Project Environmental Planner

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding our team and actively looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. Our New Mexico/Four Corners team is looking for a self-motivated Project-Level Environmental Planner with attention to detail and strong communication skills.

We are considering candidates at the below levels of positions, based on relevant years of experience to the role:

•  Assistant Project Environmental Planner  - Typically with 3 years of relevant experience and expertise
• Associate Project Environmental Planner  - Typically with 5 years of relevant experience and expertise
• Project Environmental Planner - Typically with 7 years of relevant experience and expertise

Individuals need 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. Candidates showing an interest in pursuing new business is also desirable.

This is a permanent full-time, hybrid or office-based regular position, reporting to one of SWCA’s Project Managers out of either our Albuquerque, or Durango, CO office.

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's 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.

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.

What you will accomplish

You will be responsible for performing environmental impact analyses, facilitating public and agency outreach, and providing quality assurance and leadership during the development of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents. More senior positions will be responsible for more complicated, larger, and multidisciplinary projects and tasks.  Specific responsibilities include:

• Work as part of the New Mexico/Four Corners team to develop individual and collective NEPA analysis and document preparation skills.
• Contribute to the preparation of a variety of environmental planning documents addressing the development of a wide variety of projects, revision of federal land use plans, issuance of rights-of-way, approvals, and/or leases, policy amendments, etc. This may include leading, writing, or managing the preparation of NEPA and pre-NEPA or other support documents related to projects managed by federal agencies or for those that occur on federal lands as well as environmental reports or other project planning documents for project occurring on state or private lands.
• Support business line growth objectives and lead or contribute to the development of NEPA documents, including environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs), for business lines that may include generation, transmission, oil and gas, solar, wind, mining, and others.
• Assist teams by providing technical oversight and guidance for the preparation of key aspects of NEPA documents and the NEPA process, including Pre-NOI activities and project planning; development of the description of the proposed action and purpose and need; NEPA document structuring and content planning; public involvement and outreach including public scoping; public comment review and response; and Records of Decision and Findings of No Significant Impact.
• Demonstrate excellent leadership behavior and professionalism while providing leadership at the project, team, and office level.
• Provide enterprise-level support by contributing to business development pursuits and proposals.
• Take responsibility for team safety, and anticipate potential safety hazards.

Experience and qualifications for success

We seek a team member who brings with him/her demonstrated experience in NEPA project management, environmental analysis, and agency consultation. We seek the following specific qualities:

• Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Sociology, Journalism, Public Administration, project management, Economics, Marketing, Environmental Policy or another science-related field.
• A minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated experience in an environmental planning or project management position to include: writing technical documents, participating on project teams, preparing or directing staff in the preparation of technical studies and/or setting and adhering to project budgets and delivery schedules.
• A working knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and /or the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the now rescinded Secretarial Order 3355.
• Working knowledge of agency internal processes and procedures and/or positive existing relationships with federal land management and regulatory agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), FERC, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to represent the company in a professional manner, particularly when talking to clients.

Preferred or Helpful

• 5-7 or more years of experience working in the environmental industry either through public or private professional positions with demonstrated experience supporting NEPA focused projects. Experience may include complex or multi-disciplinary projects; leading meetings with clients and agencies; directing project teams including subcontractors; preparing or directing staff in the preparation of technical studies and NEPA documents; and setting and adhering to project budgets and delivery schedules.
• Master’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another planning or science-related field.
• Exposure to natural and cultural resource issues, transportation projects, oil/gas projects, and/or renewables projects (including wind, solar and/or geothermal).
• Ability to be recognized by clients and agencies as a NEPA project manager or deputy project manager that can lead or assist with an EA or an EIS from pre-NEPA planning phases through project completion.
• Experience with business development with federal agencies, mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy developers or other non-federal applicants that seek permits or leases from federal agencies in the New Mexico/Four Corners geography.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental and cultural resources 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. 

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 Albuquerque, NM - based position can expect a salary of $58,427.20/year - $74,963.20/year in an Assistant Project Environmental Planner role, $66,144/year - $84,884.80/year in an Associate Project Environmental Planner role and $74,963.20/year - $97.011.20/year in a Project Environmental Planner role.  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.  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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