Project Manager - FERC Hydropower

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding our FERC hydropower regulatory and licensing team and actively looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. Our FERC hydropower program is rapidly growing, and as such SWCA is seeking people interested in being part of a new program with huge career growth potential. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have a passion for hydropower?
• Do you have an understanding of environmental regulations like the Clean Water Act, Federal Power Act, or Endangered Species Act?
• Do you like the idea of (or do you already have a talent for) reading something complex and teaching it back to someone in a way they can understand?
• Do you want to work at a company that sees you as a person first, gives each employee over 100 hours a year of wellness/mental health time (on top of paid time off), and prioritizes programs like parental leave and flexible work schedules?

If so, our Salt Lake City office is looking for a self-motivated Project Manager for our FERC hydropower program who has attention to detail, willingness to learn a new industry on-the-job, strong organization, strong communication skills, and who enjoys digging into complex regulations, finding clarity in them, and helping our clients implement them. Hydropower projects are found across the U.S. The applicant selected for this position would work with peers and colleagues across various offices, and accomplish tasks associated with a variety of projects in any given week. A strong sense of professionalism is imperative in maintaining and strengthening SWCA’s client relationships. An interest in pursuing new business opportunities to continue to grow the SWCA FERC program is helpful, but not required.

This is a permanent full-time, regular position, reporting to one of SWCA’s FERC Hydropower Leads out of our Salt Lake City office. This position is eligible for remote or hybrid work. Candidates located anywhere in the U.S. are encouraged to apply, however, the greater Salt Lake and rocky mountain regions or west coast are preferred.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee-owned company of environmental professionals who specialize in environmental planning, natural and cultural resource management, and regulatory compliance. Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today.

What you will accomplish

You will be responsible for performing environmental regulatory research and review, organizing public and agency outreach, and providing quality assurance and leadership to a team of subject matter specialists during the development of pre-application documents, initial consultation documents, draft and final license applications, and license amendments  for hydropower and pumped storage projects. Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead a team of subject matter experts through the licensing/relicensing process, communicating with clients about project needs, and interacting with the public to communicate project intentions. Prepare camera-ready documents that meet FERC and agency standards.
• Be the technical point of contact for assistance in the preparation of key aspects of FERC documents and the FERC process, including development of the description of the proposed project/action, identifying study needs; FERC document structuring and content planning; public scoping; and public comment review and response.
• Demonstrate excellent leadership and professionalism while providing technical and management support at the project, team and office level.
• Provide expertise to other SWCA project managers on complex FERC hydropower projects.
• Support business line growth objectives for business lines that may include hydropower licensing, relicensing, decommissioning and pumped storage.

Experience and qualifications for success

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, biology, environmental science, natural resource management, planning, geology, geography, history, law, or another science-related or policy-related field.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of FERC hydropower document preparation in environmental consulting, private industry, or as a developer. Experience can include a blend of agency experience, experience working with state, federal, or tribal organizations, complex, multi-disciplinary projects, participating in meetings with clients and agencies, supporting project teams, preparation of technical studies and FERC documents, and adhering to project budgets and delivery schedules.
• A proficient knowledge of the interconnectedness of federal and state environmental regulations including Federal Power Act, NEPA, the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the ability to support project preparation of plans to satisfy regulatory compliance.

Preferred qualifications:

• A working understanding of agency internal processes and procedures and positive existing relationships with local hydropower companies, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
• Experience with hydropower regulatory compliance, and pumped storage development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; attention to detail; and organization, schedule, and budget management skills.
• Experience with supporting business development with federal agencies and renewable energy developers or other non-federal applicants that seek permits or leases from federal agencies helpful.

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.

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.

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

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 Salt Lake City, UT-based position can expect an annual salary of $70,200.00 - $91,000.00. 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.

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