Environmental Risk Assessment Discipline Leader

Company Overview

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Join Us! CDM Smith – where amazing career journeys unfold.

Imagine a place committed to offering an unmatched employee experience. Where you work on projects that are meaningful to you. Where you play an active part in shaping your career journey. Where your co-workers are invested in you and your success. Where you are encouraged and supported to do your very best and given the tools and resources to do so. Where it’s a priority that the company takes good care of you and your family.

Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.

Job Description

CDM Smith seeks an Environmental Risk Assessment Discipline Leader to advance its national practice supporting site investigation, remediation, and regulatory decision-making for federal, state, municipal, and industrial clients. The successful candidate will bring expertise in either human health risk assessment or ecological risk assessment, working knowledge of the other discipline, and familiarity with supporting disciplines such as toxicology, hydrogeology, chemistry, and remediation.

This role combines technical oversight, practitioner development, consistent project delivery, and business development. The leader will coordinate specialists across both risk assessment disciplines rather than serve as the subject-matter expert in every technical area.

Key Responsibilities

• Practice Leadership: Set discipline priorities and technical standards; maintain practical guidance, templates, calculation tools, and review procedures that promote consistent, defensible work.

• Technical Oversight: Lead or review complex assessments within the primary area of expertise and coordinate qualified specialists in the complementary discipline. Address exposure pathways, receptors, toxicity, risk characterization, and uncertainty using applicable federal and state guidance.

• Project Delivery and Remediation: Integrate risk assessment into conceptual site models, sampling plans, data quality objectives, scopes, budgets, and schedules. Translate findings into risk-based cleanup goals, remedial alternatives, and site closure strategies with multidisciplinary teams.

• Quality and Innovation: Oversee technical review and transparent, reproducible analyses. Maintain shared technical resources and improve analytical workflows; incorporate relevant advances in PFAS and other emerging contaminant science.

• Staff and Resource Development: Mentor practitioners, coordinate training and workload across offices, and support hiring and succession planning to build sustainable capacity in both disciplines.

• Growth and Communication: Partner with client service teams on growth strategy, proposals, scopes, and technical presentations. Clearly communicate findings and limitations to clients, regulators, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree. 7 years of related experience. Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands. Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• • 15+ years of relevant experience, with demonstrated expertise leading or reviewing either human health or ecological risk assessments and working knowledge of the complementary discipline.
  • Knowledge of CERCLA and applicable federal and state risk assessment guidance; ability to recognize when specialized input from other disciplines is needed.
  • Experience defining investigation data needs, evaluating exposure and uncertainty, applying quantitative methods relevant to the primary specialty, and developing risk-based cleanup goals that inform remediation decisions.
  • Experience with PFAS or other emerging contaminants and evolving toxicity information.
  • Ability to develop technical standards and tools, mentor staff, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and balance technical quality with budgets and schedules.
  • Strong technical writing and communication skills, with experience supporting proposals, client engagement, and practice growth.
  • Degree in toxicology, environmental science, biology, ecology, chemistry, environmental engineering, public health, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant professional certification preferred.

Amount of Travel Required

20% - 40%
Driving Requirements

An appropriate and valid driver's license is required.
EEO Statement

We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, childbirth and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression), national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.
Massachusetts Applicants

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.
Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.
Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position
Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Team will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.
Pay Range Max

USD $160,118.00
Pay Range Min

USD $91,478.00