Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Environmental Lead

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Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

HDR is seeking a strategic, client-focused Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Environmental Lead to provide leadership, technical excellence, and market growth for environmental sciences, planning, permitting, and regulatory services across the global TMT market sector. This role will partner closely with TMT Market Sector Leadership, Environmental Cross Sector Leadership, Regional Environmental Leaders, and Client Development Leaders to drive HDR's environmental services strategy and support the delivery of complex mission-critical infrastructure projects. This position can be based out of any of our HDR offices.

Position Summary

The TMT Environmental Lead will serve as the primary environmental point of contact and subject matter expert for the TMT sector, helping clients navigate environmental, land use, permitting, and regulatory challenges associated with data centers, telecommunications infrastructure, digital campuses, fiber networks, and related technology developments. The role will support business development, project delivery, professional development, quality management, and strategic growth initiatives across HDR's global TMT portfolio.

This position reports directly to the TMT Market Sector Director with additional indirect relationships with the TMT Business Development, TMT Practice, and Environmental Cross Sector Leadership teams and will collaborate extensively across Business Groups and regions to align environmental strategy with market objectives and client needs. The individual is expected to maintain strong client relationships and remain actively engaged in industry leadership and key project pursuits.

About HDR's TMT Market Sector

HDR is a global leader in architecture, engineering, environmental, and consulting services with a long-standing track record of successfully delivering mission-critical projects, including data centers around the world.

Our TMT teams provide comprehensive, end-to-end services ranging from site selection and due diligence through design, permitting, construction support, commissioning, retrofits, and operational optimization. We understand the unique requirements associated with mission-critical facilities and bring deep expertise in developing high-performing, future-ready campuses designed for reliability, performance, scalability, and operational resilience.

What sets HDR apart is the breadth and integration of our services. In addition to architecture and engineering, HDR provides stakeholder engagement, environmental planning and permitting, regulatory compliance, real estate services, utility coordination, acoustics, air quality, emissions consulting, and specialized technical advisory services. With global reach and multidisciplinary depth, HDR is uniquely positioned to help clients deliver rapidly expanding digital infrastructure programs while meeting environmental, regulatory, community, and operational objectives.

Primary Responsibilities

Market Leadership and Strategy

• Develop and implement HDR's environmental strategy for the TMT Market Sector.
• Support TMT market sector annual and long-range strategic planning initiatives.
• Identify emerging market trends, permitting challenges, and regulatory developments affecting data center and telecommunications clients.
• Help define HDR's market positioning and growth strategy for environmental permitting, planning, and compliance services within the TMT sector.
• Partner with Client Development Leaders and Market Sector Leadership to expand HDR's environmental services footprint globally.
• Serve as HDR's environmental ambassador within industry organizations, conferences, and client forums.

Environmental Permitting and Regulatory Leadership

• Serve as HDR's primary point of contact and technical resource for environmental and land use permitting associated with data centers, telecommunications facilities, fiber infrastructure, network operations centers, and related technology developments.
• Provide technical oversight and strategic guidance for permitting programs supporting greenfield and brownfield development projects.
• Lead development of permitting strategies that support accelerated project delivery schedules while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations.
• Support clients in obtaining approvals from federal, state, provincial, county, municipal, and other regulatory agencies.
• Advise project teams regarding environmental review processes, permitting risks, mitigation strategies, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Monitor evolving environmental and land development regulations and communicate impacts to clients and HDR leadership.

Land Use and Development

Lead and support environmental planning and permitting efforts involving:

• Land use approvals and entitlement strategies.
• State, provincial, county, municipal, and local government permits and approvals.
• Site access authorizations for construction and development activities.
• Zoning reviews, zoning variances, rezoning applications, and zoning board approvals.
• Conditional use permits and special use permits.
• Easements, right-of-way approvals, and property access agreements.
• Utility connection approvals and infrastructure coordination.
• Building occupancy permits and certificates of occupancy.
• Construction permits and development approvals for improved and unimproved lands.
• Stakeholder engagement and public agency coordination.
• Environmental due diligence and site feasibility assessments.

Business Development and Client Engagement

• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key TMT clients.
• Support strategic pursuits, capture planning efforts, and major proposal activities.
• Actively identify opportunities for environmental, planning, permitting, and regulatory services.
• Collaborate with business development and technical leaders to develop integrated client solutions.
• Participate in client meetings, executive presentations, and pursuit strategy workshops.
• Serve as Project Principal, Technical Lead, or Strategic Advisor on select key projects.

Project Delivery and Technical Excellence

• Promote best-in-class project delivery practices across the TMT environmental practice.
• Support project teams in developing innovative approaches to complex permitting and entitlement challenges.
• Provide quality oversight and participate in HDR's project review processes.
• Foster consistency, technical excellence, and knowledge sharing across offices and regions.
• Develop and implement best practices, tools, and guidance documents for environmental services delivery.

Team Development and Leadership

• Mentor and develop environmental professionals supporting the TMT sector.
• Assist with strategic recruitment and succession planning initiatives.
• Foster collaboration between environmental practitioners, planners, engineers, architects, and market sector teams.
• Support career development, technical training, and leadership development.
• Help build a connected, high-performing practice across regions and business groups.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in environmental planning, environmental science, urban planning, engineering, public policy, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience leading environmental planning, permitting, and regulatory programs for major infrastructure, industrial, technology, telecommunications, or mission-critical projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in land use planning, development entitlements, and construction permitting.
• Extensive experience obtaining approvals from state, provincial, county, municipal, and local regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrated experience leading permitting programs for large, complex development projects with aggressive schedules.
• Strong knowledge of permitting requirements associated with site development, utility infrastructure, zoning, occupancy approvals, and construction activities.
• Proven ability to build and maintain executive-level client relationships.
• Demonstrated success supporting business development, project pursuits, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Experience supporting data center campus development projects.
• Experience with telecommunications, fiber, wireless, or digital infrastructure development.
• Established industry reputation within the technology, telecommunications, mission-critical, or land development sectors.
• Experience presenting at industry conferences and participating in professional organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple geographic regions.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

  Success Measures

  The successful TMT Environmental Lead will:

  • Establish HDR as the premier environmental and permitting advisor for data center and digital infrastructure development.
  • Build a cohesive, high-performing environmental practice aligned with TMT market growth objectives.
  • Expand client relationships and increase HDR's market share in mission-critical and digital infrastructure services.
  • Deliver innovative permitting and entitlement solutions that accelerate project delivery while maintaining regulatory compliance.
  • Advance technical excellence, professional development, and collaboration across HDR's environmental practice.

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