Project Environmental Scientist

About the opportunity

SWCA’s growing Amherst, Massachusetts office is seeking an Environmental Project Scientist who will be responsible for task and project management, leading technical field efforts, all aspects of wetland and rare species environmental permitting, collaborating with SWCA scientists within our natural resources team and across our region, and developing client relationships.

Our Amherst office offers a collaborative and supportive work environment with a diverse team of scientists working on a wide range of projects. We work spans multiple services including wetlands, rare species, natural resource assessment, environmental permitting and compliance, habitat restoration, biodiversity, stormwater, and others. The successful candidate will posses a broad range of skills including a well-developed understanding of environmental permitting in the northeast across multiple sectors including utilities and land development, strong technical field skills, and effective communication skills.

We offer a supportive and casual work environment with flexible schedules, competitive total compensation, benefits package, professional training, and mentorship. SWCA is a 100% employee owned company with a stock ownership program.

This is a full-time, regular status position with the flexibility of a hybrid or locally remote environment. The ideal candidate will be located within regular commuter distance to the Amherst office or be able to commute to Amherst when needed. Relocation assistance may be considered on an as-needed basis for this role.

This position can be hired at either of the following levels:

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

Compensation will be based on individual qualifications and experience.

What you will accomplish

Responsibilities for this position include serving as a task manager, overseeing and directing field activities, and managing small to mid-sized project projects. As part of this position, the Project Scientist will:

• Develop project management and technical lead skills on a variety of environmental and water resource projects.
• Manage a variety of tasks, including projects related to wetland science and threatened/endangered species.
• Oversee and direct all aspects of environmental permitting related to Clean Water Act (CWA) Sections 401 (Water Quality Certification), 402 (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System), and 404 (Dredge and Fill Material), as well as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and other state and local laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with a team of natural and cultural resources specialists to fulfill a variety of environmental planning and permitting needs for different projects.
• Be 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.
• Direct agency and client coordination regarding wetland, rare species, stormwater, and compliance monitoring programs and building trusted relationships with the responsible agencies and stakeholders.
• Prepare resource inventory reports, environmental permitting support, and other documents.
• Oversee and lead field work including wetland and watercourse delineations, aquatic resources functional and conditional assessments, stormwater permit compliance inspections, and rare species habitat assessments and surveys.
• 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.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other SWCA scientists, including wetland specialists, ecologists, stormwater specialists, restoration specialists, hydrologists, floodplain specialists, wildlife specialists, etc. for quality assurance for scope of work and project approach development.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Wetland Science, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology or other related field.
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in natural resources.
• Demonstrated prior experience leading wetland delineations, rare species investigations, construction monitoring, and other similar tasks.
• Previous experience with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in the northeast United States.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to pass a motor vehicle screening

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Wetland Science, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, or similar field.
• At leat one (1) year of natural resources (or related) project management experience, including developing and implementing budgets, scopes of work, and project schedules.
• Professional certifications including PWS, CWB, CERP, NHCWS, CESSWI, Registered (Professional) Soil Scientist, CE, or similar.

Additional Information

• Valid driver's license.
• Ability and willingness to travel, sometimes at moment’s notice, for extended periods, at nights and occasionally on the weekend.
• Ability to pass a Motor Vehicle background screening.
• Available to access projects within the geographic area.
• Ability to work long hours in harsh conditions.

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.

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 Amherst, MA - based position can expect a rate of $26.25 - $34.25_/h__our at the Assistant Project Environmental Scientist level, $62,400.00 - $80,080.00/year at the Associate Project Environmental Scientist level, and $68,640.00 - $88,400.00/year at the Project Environmental Scientist level. 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.

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

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.comor call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

#LI-LC1

#ind-swca

Seniority Level

Associate

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