Senior/Principal Wetland Scientist

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee-owned company of environmental professionals who specialize in natural and cultural resource management, environmental planning, and regulatory compliance. We are seeking a highly experienced, self-motivated Senior or Principal Wetland Scientist to grow and expand our wetland services within the Colorado/Front range geography. This is an opportunity to join a robust wetland program with a positive and supportive team. This position also offers great opportunities for career growth in organizational leadership.

The successful candidate will possess:

• established commitment to technical leadership and quality for aquatic resource sciences,
• strong existing client contacts in multiple business lines (e.g., energy and utilities, oil/gas, water resources, and federal, state, and local agencies) and a proven track record of creating and developing new business opportunities,
• extensive experience providing agency consultation and regulatory expertise for aquatic resource impact permitting,
• a history of successfully managing projects for diverse services,
• a self-motivated, can-do attitude, and
• a track record and passion for mentoring junior staff.

The Senior Wetland Scientist will have expertise in all aspects of wetland permitting, NEPA, and project management skills for energy and other development projects. Experience in specialty areas including Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment dredge and fill permitting, regional wetlands inventories and functional assessments is highly valued. Skills include the ability to manage projects and milestones within schedule and budget expectations and primarily be responsible for QA/QC oversight of field data to support report-writing, permitting, and assist with business development to grow our practice. The ideal applicant will be experienced in managing multiple components with multidisciplinary staff to complete project permitting requirements.

This is a regular (with benefits), salaried, exempt and full-time position, and the applicant should be located in, or be willing to relocate to the Denver or Fort Collins, CO area. We offer a hybrid work model with most of our team working two to three days in the office.

This requisition can hire at two levels:

• Senior Wetland Scientist: Typically with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience and expertise.
• Principal Wetland Scientist: Typically with at least twelve (12) years of relevant experience and expertise.

Individuals with fewer years of experience but with the skills and experienced outlined in the job description are also encouraged to apply.

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

A principal wetland scientist's tasks and responsibilities will likely involve larger and more complex projects and activities than a senior wetland scientist.

• Conduct all aspects of wetland projects including: assessment design, wetland and waters determination, delineation, reporting, functional assessment, permitting, avoidance and mitigation planning and design, and monitoring
• Prepare and/or oversee written documents, including proposals, wetland and waters determination and delineation reports, permit applications, monitoring reports, including providing QA/QC
• Oversee other biological assessment work including fieldwork and deliverable preparation for state and federal threatened and endangered species and other biological assessments for local, state, and federal permitting
• Lead and/or coordinate agency review of wetland permit applications
• Conduct business development and marketing geared toward positioning SWCA to win projects
• Expand SWCA's professional relationship with existing clients
• Help lead strategic planning and positioning of SWCA's services
• Hire, mentor, supervise, and develop junior staff
• Lead or oversee field data collection and report writing in support of Natural Resources Site Assessments of Vegetated Corridors under Clean Water Services and Water Environment Services regulations
• Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or other related field
• A minimum of ten (10) years combined experience in project management, environmental consulting, or ecological, studies
• Botany skills in the Colorado/Front range (or equivalent ecosystems)
• Proven track record of creating and developing new business opportunities
• Experience and ability to manage multiple complex projects and programs, in diverse settings and with changing requirements
• Ability to use and teach the use of GPS units and computer software with minimal assistance or training.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability and willingness to travel (i.e., must be able to travel, sometimes upon short notice, and for extended periods) and work in varying weather conditions and meet with clients, regulators, and SWCA staff for field visits and to complete data collection activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in disciplines mentioned above.
• Extensive working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and policies (e.g., NEPA, CWA, removal/fill permits, and land use applications) governing natural resource management
• Desire to thrive in a highly collaborative team atmosphere

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 need assistance accessing SWCA's website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; 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 on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Denver, CO-based position can expect a salary of: Senior Wetland Scientist -- $93,018/year to $121,139/year; Principal Wetland Scientist - $105,997/year to $138,445/year. 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.

SWCA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success

SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA's continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

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