Senior Hydropower FERC Licensing Program Manager (Remote/Hybrid)

The Opportunity:

Tetra Tech is adding an accomplished, client-focused Senior Hydropower FERC Licensing Program Manager to lead and expand our national hydropower licensing, compliance, and regulatory services practice.

This senior leadership position will direct complex Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing, relicensing, compliance, amendment, exemption, surrender, transfer, and dam removal initiatives for hydropower and water resource clients across the United States.

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in hydropower licensing and environmental compliance, extensive experience navigating complex regulatory frameworks, and a proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, regulatory agencies, Tribal Nations, stakeholders, and industry partners.

Working closely with Tetra Tech's Power & Energy and Water Initiatives leadership, regional operations, and technical practice leaders, this individual will play a key role in growing our hydropower services portfolio, strengthening strategic client relationships, identifying and pursuing new opportunities, developing capture strategies, and leading winning proposals.

This role combines exceptional project and program delivery with business development and client leadership. The successful candidate will lead and support federal, state, Tribal, and local permitting and licensing efforts for dam and hydropower projects, including regulatory strategy, agency coordination, FERC licensing support, environmental review, technical documentation, and stakeholder engagement.

This position is remote within the United States, with travel required as necessary to support clients, projects, regulatory activities, and business development efforts.

Why Tetra Tech:

At Tetra Tech, we are Leading with Science to solve the world’s most complex challenges.  Our industry-leading experts in engineering and consulting are committed to driving positive change in communities around the world.  For over 50 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.  Today we stand as a market leader, offering cutting-edge solutions in water, environment, energy, and international development.  Our work has improved more than 625 million lives around the world.

Your Impact:

Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference.  Our work leverages cutting-edge technologies, advanced analytics, and the expertise of world-class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential – join us to advance your career while leaving a lasting legacy.

Essential Job Functions:

Program Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Serve as a technical lead and subject matter expert for hydropower licensing, compliance, and regulatory affairs.
• Provide strategic leadership for Tetra Tech's hydropower licensing and compliance program, including oversight of active licenses, relicensing efforts, license amendments, transfers, surrender proceedings, and dam removal projects.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities and strategic partnerships within the hydropower, renewable energy, and water resources sectors.
• Lead capture planning, opportunity positioning, proposal development, interview preparation, and contract negotiations.
• Develop licensing and regulatory strategies that align client objectives with federal, state, Tribal, and local regulatory requirements.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of environmental scientists, engineers, planners, cultural resource specialists, fisheries biologists, and stakeholder engagement professionals.
• Provide executive-level guidance to clients regarding regulatory risk management, compliance obligations, permitting strategy, and long-term asset planning.
• Serve as a senior client manager and trusted advisor to utilities, public power agencies, municipalities, irrigation districts, independent power producers, and other hydropower asset owners.
• Strengthen key client relationships, position priority accounts, identify new opportunities, and support business growth across Tetra Tech's national hydropower practice.

Regulatory Strategy & Project Delivery

• Lead and manage FERC licensing and compliance projects from initiation through closeout, ensuring exceptional technical quality, schedule performance, and client satisfaction.
• Lead negotiations and engagement with FERC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Tribal Nations, state resource agencies, and local governments.
• Lead regulatory strategy and agency coordination for hydropower development at existing non-powered dams and federally authorized water resource projects.
• Interpret and apply the Federal Power Act and coordinate FERC licensing requirements with other federal project approvals.
• Advise clients on regulatory pathways associated with non-powered dam hydropower development, including USACE Section 408 permissions, federal project compatibility determinations, engineering review requirements, and stakeholder coordination.
• Direct preparation of licensing applications, amendment requests, surrender applications, compliance filings, environmental reports, management plans, technical studies, and regulatory correspondence.
• Guide technical study programs and environmental review efforts supporting FERC licensing and compliance activities.
• Facilitate complex stakeholder discussions involving environmental, cultural, recreation, fisheries, water quality, and operational issues.
• Provide expert-level interpretation of applicable federal and state regulations and agency requirements.
• Manage project financial performance, staffing, scope development, subcontractor management, schedules, and project risk.
• Maintain high standards for technical quality, regulatory compliance, safety, and client service.
• Conduct activities in accordance with internal procedures, applicable legislation, and industry standards.
• Maintain current technical and industry knowledge through continuous professional development.
• Work safely at all times and report health and safety incidents and concerns in accordance with company procedures.
• Perform additional duties as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Environmental Planning, Engineering, Public Policy, Hydrology, Fisheries, Recreation Management, or a related discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience managing environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, hydropower licensing, or related energy infrastructure projects.
• 7+ years of direct FERC hydropower licensing, relicensing, compliance, amendment, exemption, transfer, or surrender experience.
• Demonstrated success managing complex multidisciplinary projects and leading technical teams.
• Strong understanding of the Federal Power Act and its application to hydropower licensing, exemptions, amendments, and development opportunities at existing dams and water resource infrastructure.
• Proven experience serving as a primary client contact and managing key client relationships.
• Strong understanding of hydropower operations, dam infrastructure, environmental compliance, and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, contracts, schedules, staffing, and profitability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex regulatory and technical information to clients, agencies, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop client relationships and support business development, capture, and proposal activities.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and without restrictions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience with FERC's Integrated Licensing Process (ILP), Traditional Licensing Process (TLP), and Alternative Licensing Process (ALP).
• Experience leading hydropower relicensing efforts from initial scoping through license issuance.
• Familiarity with the hydropower industry in the Pacific Northwest.
• Strong understanding of NEPA, Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act Sections 401 and 404, Section 106 consultation, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and related federal and state regulatory requirements.
• Experience supporting or managing hydropower development at existing non-powered dams, including familiarity with Federal Power Act requirements, FERC licensing processes, and USACE Section 408 review and approval procedures.
• Understanding of USACE civil works infrastructure, including the Section 408 permission process and associated engineering, operational, environmental, and risk-evaluation requirements for modifications to federally authorized projects.
• Experience supporting dam removal, fish passage, dam rehabilitation, or water resource infrastructure projects.
• Established relationships with FERC staff, federal resource agencies, state agencies, Tribal Nations, and hydropower industry stakeholders.
• Established industry reputation demonstrated through conference presentations, publications, committee participation, or leadership roles in professional organizations.

Work Environment & Travel:

• This position may be performed remotely within the United States, based on business and project needs.
• Travel will be required periodically for client meetings, project activities, agency and stakeholder meetings, conferences, business development, and coordination with Tetra Tech teams.
• Work may involve collaboration with geographically dispersed project teams and clients throughout the United States.

Life at Tetra Tech:

The perks of working at Tetra Tech include:

• Comprehensive and market-competitive benefits.  https://www.tetratech.com/careers/life-at-tetra-tech/
• Merit-based financial rewards.
• Flexibility and company-wide commitment to work/life balance.
• Collaborative team atmosphere that values the contributions of all employees.
• Learning and development opportunities for ongoing professional growth. 

A pre-employment drug screen in compliance with federal regulations is required, along with a physical if needed.

Compensation:

Pay commensurate with experience.

Pay Range: $160,000-$220,000 annually

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience and demonstrated work experience in the above role; skills, certifications, and competencies that align to the specified role; geographic location; and education, as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

At Tetra Tech, health and safety play a vital role in our success. Tetra Tech’s employees work together to comply with all applicable health & safety practices and protocols, including public health orders and regulations that are mandated by local, state, provincial, federal, international authorities, and clients.