Paleontology Group Lead

Energy Environmental Group (EEG) is a full-service environmental consulting firm specializing in all aspects of environmental permitting, inspection, and compliance monitoring. From a project’s inception to its final release, EEG’s knowledgeable staff utilizes a multifaceted plan of action to meet project milestones, maintain compliance regulations, and ensure a successful path to construction completion.  

Energy Environmental Group is a purpose-driven company. Our core values guide our strategy, performance, and culture. We believe in maintaining an environment where team members can make an impact, grow, and thrive. A place where they find meaning and purpose in doing the important work of ensuring communities have the vital energy, light, and communications to prosper. Our culture is inclusive and welcoming. Our teams are empowered with abundant training, tools, and opportunities to follow their curiosity and ambitions. Everyone has an equal chance to advance. Everyone is supported, respected, and challenged to be their best. We’re always looking for talented and dedicated people to join us and love where they work.  

Energy Environmental Group is a proud subsidiary of MasTec (NYSE: MTZ), a Fortune 500 Company ranked by Energy News-Record as one of the leading contractors in the country. EEG is part of the MasTec Power Delivery segment. We are certified as a minority-controlled company by the National Minority Suppliers Development Council (NMSDC). Our rich diversity of people and ideas makes us a stronger, more innovative organization. 

Position summary

The Group Lead of Paleontological Compliance provides overall leadership for EEG's Paleontological Compliance group and is responsible for people development, staffing, operational performance, technical quality, client service, financial performance and strategic growth. This position leads paleontological compliance professionals supporting electric transmission, substations, renewable energy, telecommunications and other energy infrastructure projects throughout the United States.

The Group Lead establishes organizational priorities, develops long-term strategy, builds a high-performing team, coordinates resources across projects, supports business development and ensures consistent delivery of high-quality environmental planning and permitting services. The Group Lead partners with Principal and Senior Paleontologists as technical authorities while retaining responsibility for organizational, personnel, and operational leadership.

What you will experience in this position

• →Lead and develop a high-performing team supporting some of the nation's largest energy infrastructure projects.
• →Build the next generation of paleontologists through coaching, mentorship, and professional development.
• →Shape the future of EEG’s Paleontological Compliance practice by improving systems, procedures, and operational consistency.
• →Partner with executive leadership, project managers, clients and regulatory agencies to solve complex project development challenges.
• →Influence staffing decisions, organizational priorities, and operational improvements that directly impact project performance.
• →Participate in recruiting, workforce planning, succession planning and organizational development.
• →Support proposal development, client engagement, interviews and strategic business growth initiatives.
• →Lead continuous improvement efforts that strengthen technical quality, consistency, efficiency and client satisfaction.
• →Help establish EEG as the industry's preferred environmental planning and permitting partner.
• →Continue growing as an organizational leader while helping shape the future direction of EEG.
• →Build and mentor Principal and Senior personnel and future organizational leaders.

Key responsibilities

• →Technical Leadership: Serve as the technical lead for all paleontological permits and reporting, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• →Project Oversight: Manage all aspects of paleontological projects, from planning to execution, to ensure timely and successful completion. Oversee or delegate day-to-day project tasks as appropriate.
• →Team Supervision & Development: Supervise and mentor associate- and staff-level technical specialists. Conduct timely and constructive performance evaluations, and make recommendations for promotions and salary adjustments as appropriate.
• →Program Strategy & Staffing: Identify key short- and long-term staffing needs within the Paleontology program and contribute to succession planning and team growth.
• →Collaboration & Integration: Work closely with project leadership and other service lines to ensure cross-disciplinary coordination and project efficiency.
• →Regulatory Authority: Act as the internal authority on technical, regulatory, and business matters related to paleontology.
• →Quality Control: Provide quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) review of deliverables within the paleontology program to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• →Business Development: Support business development efforts across the country by identifying new opportunities, contributing to proposals, and representing the firm in client and agency interactions.
• →Approachability & Availability: Maintain a supportive and approachable presence for team members, peers, and leadership.
• →Additional Duties: Perform other related duties as assigned to support the goals of the team and the company.

Required qualifications

• Advanced degree in Paleontology, Geology, Earth Sciences, or a related field (Master’s required; Ph.D. preferred).
• Typically, 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in paleontological compliance, permitting, consulting, utility development or related work.
• Demonstrated leadership experience supervising personnel, developing managers or technical leaders, and leading paleontological compliance teams or organizational initiatives.
• Demonstrated success managing paleontological compliance and permitting programs supporting major infrastructure projects.
• Experience with staffing, utilization, budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, project delivery and operational performance.
• Advanced understanding of PRPA, CEQA, paleontological compliance, regulatory strategy, planning methodologies and infrastructure project development.
• Experience supporting proposals, strategic client relationships, business development and organizational growth.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, communication, facilitation, organizational and decision-making skills.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel as business and project needs require.

Preferred qualifications

• Significant experience supporting paleontological compliance for electric transmission, renewable energy, transportation, telecommunications, pipeline or other major infrastructure projects.
• Extensive experience leading PRPA and CEQA programs, paleontological permitting strategies, and project development initiatives.
• Experience leading environmental planning teams across multiple concurrent projects, offices or geographic regions.
• Experience managing department operations, including project budgets, staffing forecasts, resource planning, utilization and organizational performance.
• Experience developing and implementing planning procedures, quality management systems, operational standards and organizational improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience supporting proposal development, strategic client relationships and business growth.
• Established experience working with federal, state, Tribal and local regulatory agencies.

Key skills

• People leadership and employee development
• Staffing and workforce planning
• Paleontological compliance and permitting strategy
• Technical quality oversight
• Operational and financial management
• Client relationship management
• Strategic planning and business development
• Regulatory leadership and agency relationships
• Organizational communication and collaboration
• Continuous improvement and organizational development

Physical requirements

• Ability to travel throughout the United States to support employees, clients, recruiting, industry conferences and business development activities.
• Ability to visit active project sites as needed.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to utilize standard office technology and mobile communication tools