Environmental Data Management Discipline Leader

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Job Description

CDM Smith is seeking an experienced Environmental Data Management professional to serve as the Environmental Data Management Discipline Leader. This national leadership role is responsible for advancing CDM Smith’s environmental data management capabilities by establishing consistent, defensible, and scalable workflows that support project delivery, regulatory compliance, quality assurance/quality control, data validation, and analytics across Environmental Services Group programs.

The Environmental Data Management Discipline Leader will provide strategic direction for the firm’s use of environmental data management platforms, with a primary focus on EQuIS and related tools used for field data acquisition, laboratory data integration, data validation, reporting, dashboarding, and decision-support analytics. The role is intended to elevate environmental data management from a project-by-project support function to a well-governed technical discipline that improves efficiency, reduces data risk, supports defensible decision-making, and strengthens CDM Smith’s market position in environmental consulting.

Key Responsibilities

• Discipline Leadership: Provide national leadership for environmental data management across ESG programs, including strategy, standards, workflows, training, and technical support. Promote consistent data management practices across projects, clients, regulatory programs, and business units.
• Data Governance and Standards: Develop, implement, and maintain data governance frameworks, standard operating procedures, templates, checklists, and guidance documents for environmental data management. Establish consistent practices for data planning, acquisition, laboratory coordination, electronic data deliverables, database setup, data validation, reporting, and analytics.
• EQuIS Platform Leadership: Serve as a senior technical leader for EQuIS-based data management, including database strategy, database consolidation, reference value standardization, EDD formats, data loading, data validation workflows, EQuIS Enterprise functionality, permissions coordination, troubleshooting, and integration with reporting and analytics tools.
• Data Validation and QA/QC Workflows: Lead the development and improvement of defensible data validation and QA/QC workflows, including the appropriate use of EQuIS Data Qualification Module tools, manual review processes, third-party validation support, and project-specific validation strategies for federal, state, industrial, PFAS, and other complex environmental programs.
• Project Startup and Delivery Support: Support project teams during project startup to ensure data management requirements are built into scopes, budgets, schedules, laboratory requirements, SAPs, QAPPs, EDD specifications, and reporting workflows. Provide senior oversight on complex projects while enabling appropriately trained staff to manage day-to-day data workflows.
• Analytics and Visualization Integration: Coordinate with data analytics, GIS, Digital Engineering, BT, PSG, and other technical teams to connect validated environmental data to dashboards, Power BI tools, GIS platforms, automated reporting workflows, and other decision-support applications. Help prioritize tool development and ensure technical experts are involved in requirements definition, testing, and implementation.
• Field Data Acquisition and Automation: Advance the use of electronic field data collection tools and automated workflows that reduce manual transcription, improve real-time data availability, and support direct integration with databases and analytics platforms. Coordinate with GIS and digital teams on tools such as Survey123, Esri Field Maps, Quickbase, SharePoint-connected forms, and related field data systems.
• Intellectual Property Management: Oversee the development, maintenance, and curation of discipline intellectual property, including data management plans, EDD templates, database setup procedures, validation guidance, reporting templates, training materials, dashboard examples, project startup checklists, and standard workflows. Maintain these resources in CDM Smith’s knowledge management systems so they are accessible and usable by project teams.
• Training and Staff Development: Build and mentor a sustainable cohort of environmental data managers, validators, analysts, and project technical staff. Develop training pathways that include introductory awareness, hands-on EQuIS use, advanced data validation, database administration concepts, dashboard integration, and project delivery applications. Support ongoing mentoring through group calls, office hours, one-on-one coaching, and project-based learning.
• Resource Planning and Team Structure: Work with ESG leadership, RTLs, project managers, and technical discipline leaders to identify staffing needs, develop a bench of trained practitioners, assign work at appropriate staff levels, and reduce over-reliance on single individuals. Support strategic hiring, consultant support, and staff development plans where needed to meet growing project demand.
• Process Improvement and Efficiency: Identify opportunities to reduce manual data handling, improve cost efficiency, automate repetitive tasks, streamline validation workflows, reduce spreadsheet and Access database reliance, and improve consistency across projects. Promote practices that reduce project risk, improve quality, and provide better value to clients.
• Business Development and Market Support: Support proposals, client discussions, project descriptions, marketing materials, and technical approaches that highlight CDM Smith’s data management, validation, analytics, and PFAS data handling capabilities. Help position CDM Smith as a leader in defensible environmental data management and analytics-enabled project delivery.
• Cross-Business Unit Coordination: Coordinate with ESG, WSG, PSG, DES, BT, Digital Engineering, GIS, laboratory services, and other internal groups to align environmental data workflows with enterprise systems and business objectives. Promote consistent use of data management tools beyond individual projects and reduce fragmentation across the firm.
• Thought Leadership and Continuous Improvement: Contribute to internal technical seminars, conference presentations, publications, R&D initiatives, digital hub submissions, and innovation efforts related to environmental data management, EQuIS, field data acquisition, data validation, PFAS data complexity, automation, and analytics-enabled delivery.

