Planning Director, Nevada

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Planning Director to lead the growth and expansion of our Planning and NEPA team in Nevada. This position requires technical expertise in NEPA, along with the ability to lead experts and team members across the planning discipline to consistently produce work of superior quality. This position also requires excellent leadership skills to successfully manage the execution of project work, cultivate our business development processes, deliver for our clients, and build an exceptional planning team. The Nevada Planning Director will report to the Nevada Senior Director. This is a regular, full-time, salaried position with compensation based on individual qualifications and experience. This position can be based in either SWCA Nevada office (Las Vegas or Reno).  Highly qualified, remote candidates will also be seriously considered.

When it comes to SWCA’s planning practice, Nevada is an area of excellence renowned for the quality of our work, commitment to our clients, and unparalleled team of professionals. We continuously strive to be the premier environmental consultancy in this market by offering a work environment that promotes employee engagement and development. The successful candidate will coordinate closely with peers across the West Region and throughout the company. This position offers a unique opportunity for team leadership and professional development in this dynamic market.

Candidates must submit a brief letter of interest with their application that describes their vision for this position.

What you will accomplish

People Leadership (35% of workload)

• Lead the growth and expansion of our Planning and NEPA team in Nevada.
• Identify gaps in planning resources expertise, identify and attract top talent to SWCA, and advocate for strategic hires when needed.
• Support career mobility and growth within SWCA through active coaching and mentorship of team members. ​
• Promote a culture of leadership, teamwork, engagement, high-quality service, and client satisfaction.
• Directly manage principal and lead-level staff.
• Drive engagement of the team by recognizing high performance and implementing approaches that build and sustain high levels of motivation. ​
• Connect with staff, peers, and senior management by leading regular planning program meetings, brown bags, and trainings and contributing to regular regional and national leadership meetings.

Technical Leadership (30% of workload)

• Take ultimate responsibility for adherence to SWCA Quality Control Procedures within the Nevada Planning Program. Ensure that the program meets its commitments to quality and create an environment of accountability for meeting agreed-upon expectations through the use of tools and controls, such as quality audits.
• Create and ensure the use of a process to systematically gather and apply lessons learned on technical performance across projects.
• Create a culture where experimenting to find new solutions is valued and supported.
• Support the execution of work by managing projects and contracts, as well as providing senior-level technical leadership and support. Develop and approve research designs.
• Leverage experts effectively, engaging the right talent to achieve project objectives.​
• Ensure that the planning program has the space, tools, and research aids that it needs, including reference libraries, subscriptions, and field gear.
• Stay current on relevant regulations and communicate changes and trends to staff and clients.
• Coordinate with the nationwide NEPA Technical Director, Practice Group Champions, and the Practice Group in general to advance local and nationwide technical needs and initiatives.
• Ensure that the work of each unit of the planning program, including operations and maintenance programs with streamlined regulatory environments (e.g., mining, electric transmission and distribution), is executed in complementary and coordinated ways. Establish systems and programs to produce consistent results.
• Represent Nevada in regional and national conversations concerning NEPA, planning, and policy.

Client and Market Leadership (25% of workload)

• Maintain and generate awareness of market and industry trends, particularly the latest regulatory changes or technical advances, that impact the business through news sources, event attendance, and using your professional network. Build SWCA’s brand as a thought leader in the science of environmental consulting.
• Identify new technically focused opportunities to diversify the business, contribute to go/no-go analyses and lead teams (or act as leading technical contributor) in their pursuit. Provide senior review of proposals.
• Contribute to the growth and maintenance of client relationships, both locally and regionally.

Financial Leadership (10% of workload)

• Contribute to the development and management of the operational budget, particularly with regards to tools and trainings needed to accomplish program goals and ensure that budget objectives are achieved throughout the year through tracking and sound financial decision making.
• Ensure appropriate level of review and approval of proposals, contracts, budgets, and expenditures through mastery of and adherence to the SWCA approvals matrix.
• Work with Project Controls to conduct quality audits of projects within area of responsibility to ensure that projects are on track, risks are mitigated, and issues are escalated and resolved.
• Facilitate communication between project managers, project controls, and accounts receivable.

Experience and qualifications for success

Education and qualifications for success:

• Graduate degree in planning, environmental studies, environmental management, or a field related to SWCA’s planning services is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in NEPA. Experience should include leading teams, office work, and report completion, as well as reviews of technical work products.
• Working knowledge of the Nevada market and deep familiarity with its resources is preferred.
• Experience in the power and/or mining planning processes is preferred.
• Expert-level understanding of federal, state, and local regulations relevant to NEPA and environmental permitting in Nevada.
• Demonstrated success mentoring, developing, and coaching staff.​
• Extensive experience building and maintaining strong partnerships, both internal and external.​
• Strong client-facing skills (e.g., communication, relationship building, problem solving).​

Seniority Level

Director

Not ready to apply? Connect with us for general consideration.