The Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) is a vital part of New York City’s transportation system and economy. The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is undertaking a long-term fix of BQE Central, the City-owned portion of the BQE, from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street in Brooklyn, with a focus on safety, resiliency, and community priorities. While advancing the long-term fix, NYC DOT is also continuing interim repairs to maintain the highway in a state of good repair.
The Environmental Review Specialist will be part of the new BQE Special Project Office (SPO) for the BQE Central Project and will serve as NYC DOT’s specialist managing environmental review activities for this complex megaproject. The role will collaborate closely with the Division of Bridges, Traffic Engineering & Planning (TEP), and NYC DOT staff. The position will ensure full compliance with federal, state, and city environmental regulations and will guide the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and related processes from development through approval.

Duties include:
- Collaborate with senior staff to oversee the development, coordination, and completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and all related federal, state, and city environmental review documents, in compliance with NEPA, SEQRA, CEQR, and FHWA/NYSDOT guidance, as appropriate.
- Support City and State processes such as CEQR/SEQRA, ULURP, parkland alienation, and other land-use or environmental procedures.
- Supervise consultants performing technical analyses, including air quality, noise, environmental justice, natural resources, historic and cultural resources, hazardous materials, and community impacts.
- Coordinate closely with the Consultant (BQE Joint Venture – JV) and TEP to develop all environmental documentation required for federal, state, and local approvals, including categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, environmental impact studies, re-evaluations, technical memoranda, and permit submissions.
- Coordinate with government agencies at the city, state, and federal levels. Collaborate with senior staff on interagency consultations related to Section 106, Section 14.09, Section 4(f), Section 6(f), Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other applicable federal, state, and local statutes.
- Review environmental analyses and coordinate with expert units/agencies for their review and approval, including modeling, reports, and technical appendices prepared by consultants and coordinate these with regulatory agencies and internal project teams, including Traffic Engineering and Planning.
- Ensure environmental assessments meet rigorous technical standards and integrate engineering, traffic, and design inputs.
- Lead coordination of environmental components for all public meetings required under NEPA, SEQRA, and CEQR, including scoping sessions, hearings, and comment-response processes.
- Perform other duties related to project administration in support of project development and execution.

CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744

Minimum Qualifications

1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.
To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:
1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or
2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:
Probationary Period
Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

Preferred Skills

- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with different personalities and roles, and a solution-oriented attitude. - Experience in drafting or reviewing architectural drawings - Strong written and verbal communication skills. - Attention to detail in research, analysis, and review of visual and written material. - Ability to monitor and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously, meet strict deadlines, and quickly respond to project priorities. - Experience with CEQR, SEQRA, and NEPA processes as they apply to large scale infrastructure projects. - Experience coordinating with government agencies at federal, state, and local levels. - Experience with Design Approval Document (DAD), ULURP and Parkland Alienation processes a plus.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.