencies. Ensure environmental commitments and approval requirements are carried forward into detail design, drawings, specifications, contract documents and construction requirements. Provide technical review and quality assurance for environmental planning deliverables. Build and maintain productive working relationships with MTO, municipal clients, regulatory agencies and project partners. Lead or support proposal preparation, including methodologies, work plans, schedules, staffing plans, budgets and level-of-effort estimates. Mentor junior and intermediate environmental planners and support consistent environmental planning practices across the team. Monitor changes to environmental legislation, MTO processes, policies and industry practices that may affect project delivery. Requirements University degree in environmental planning, urban or regional planning, environmental studies, geography, environmental science or a related discipline. A relevant graduate degree is an asset. Minimum of 10 years of environmental planning or environmental assessment experience, including substantial recent experience delivering MTO highway assignments in a consulting environment. Demonstrated experience acting as an Environmental Lead or senior environmental planner on MTO planning, preliminary design or detail design projects. Strong working knowledge of the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024) , including project classification, consultation, evaluation, documentation, issues resolution and transition requirements. Familiarity with the previous MTO Class EA process and the transition of projects from the 2000 Class EA to the 2024 Class EA is an asset. Knowledge and practical application of the MTO ERD and associated environmental guides, policies, standards, procedures and technical requirements. Experience preparing or reviewing MTO Transportation Environmental Study Reports, consultation materials, environmental commitments and multidisciplinary environmental reports. Experience coordinating environmental specialists covering areas such as natural heritage, fisheries, archaeology, cultural heritage, noise, contaminated property, excess soil, groundwater, drainage and stormwater management. Experience supporting public, agency, stakeholder and Indigenous consultation for provincial transportation projects. Strong understanding of applicable provincia