Senior Environmental Planner / Impact Assessment, Rail & Transit Lead

Senior Environmental Planner / Impact Assessment, Rail & Transit Lead

The Senior Environmental Planner / Impact Assessment, Rail & Transit Lead will play a key leadership role in supporting the continued growth and development of GHD’s Impact Assessment & Permitting practice, with a particular focus on rail and transit.

This role will help identify the connections between these sectors and the Impact Assessment & Permitting market, leveraging GHD’s national and global technical expertise to pursue, shape, and originate opportunities across Canada and the United States. A key focus will be advancing GHD’s position in the rail and transit infrastructure market, including early positioning, client engagement, strategic pursuits, and delivery of major infrastructure projects.

The role will also serve as a Team Leader, providing leadership, guidance, mentorship, and performance support to a team of up to five professionals. Working with an energetic and high-performing group, the successful candidate will help strengthen technical capability, support staff development, and drive delivery excellence, business growth, and positive client outcomes.

Our Hybrid Model: Be part of the dynamic culture! Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect, and excel in our vibrant environment.

Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in

Leadership & Team Development

• Serve as Team Leader for up to five professionals, providing mentorship, guidance, performance management, and career development support.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive, collaborative, and growth-oriented team culture.
• Support targeted recruitment and retention strategies to strengthen the Impact Assessment & Permitting team in alignment with market needs.
• Identify required skill sets and subject matter expertise needed to support delivery of major infrastructure projects and strategic pursuits.
• Attract and support strategic hires that enhance GHD’s technical depth, market presence, and delivery capability.

Rail, Transit & Infrastructure Market Leadership

• Provide leadership in growing GHD’s Impact Assessment & Permitting presence in the rail, transit, and broader transportation infrastructure markets.
• Work with Market Leaders, Service Line Leaders, Business Group Leaders, Client Sector Leaders, and Operations to define and pursue strategic opportunities across Canada, with emphasis on rail and transit-related business development and client engagement.
• Identify, shape, and originate opportunities nationally, positioning GHD early in project lifecycles.
• Build on existing client relationships and expand GHD’s client base in priority infrastructure markets.
• Actively participate in key client meetings, industry forums, and external engagement activities to enhance GHD’s profile and thought leadership.

Strategic Planning & Business Growth

• Co-develop and support execution of the strategy for the Impact Assessment & Permitting Business Group in Canada Central, including Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, and as required, across Canada.
• Provide strategic planning and roadmaps for Impact Assessment & Permitting activities in Ontario and nationally, aligned with Americas Service Line priorities.
• Identify synergies across water, rail and transit, energy, and transportation markets, and translate these into practical growth opportunities.
• Leverage GHD’s connected national, North American, and global network to align client approaches, technical resourcing, and delivery strategies.
• Support the development of external market collateral, campaigns, client engagement materials, and targeted pursuits that strengthen GHD’s position in the market.
• Be accountable for contributing to agreed performance targets related to market growth, client development, and positioning GHD ahead of client and market trends.

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients, with particular focus on rail, transit, transportation, and major infrastructure opportunities.
• Lead and support business development activities, including pre-positioning, client engagement, opportunity shaping, and pursuit strategy.
• Lead proposal development, including RFP responses, scope definition, budgeting, project planning, and progress reporting.
• Promote GHD through thought leadership, industry participation, external engagements, and strategic market presence.
• Drive positive client interaction and satisfaction, supported by client feedback and relationship-building activities.

Project Delivery & Technical Leadership

• Lead the Impact Assessment process for major infrastructure projects, specifically rail and transit.
• Serve as Project Director on key projects, maintaining billable work in the range of 50–60%.
• Support project managers and technical teams in delivering successful, technically sound outcomes that meet or exceed client and GHD expectations.
• Promote practical, innovative, and collaborative approaches to project delivery.
• Ensure adherence to GHD’s Management Systems for Safety, Integrity, Quality, and Environment.
• Support continuous improvement in delivery approaches, technical standards, and business group requirements.

Collaboration & Influence

• Collaborate with Global, North American, Canadian, and Regional Market Leaders, Key Client Managers, Service Line Leaders, Client Sector Leaders, Business Group Leaders, and Operations teams.
• Build strong connections across the national Impact Assessment & Permitting practice to support technical integration, resourcing, and market growth.
• Engage with senior leadership and regional leaders to align on strategy, workforce planning, resourcing, and market priorities.
• Support alignment between Canada Central priorities and broader Americas Service Line and market strategies.

What You Bring to the Team

• Proven experience in Impact Assessment & Permitting, with a strong track record supporting or leading major infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated business development experience, particularly in rail, transit, transportation, and infrastructure sectors across Canada.
• Experience originating, shaping, pursuing, and winning work through early client engagement and strategic positioning.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience supporting the growth, development, and performance of technical professionals.
• Ability to build, mentor, and attract talent in alignment with business needs and market opportunities.
• Strong client relationship skills, with the ability to build trust, understand client needs, and support long-term client development.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to connect technical capability, market opportunity, client priorities, and business outcomes.
• Entrepreneurial approach, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for growth, delivery, and team success.
• Ability to collaborate across regions, markets, service lines, and leadership groups to achieve shared objectives.
• Commitment to technical excellence, quality delivery, client satisfaction, and GHD’s values of Safety, Integrity, Quality, and Environment.

At GHD, base salary is determined by your skills, experience, qualifications and work location. We are committed to offering competitive compensation and adhere to all relevant pay transparency legislation.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruiting is just getting started and may be used during the process to improve efficiency and fairness. Your application may be reviewed by both AI and our hiring team. While AI supports some steps through the process, all final hiring decisions are made by humans

As a diverse and inclusive organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, GHD will provide reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process.

This position is for an existing vacancy.

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