Principal Environmental Planner

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Principal Environmental Planner to support the growth and expansion of our environmental planning team in Arizona, the West and nationally, reporting into our Flagstaff, AZ office.  While affiliated with our Flagstaff, AZ office, this position can be filled remotely (= distributed). The Principal Environmental Planner will collaborate with environmental planners throughout the West region and nationwide.

As a Principal Environmental Planner, you will work with the Arizona Planning Director, Planning Team Leads, and our Cultural and Natural Resource programs to execute on project delivery and provide high-quality environmental consulting. This “cornerstone” position is ideal for an experienced and ambitious person who is looking to advance their career as both an environmental practitioner and as a mentor to a collaborative team that is committed to excellence.

SWCA is a well-established leader in environmental consulting in Arizona, having provided high-quality cultural and natural resources services in the region for over four decades. We are a 100% employee-owned firm, and in addition to our competitive benefits package, we offer health and wellness programs, career development progression and training, the opportunity to give back to our communities, and a flexible work environment.

This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried position, that is a career growth opportunity to join SWCA’s expanding Planning Practice.

Application Deadline:  Applications are due before 5:00 PM AZT on Friday August 1, 2025

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, almost 1,900 staff, employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA 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. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

What you will accomplish

• Technical Leadership. The Principal Environmental Planner will provide technical leadership throughout the West region by serving as a Senior Project Manager on key projects, giving strategic input to other active projects in the region, and serving as a technical advisor to share advanced ideas for the region’s projects and pursuits. The Principal Environmental Planner will encourage innovation in the program and mentor staff. You will work with your team to generate process improvements and novel technical approaches. 

• Client and Business Development Leadership. The Principal Environmental Planner will help lead NEPA and planning marketing and business development efforts. These activities will include fostering new and existing client relationships, determining which opportunities to pursue, leading proposal and interview efforts, and targeting promising markets, geographies, and sectors. The Principal Environmental Planner will be supported by several senior practitioners experienced in client and business development. 

• People Leadership. The Principal Environmental Planner will hire, manage, and mentor junior staff. Problem-solving skills are a must, including the ability to discern which issues need to be elevated and which can be resolved without assistance. The Principal Environmental Planner will be nimble and adaptable and will manage the workload of the team through shifting deadlines and client expectations. This position will prioritize collaboration, the advancement and growth of the group, and the professional development of team members (under the supervision of the Principal Environmental Planning Team Lead).  Safety is also a critical, non-negotiable priority for SWCA, and this individual will drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

What you will bring: 

• A strong interest in supporting and building a planning practice in Arizona and the West Region with a significant focus on NEPA services;
• A history of successfully managing NEPA, and/or planning projects of various scales, including complex EISs for a variety of Federal agencies and private developers;
• Strong existing client contacts in one or more of SWCA’s key client sectors (e.g., Federal, planning and community development departments, public works departments, private developers, renewable energy, or energy developers and utilities), or a strong desire to help grow these;
• A proven track record of developing client relationships, leading to the creation of new business opportunities;
• Strong ability to manage large project teams and coordinate with clients in a collaborative environment;
• A desire to work in a team environment, being inspired through always learning and advancing; and,
• The ability to create a climate where people are motivated to bring their best work to help our employee-owned company grow and prosper.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning or a related field.
• A minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant environmental consulting experience, including applicable and progressive experience preparing and leading NEPA documents.
• Strong knowledge of NEPA and experience managing the NEPA processes and documents; ability to critically review supporting technical reports.
• Experience working with relevant Federal Agencies and regulators such as the US Army Corp of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, U.S Forest Service, National Park Service, and state and local planning agencies and programs.
• Experience training and mentoring planning staff.
• Experience leading client and business development efforts and proposals to secure new opportunities with new clientele.

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 Flagstaff AZ position can expect a salary of $109,138/year - $142,209/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 (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), 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. 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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