The Environmental Planner (“Planner”), is an integral part of HDOT’s environmental planning and compliance functions and supports HDOT’s mission to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain a safe, efficient, accessible, and sustainable inter-modal transportation system for Hawai?i. Transportation projects in Hawai?i must comply with complex federal and state environmental laws while balancing community priorities, cultural stewardship, and climate resiliency objectives.
This position plays a key role in preparing HDOT for NEPA Assignment, supporting the development of internal policies, procedures, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols, training, documentation standards, and administrative record systems necessary for assuming federal NEPA responsibilities.
The Planner is part of the Office of Energy Security and Community Outreach within HDOT’s Administration Division, which supports all three modal divisions—Highways, Airports, and Harbors. The Planner provides expertise and support to all modal divisions as needed and works closely with HDOT project managers, federal and state regulatory agencies, consultants, county partners, community organizations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. Through technical rigor, regulatory fluency, and proactive coordination, this position helps HDOT strengthen environmental compliance systems, maintain defensible documentation, improve project delivery timelines, and build trust with communities statewide.
I. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. NEPA Assignment Readiness & Program Development
1. Assist HDOT in preparing for NEPA Assignment by helping develop policies, procedures, manuals, templates, training materials, and internal QA/QC processes consistent with FHWA guidance.
2. Support readiness assessment efforts and gap analyses.
3. Help establish documentation standards and administrative record protocols necessary for federal assumption.
4. Provide training and technical guidance to HDOT staff on environmental compliance responsibilities under NEPA Assignment.
5. Assist with audit preparation and continuous improvement efforts to ensure consistent and ongoing compliance with federal oversight requirements.
B. Environmental Review & Project Advisory
1. Serve as environmental planning subject matter expert on project development teams across modal divisions.
2. Provide guidance on NEPA (CE, EA, EIS) and HRS Chapter 343 (Exemption Declarations, DEA, FEA, EIS) document preparation, alternatives analysis, cumulative effects, and significance determinations.
3. Advise project managers on permitting pathways, sequencing, and documentation strategies to improve efficiency while maintaining compliance.
4. Assist in preparing purpose and need statements, impact analyses, mitigation commitments, and findings documents.
5. Support integration of energy security, climate adaptation, and resiliency considerations into transportation planning and environmental documentation.
C. Environmental Commitments, Monitoring & Documentation
1. Track environmental commitments from planning through construction.
2. Support development of environmental commitment tracking systems consistent with NEPA Assignment requirements.
3. Assist with pre-construction environmental briefings and ensure commitments are incorporated into plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E).
4. Review consultant deliverables for compliance with regulatory standards and internal QA/QC procedures.
5. Maintain organized administrative records that are legally defensible and audit-ready.
D. Regulatory Compliance, Permitting & Interagency Coordination
1. Prepare, review, and coordinate environmental documents and permit applications required under NEPA, HRS Chapter 343, Clean Water Act Sections 401/404, Coastal Zone Management, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and other applicable federal, state, and county regulations.
2. Coordinate with agencies including FHWA, FAA, USACE, DLNR, DOH, SHPD, and county planning departments to align project requirements and mitigation commitments.
3. Track permit conditions, environmental commitments, and regulatory milestones; maintain organized and defensible administrative records.
4. Facilitate interagency meetings and support resolution of regulatory conflicts or schedule risks.
E. Community & Stakeholder Engagement
5. Support public involvement processes for environmental review documents, including community meetings, public notices, and comment response coordination.
6. Prepare clear, accessible materials explaining project impacts, environmental findings, and mitigation measures.
7. Coordinate with Native Hawaiian Organizations and community groups to incorporate cultural considerations and respectful engagement practices into project development.
8. Respond to public and agency comments in a professional and technically sound manner.
9. Perform other duties as assigned.
II.
REQUIRED LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, ETC.
Hawaii State Driver's License, Class 3.
III.
RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS
A. Knowledge of:
1. Environmental planning principles and transportation project development processes.
2. Federal and state environmental laws and permitting processes, including NEPA, HRS Chapter 343, Clean Water Act Sections 401/404, Section 106, Coastal Zone Management, and related Hawai?i requirements.
3. Environmental documentation standards, cumulative effects analysis, mitigation development, and public involvement practices.
4. NEPA Assignment program requirements and quality assurance principles.
B. Skills/Abilities to:
1. Prepare clear, concise, and legally defensible environmental documents and technical memoranda.
Analyze complex regulatory requirements and translate them into practical project guidance.
Coordinate effectively with federal, state, and county agencies.
Facilitate meetings and communicate complex environmental issues to technical and non-technical audiences.
Exercise independent judgment; manage multiple assignments and deadlines; conduct QA/QC reviews of consultant deliverables.
Develop and implement programmatic systems supporting NEPA Assignment compliance.
C. Education
Bachelor’s degree or higher in environmental planning, environmental science, urban and regional planning, natural resources management, public policy, geography, or closely related field.
D. Experience
1. Typically, 3–5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in environmental planning, permitting, or environmental review for transportation or infrastructure projects in Hawai?i.
2. Demonstrated experience preparing or reviewing NEPA and/or HRS Chapter 343 documents.
3. Experience coordinating with regulatory agencies and participating in public engagement processes.
4. Experience supporting environmental compliance systems or program development is preferred.
The State of Hawai'i complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call the DOT Personnel Office at (808) 587-2145 for assistance.
ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS
The Department of Transportation will use electronic mail (email) to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their applications.
Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email-box in a timely manner. In addition, please be aware that you may no longer receive notification about applications submitted if you choose to disable the Job Application Emails feature in your Account Settings.
LEGAL AUTHORIZATION TO WORK REQUIREMENT:
The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.
TESTING INFORMATION
The examination for this recruitment will be conducted on an unassembled basis where the examination score is based on an evaluation and rating of your education and experience. It is therefore important that your employment application provide a clear and detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position you held.
In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawaii may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. If in-person interviews and/or further testing is a requirement, applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are referred to the vacancy must be available to participate in person and at their own expense in this required phase of the selection process.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. In addition to employment availability and score, the referral of qualified applicants may be based upon other factors including date of receipt of application.
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State of Hawaii Department of TaxationOahu Island$70K - $91K (Glassdoor est.)The Environmental Planner (“Planner”), is an integral part of HDOT’s environmental planning and compliance functions and supports HDOT’s mission to plan, design……5d