Skills & Abilities

• Establish environmental data management as a core technical discipline that supports defensible project delivery, regulatory compliance, client service, and analytics-enabled decision-making.
• Maintain and improve CDM Smith’s environmental data management standards, workflows, templates, and technical resources so project teams can implement them efficiently and consistently.
• Advance the effective use of EQuIS and related tools across ESG and other business units where environmental data are collected, managed, validated, reported, or analyzed.
• Build a sustainable bench of trained data management practitioners and reduce dependence on single individuals for critical project workflows.
• Support project teams in selecting appropriate data management, validation, field acquisition, reporting, and analytics strategies based on client requirements, regulatory context, data complexity, budget, and schedule.
• Promote automation and digital workflows that reduce manual data manipulation, improve quality control, increase transparency, and support timely access to validated data.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver successful project outcomes and improve the efficiency, quality, and defensibility of environmental deliverables.
• Support ongoing innovation, R&D, tool development, digital hub initiatives, and technical knowledge management related to environmental data management and analytics.
• Maintain and grow CDM Smith’s reputation for technical excellence, innovation, data quality, and client service.

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

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Geology, Data Management, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of relevant experience in environmental data management, environmental consulting, laboratory data workflows, data validation, database management, or environmental project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience with EQuIS or comparable environmental data management platforms, including database setup, EDD management, data loading, reporting, QA/QC, and/or validation workflows.
• Strong understanding of environmental project delivery, including field sampling, analytical laboratory coordination, SAP/QAPP requirements, EDD specifications, data quality objectives, data validation, regulatory reporting, and technical deliverables.
• Experience developing or implementing standardized workflows, SOPs, templates, guidance documents, training materials, or governance frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor staff, support technical teams, and build capability across multiple projects or offices.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate technical data management concepts for project managers, technical leads, clients, regulators, and internal leadership.
• Experience coordinating across technical disciplines, business units, digital/IT teams, GIS teams, laboratory teams, and project delivery teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft business software, including Power PI, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Willingness to travel domestically as needed for training, project support, client meetings, and internal coordination.
• Advanced degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Geology, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• Advanced experience with EQuIS Professional, EQuIS Enterprise, EQuIS Data Qualification Module, EDD development, database administration, EQuIS reporting, EQuIS Geotech, EnviroInsite, or related EarthSoft tools.
• Experience integrating environmental databases with Power BI, GIS platforms, SQL-based reporting, electronic field data collection tools, SharePoint workflows, Quickbase, or other analytics and visualization platforms.
• Experience with PFAS data management, emerging contaminants, high-volume analytical datasets, forensic data, or complex multi-program environmental databases.
• Experience developing data management approaches for federal, state, municipal, industrial, DoD, DOE, CERCLA, RCRA, NPDES, drinking water, or other regulated environmental programs.
• Experience evaluating the appropriate use of internal versus third-party data validation resources and developing efficient validation workflows that align with project-specific data quality objectives.
• Recognized technical leader with a history of presentations, publications, internal training, conference participation, or professional engagement in environmental data management, analytics, or digital delivery.
• Proven record of building technical teams, mentoring junior and mid-level staff, and developing repeatable training or cohort-based learning programs.
• Experience supporting proposals, client presentations, marketing materials, and business development strategies related to environmental data management, analytics, and digital delivery.

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