Senior Visual Resources Consultant

About the opportunity

Do you thrive in the pursuit of ensuring excellence in environmental consulting services for your clients? SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding our visual resources team and is looking for a dynamic and experienced individual interested in continuing their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. SWCA Consultants has an opportunity for an on-call, temporary and hourly Senior Visual Resources Consultant to join us.

In this role, you will help the visual resources team in the development of analytical products related to visual resources and findings for environmental documents for local, state, and federal agencies. This position can be geographically located anywhere within the continental United States either as a remote employee or hybrid role based on proximity to an established SWCA office. Travel to project sites may be required for up to 25% of the year or as needed.

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.

What you will accomplish

• As a Sr. Visual Resource Consultant, apply your knowledge and experience working collaboratively with others on the inventory and analysis of visual resources and impacts to visual resources associated with proposed projects following local, state, and federal guidance.
• Prepare and produce visual impact assessment (VIA) technical reports and visual resources sections of permit documents and permit applications for federal, state, local agencies, and jurisdictions.
• Lead and develop proposals, scopes of work and associated budgets independently and with proposal teams.
• Mentor and develop team members.
• Travel to project locations to conduct visual resource inventories and assessments.
• Work with Visual Simulation Specialists to develop photographic simulations, visualization graphics and 3D visualizations to support visual resource assessments for permitting documents and public outreach materials.
• Ensure project quality, schedule, and budget objectives are met and adhered to.
• Take initiative, resolve problems, identify improved procedures, and communicate effectively to assure project manager and client needs are met.
• Work closely with resource teams, project managers, and senior leadership throughout the company to promote SWCA’s business interests in adherences to its mission, vision, and values.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, landscape architecture, or other related field applicable to visual impact assessment.
• Demonstrated organizational development, leadership, and mentoring
• A minimum of ten (10) years of direct experience in environmental planning with emphasis on leading visual impact assessments of large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Ability to manage time effectively and work independently as a distributed or hybrid employee.
• Innovative and tested approaches to conducting visual analysis through new technologies and methods.
• Practiced understanding of environmental permitting regulations and requirements including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other state and local siting/permitting regulations.
• Demonstrated experience in technical writing to support the development of environmental permitting documents for NEPA and state and local permitting relate to visual resources.
• Proficiency in orienteering skills using a compass and GPS equipment; reading and interpreting aerial imagery, topographical maps, and design drawings to interpret spatial relationships.
• Photography and its application for use in visual simulations.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to take a logical approach to tasks.

 Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working with local, state, and federal agencies; understanding of federal agency visual resource programs and policy.
• Experience conducting visual impact assessments for renewable energy, mining, and linear infrastructure projects.
• Night skies impact analysis application and understanding.
• Experience interpreting and critiquing visual simulations.

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.

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.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

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 based position can expect an hourly rate up to $60/hour. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law.

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.