Lead Environmental Planner

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding our environmental planning team and actively looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. Our Portland, Oregon office is looking for a self-motivated Lead Environmental Planner with attention to detail and strong communication skills.  This individual needs to be willing and able to work with peers across various offices and accomplish tasks associated with a variety of projects in any given week. The ability to work directly with clients is imperative. The interest in pursuing new business is also desirable.

This is a permanent, part-time, regular (with benefits) position, reporting to SWCA’s Natural Resources and Planning Team Lead out of our Portland, Oregon office.

Our Vision (the North Star):  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.

Core Values: 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.

Purpose: Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story.

What you will accomplish

You will be responsible for performing environmental analyses, facilitating public and agency outreach, and providing quality assurance and leadership during the development of environmental review documents.  Specific responsibilities include:

• Write and manage the preparation of environmental review documents addressing the development for a wide variety of projects, revision of federal land use plans, issuance of rights-of-way, approvals, and/or leases, policy amendments, etc. In addition, this position will help lead, write, and manage the preparation of FERC or other relevant environmental review and permitting documents related to projects managed by federal agencies or for those that occur on federal lands.
• Support business line growth objectives and lead the development of environmental review documents for business lines that may include generation and potentially other business lines.
• Demonstrate excellent leadership behavior and professionalism while providing leadership at the project, team, and office level.
• Provide expertise to SWCA project managers on complex FERC or other environmental review/permitting projects.
• Provide enterprise-level support by contributing to business development pursuits and proposals.
• Mentor early and mid-career staff in the development of the skills in environmental review analysis and document preparation.
• Assist in internal environmental review document/FERC training and leading focus group discussions.

Experience and qualifications for success

• At least ten (10) years of relevant industry experience.
• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Policy, Environmental Law, Ecology, Hydrology, Water Resources, Biology, or related field
• Proven FERC experience conducting licensing/relicensing, on-going implementation and compliance, annual reports, and regulatory filings.
• Knowledge and experience working with relevant Federal and State Agencies including FERC, USFWS, USFS, NGOs and/or Native American Tribes.
• Excellent organizational and verbal/written communication skills.
• Ability to manage a team of technical/subject-matter experts and reach project milestones.
• Ability to solve complex problems using sound professional judgment, creativity, and innovation.
• Ability to participate and collaborate in a project team setting and also to engage in independent creative and critical thought.

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.

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 Portland, OR - based position can expect a salary of $40.43/hour to $51.98/hour.  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.

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