Environmental Intern - Permitting

Description

Environmental Intern

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

The Environmental Permitting Intern will join a multidisciplinary environmental services team supporting the siting and permitting of utility-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects. Projects range from early-stage constraints mapping and desktop due diligence to complex federal and state permitting efforts for independent power producers, developers, and utility clients. This position offers a direct opportunity to apply environmental science and regulatory coursework to real-world renewable energy development.

As an Environmental Permitting Intern, the selected candidate will learn to navigate NEPA, state siting statutes, and local zoning and land use requirements in support of project approvals, and will assist Senior Permitting Specialists in the preparation of permit applications, agency correspondence, and environmental compliance documentation.

Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation of federal, state, and local permit applications for wind, solar, and battery storage projects.
• Conduct desktop research and constraints analysis using GIS and publicly available regulatory databases.
• Support the drafting of environmental documentation, including biological assessments, cultural resource reports, and environmental impact statements.
• Help track permitting schedules, agency comments, and compliance deadlines across multiple active projects.
• Coordinate with internal technical staff, including biologists, wetland scientists, and engineers, and external agencies to compile permit-supporting materials.
• Travel to project sites as necessary to support field data collection and agency site visits.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Environmental Policy, or a related field.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with clients, agency representatives, and project team members.
• Willingness to learn in a flexible, cross-disciplinary work environment.
• Willingness to attend site visits and perform work in outdoor field conditions on occasion.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred but not required for consideration:

• Relevant industry experience through coursework, research, or prior internships in environmental permitting, land use planning, or renewable energy development.
• Experience with GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS) or regulatory research tools used in environmental due diligence and permitting.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.

We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.