Senior Project Manager - Natural Resources

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior Project Manager to support our growing business in the Midwest USA. This role is ideal for an experienced environmental professional who thrives in a dynamic consulting environment and is passionate about multidisciplinary project management. You will be responsible for pursuing project opportunities, managing clients and projects, directing multidisciplinary field studies, and mentoring staff.  You will report into SWCA’s Chicago, IL office and operations, and highly qualified individuals based remotely (= distributed) in in the Midwest are strongly encouraged to apply.

In this role, you will primarily assist clients with projects related to energy permitting and regulatory compliance. This role will support projects related to the Clean Water Act (CWA – especially Section 404), the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) other federal, state, and local environmental regulations. SWCA’s Midwest teams serve a diverse range of industries, including transmission, energy generation, oil & gas, state and local agencies, water resources, and federal projects.  You will also be asked to mentor staff and be an Ambassador for SWCA’s safety and employee-ownership culture.

This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits. We prefer candidates based in the Midwest (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisonsin, etc.). The role requires up to 25% travel, primarily within the Midwest, with occasional trips to Chicago, ILL for leadership meetings and relevant client meetings.

Application Deadline:  April 6, 2026.

What you will accomplish

• Develop, manage, and grow client relationships, leading business development efforts with both new and existing clients.
• Expand SWCA’s presence by networking with clients, agencies, and industry organizations to grow the regional client base in a diversity of natural resource and coastal resiliency services.
• Identify and assess sales opportunities, oversee proposal development, and provide strategic recommendations to leadership overseeing operations in the Midwest subregion.
• Lead and manage multidisciplinary projects, ensuring successful execution from initiation to completion.
• Proactively manage project scope, schedule, and budget to prevent cost overruns and ensure deliverables meet quality standards.
• Provide technical oversight and prepare reports, including biological resources reports, biological assessments, wetland reports, National Environmental Policy Act documentation, and other natural resources project deliverables related to the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act (Section 404), and other regulatory, permitting, and compliance requirements.
• Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards
• Innovates standards and practices to enhance the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards.
• Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols.
• Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with project and operational teams to provide comprehensive technical leadership and support for regional and nationwide projects.
• Represent SWCA at major regional and technical conferences.
• Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Experience and qualifications for success

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Fish & Wildlife Science, Aquatics, or a related field.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in environmental consulting, project management, and business development.
• At least three (3) years of experience as a Project Manager, overseeing budgets, schedules, and project execution.
• Proven experience in the Midwest USA, including familiarity with state-specific environmental regulations and permitting.
• Experience working in a variety of states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Great Lakes states. Additional Midwest, Northeast, or southeast state experience is also preferred.
• Strong knowledge of federal (especially the US Fish and Wildlife Service), state, and local environmental laws (ESA, CWA, NEPA, etc.).
• Experience with wetland delineations, mitigation planning, NEPA compliance, threatened and endangered species, ecological assessments, stormwater and watershed management, and resiliency and management.
• Experience conducting environmental surveys, permitting, and field implementation for various projects.

 Preferred Qualifications

• At least ten (10) years of relevant industry experience, especially working for consulting firms.
• At least five (5) of experience as a Project Manager, overseeing budgets, schedules, and project execution.
• An existing client base and established industry connections.
• Deep expertise in Clean Water Act, Section 404, ESA, NEPA, and wetlands. 
• Previous experience working with and managing transmission, oil/gas, and renewable energy generation clients and projects.
• Demonstrated ability to develop business relationships as a "seller/doer" in environmental consulting.

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 in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Midwest-based position can expect an annual salary of $95,000/year to $126,670/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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