Senior Natural Resources Team Lead - Water Resources

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee-owned company of environmental professionals who specialize in natural and cultural resource management, environmental planning, and regulatory compliance.

The Senior Natural Resources Team Lead – Water Resources is responsible for providing leadership within the New Mexico Four Corner’s Natural Resources and Planning Program by managing staff, projects, and clients.  The successful candidate will possess a proven track record of developing new business, managing projects, meeting financial goals, and mentoring others to do the same. The Senior Team Lead reports to the New Mexico Four Corners subregion’s Natural Resources Director and will work closely with other Team Leads and the subregion Vice President. The successful candidate will have a depth of experience and familiarity with the business environment of New Mexico and the surrounding states.

Application Directions: Qualified candidates must submit a Letter of Interest along with a current resume in order to be considered for the position. Candidates will also be asked to answer a short series of interview questions prior to in-person interviews.

Closing date for applying for this position is:  December 31, 2022.

What you will accomplish

The Senior Team Lead will manage and oversee current projects and opportunities related to SWCA’s water resources service areas and staff including Clean Water Act compliance and permitting, watershed planning and management, NEPA analysis for watershed resources, stormwater planning and inspection services, and water quality or quantity analysis and planning services. The Senior Team Lead will participate in the development of a forward-looking plan for their team and strategic growth in the realm of water resources services. This will include working with the Natural Resources Director and professional staff in the other SWCA offices and regions to further employee development and mentoring, track financial performance and forecasting, provide senior level technical leadership, and develop strategic program goals by contributing to the following:

Organizational leadership

• Supervise and mentor project managers and technical staff.
• Facilitate communication between staff and the Director, other teams, and corporate departments.
• Support the continued growth of the Water Resources-focused staff group. Advise the Director on staff hires, advancement, and course correction, as needed.
• Support regional goals to improve and maintain quality of performance and SWCA presence in delivering water resources technical services and providing solutions to water-focused clients.
• Take on increasing levels of responsibility and monitoring metrics for the financial performance of your team. Metrics to monitor monthly will include project profitability, individual staff billing rates, productivity goals, labor projections, financial forecasting, and annual business planning.
• Audit projects for the PMs in your Team quarterly, identify and mitigate project challenges to avoid overruns and ensure profitability.
• Provide general support to the team relating to subject matter resources, training opportunities, regulatory and research updates.
• This position will require highly developed critical thinking skills to recognize and solve problems proactively. Resolve risks and impediments through persistence, creative thinking, and a focus on client satisfaction
• It will be critical for this person to have strategic risk awareness and management in an environmental consulting setting.

Technical leadership

• Provide senior level quality assurance/quality control reviews of deliverables prepared by other team members.
• Support communication of regulatory updates to clients and internal project managers.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality technical work throughout the team, including process improvement, standard operating procedures, data management and analysis, and reporting procedures.
• Encourage innovation in the program, mentor critical thinking for new internal process improvements, technical approaches, and create a plan for their implementation.
• Think beyond the standard consulting services to develop new project niches, extend project life-cycles, and cross sell other SWCA services.

Client leadership

• Manage the performance of individual projects and effectively coordinate with clients and agencies to produce technically excellent work that is on time and on budget.
• Grow client relationships and conduct business development with new and existing clients.
• Identify and evaluate changing market conditions and strategic sales opportunities (new clients and geographies).
• Lead proposal efforts and internal business development groups, take lead role in the go/no go decisions in concert with the Director.
• Develop deep and productive relationships within industry organizations and with agency staff to expand the regional client base in line with the region’s strategic goals.

Experience and qualifications for success

REQUIRED

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s (B.A. or B.S.) degree in Biology, Ecology, Water Resources/Engineering, Hydrology, or a related field required.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in consulting and project management, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience supervising and mentoring natural resources project managers, technical staff, and field personnel.
• A working knowledge of water resources consulting in the NM/4C region or SW USA including an understanding of private and public (Federal, State, and Local) sector clients and services sought by clients.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising, mentoring, and providing leadership for other professionals.
• Demonstrated business development success and consulting acumen, including established credibility with federal and state agencies and clients, as well as success in proposal writing.

PREFERRED

• Graduate degree in in Biology, Ecology, Water Resources/Engineering, Hydrology, or a related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in consulting and project management, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Five (5) years of experience supervising and mentoring natural resources project managers, technical staff, and field personnel.
• A working understanding of agency internal processes and procedures and positive existing relationships with private and public (Federal, State, and Local) sector water clients.
• Ability to take initiative and ownership, resolve problems, and ensure that tasks are completed in the most effective manner.
• Brings a team-building mentality and fosters the entrepreneurial culture of the program.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

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

In accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (EPEWA), we are disclosing a good faith estimate of the compensation range for roles that will be, or could be, performed in Colorado.

In Colorado, an employee in this position can expect an annual rate between $90,000 and $110,000 depending on experience, geographic locations, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.  Employees in this position are eligible for consideration for SWCA’s annual bonus program, which provides awards based on individual and organizational performance.  To review additional benefits associated with this position, click here: https://www.swca.com/careers/totalrewards/benefits

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