Job Description
AECOM has an exciting opportunity for a CEQA Project Manager in San Diego, CA to manage and oversee compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for School District capital improvement and facilities projects. This role serves as the District’s subject-matter expert for environmental review, ensuring projects are planned, reviewed, documented, and approved in accordance with CEQA statutes, guidelines, and case law. The position integrates CEQA compliance into overall project management, coordinates consultants and agencies, supports decision-makers through defensible environmental documentation, and will work closely with the District's Legal Department for compliance.
Key Responsibilities:
- CEQA Compliance and Environmental Review
- Understand and implement District's CEQA Handbook
- Serve as the Lead Agency CEQA project manager for all District projects
- Determine whether proposed activities constitute a “project” under CEQA and identify the appropriate level of environmental review.
- Evaluate applicability of statutory and categorical exemptions and prepare Notices of Exemption (NOEs).
- Direct preparation and review of Initial Studies, Negative Declarations (NDs), Mitigated Negative Declarations (MNDs), Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), and subsequent CEQA documents.
- Apply the fair argument standard and substantial and substantial evidence test to determine environmental significance.
- Assist various departments in preparing CEQA compliance documents and integrating findings into Board Item Agendas.
- Filing of CEQA determinations with the County of San Diego Clerk Recorder.
- Program EIR and Tiering
- Administer and implement tiering from the District’s Program EIR (PEIR).
- Prepare and oversee Findings of Consistency, Addenda, Supplemental EIRs, Subsequent EIRs, and Subsequent MNDs as appropriate.
- Evaluate whether projects fall within the scope of previously certified CEQA documents under CEQA Guidelines §15162 and §15168.
- Consultant and Project Coordination
- Procure, manage, and coordinate CEQA consultants and technical specialist for mitigation monitoring (Tribal, Archeological, Paleontological, Biological, etc.).
- Integrate CEQA schedules with overall project timelines and Board approval milestones.
- Ensure early involvement of environmental analysis in project planning and design to avoid or reduce impacts.
- Review and process technical consultant proposals, contract NTPs, and invoicing.
- Mitigation and Monitoring
- Develop and implement Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs (MMRPs).
- Ensure mitigation measures are incorporated into project design, construction, and operations.
- Track compliance with adopted mitigation measures through project completion.
- Coordination with contractors, construction managers, and project managers to ensure District complies with mitigation requirements, including field monitoring activities.
- Public Process and Agency Coordination
- Coordinate CEQA public noticing, circulation, and comment response processes.
- Organize and participate in public meetings, scoping meetings, and hearings as required.
- Coordinate with Responsible Agencies, Trustee Agencies, and local jurisdictions.
- Administrative Record and Legal Defensibility
- Maintain complete and well-documented CEQA administrative records.
- Ensure CEQA findings, statements of overriding considerations, and determinations are legally defensible.
- Support legal counsel in responding to CEQA challenges or litigation.
- Advisory and Training Role
- Advise District staff, leadership, and the Board on CEQA requirements and risks.
- Provide guidance and training to project managers and departments on CEQA processes and compliance.
- Serve as the internal point of contact for CEQA interpretation and best practices.