Project Environmental Scientist

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding our team and actively looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. Our New Mexico/Four Corners team is looking for a self-motivated Project-Level Environmental Scientist with attention to detail and strong communication skills. We are seeking a candidate who is looking to develop or continue a long-term consulting career that combines high-level technical expertise, strong writing skills, business acumen and the potential for leadership. Responsibilities may include writing technical reports, participating in field work, natural resource planning, permitting assistance, and coordinating with a multi-disciplinary team.

This is a permanent full-time, regular position, reporting to one of SWCA’s Project Managers out of our Albuquerque, NM, office

We are considering candidates at the below levels of positions, based on relevant years of experience to the role:

• Assistant Project Environmental Scientist / Project Manager - Typically with at least 3 years of experience and expertise
• Associate Project Environmental Planner / Project Manager – Typically with at least 5 years of experience and expertise
• Project Environmental Planner / Project Manager - Typically with at least 7 years of experience and expertise

Our Vision (the North Star), Core Values, and Purpose:  Help drive SWCA to be the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership.

We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.

What you will accomplish

• Below please find the job responsibilities for an Assistant Project Environmental Scientist.  Responsibilities for the Associate or Project level Environmental Scientist include leading small to mid-sized project projects and serving more as a subject matter expert.

  • Develop project management and technical lead skills on a variety of environmental and water resource projects.

  • Project management tasks, especially projects related to watershed science and associated framework. Watershed-related projects typically include regulatory adherence to Clean Water Act (CWA) Sections 401 (Water Quality Certification), 402 (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System), 404 (Dredge and Fill Material) and floodplain management, as well as the Endangered Species Act, and other state and local regulations.

  • Collaboration with a team of natural and cultural resources specialists to fulfill a variety of environmental planning and permitting needs for different projects.

  • Responsible for multi-disciplinary scope of work and budget development with the natural resources team, as well as tracking scopes and budgets during project execution.

  • Agency and client coordination regarding Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) CWA Section 401, 402, and 404 permit programs and building trusted relationships with the responsible agencies and stakeholders.

  • Prepare aquatic resources inventory reports, clean water act permitting support documentation including stormwater pollution prevention plans and other stormwater permit related documentation.

  • Conduct watershed field work including WOTUS jurisdictional delineations, aquatic resources functional and conditional assessments, stormwater permit compliance inspections, and habitat assessments for aquatic and upland areas.

  • Support general natural resources tasks, including general biological surveys as well as preparation of environmental assessments, biological reports, and biological evaluations documentation.

  • Organize, review, and transfer field data, and write technical reports and permit applications related to the CWA, floodplain management, and other state and local water resources regulations.

  • Coordinating and collaborating with other SWCA water resources specialists, including delineation specialists, ecologists, stormwater specialists, restoration specialists, hydrologists, floodplain specialists, etc. for quality assurance for scope of work and project approach development. Drives sound science solutions.

  • Take initiative and resolve issues in an independent manner.

  • Identify and pursue new business opportunities, in collaboration with the natural resources team.

  • Work closely with SWCA’s other resource scientists, planners, on natural and cultural resource projects throughout the company.

  • Work as member of a team and independently to make decisions and complete tasks in the most effective manner.

Experience and qualifications for success

We seek a team member who brings with them a demonstrated experience in environmental and water resources project management. We seek the following specific qualities:

Required

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, Water Resources, Biology, Ecology, or a related field required.
• At least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in environmental or water resources.
• Experience working with scientists, planners, engineers, contractors, and agency specialists.
• Proficiency in writing natural resources technical reports -- these may include those related to the Clean Water Act; National Environmental Protection Act; Endangered Species Act; the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; and/or other environmental requirements.
• Excellent organizational and verbal/written communication skills
• Ability to solve complex problems using sound professional judgment, creativity, and innovation.
• Ability to participate and collaborate in a project team setting and to engage in independent creative and critical thought
• Familiarity with mapping software such as ArcGIS and GPS devices

Preferred

Please note that an absence of one or more of these skills is not critical as long as you demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills.

• At least five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in water resources or environmental sciences.
• Previous experience in environmental consulting highly preferred
• Experience in preparing reports and permits as primary author for variety of oil and gas, transmission, and renewable energy project types and sizes.
• Demonstrated business development success, including proposal writing, budget development, and client interaction.
• Desire to learn and grow into increased project-management and supervisory responsibilities.
• Previous experience with water quality, hydrology, and/or water resource-related skills
• Project management, client management, and business development experience
• Experience working with and/or for government agencies such as the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, New Mexico Surface Water Quality Bureau, Colorado Division of Water Resources, Colorado Water Quality Control Division, Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corp of Engineers, and/or other municipal water agencies and managers.
• Technical experience with stormwater inspections and management as a qualified stormwater inspector with a widely recognized certification (CISEC, CESSWI, or other)
• National Environmental Policy Act experience for watershed science
• Applicable watershed science and framework experience, including understanding the dynamic of environmental management to address complex watershed issues within a hydrologically defined geographic area (watershed and basins), while taking both ground and surface water flow, as well as ecological interactions (biotic and abiotic conditions) into consideration.
• Technical and regulatory knowledge of Waters of the U.S. and CWA Section 404 and Section 401 permitting programs at the Federal level. Understand how these regulations and permitting programs are implemented/interpreted in New Mexico and/or the Western U.S.
• Experience with water quality management.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.  We will encourage you to grow and develop your career with us through our technical and professional development programs and diverse career opportunities. We believe in leadership at all levels. No matter where you sit in the organization you can make a lasting impact on the projects you work on, the teams and committees you join and our business.

If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees.  In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Albuquerque, NM-based position can expect a rate / salary of:

• Assistant Project Environmental Scientist-$26.25-$34.25 per hour
• Associate Project Environmental Scientist-$62,400-$80,080 per year
• Project Environmental Scientist-$68,640-$88,400

Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.  Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

Employees in this position are eligible for consideration for SWCA’s bonus program, which provides awards based on individual and organizational performance.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

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