Lead/Senior/Principal Level Environmental Planner - NEPA

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 Lead/Senior/Principal Level Environmental Planner - NEPA (HR Titles hired under this job opening could include Lead Environmental Planner; Senior Environmental Planner; or Principal Environmental Planner) with attention to detail, knowledge of regulatory processes, and strong communication skills. Individuals need to be willing and able to work with peers and junior staff across various offices and accomplish tasks associated with a variety of project types. The ability to work directly with clients is imperative. The interest and capability to pursue new business and draft or manage proposals is also desirable.

This is a regular status (with benefits), full-time, salaried position, reporting to a Team Lead or Director in our New Mexico-Four Corner's subregion and business unit. Candidates can be based in the Albuquerque, NM or Durango, CO offices, or in a hybrid work arrangement, or remote (distributed) for those not located in the subregion. Albuquerque, NM is a preferred location for this role.

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 purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today.

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.

You will be responsible for performing and overseeing multi-disciplinary environmental impact analyses, facilitating public and agency outreach, and providing quality assurance and leadership during the development of EAs and EISs. More senior positions (e.g., Senior Environmental Planner; Principal Environmental Planner) will be accountable for more business development and lead more complicated, multidisciplinary planning efforts, projects and teams.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Manage and lead the preparation of EAs and EISs addressing the development for a wide variety of projects, including revisions of federal resource management plans (RMPs) and land use plans, issuance of rights-of-way, approvals, and/or leases, policy amendments, etc.
• Support business line growth objectives for business lines that may include land use planning, generation, transmission, water, 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-Notice of Intent (NOI) activities and project planning; development of the description of the proposed action and purpose and need; NEPA document structuring and content planning; public scoping; public comment review and response; and records of decisions and findings of no significant impact.
• Demonstrate excellent leadership behavior and professionalism while providing leadership at the project, team, and office level.
• Provide expertise to SWCA project managers on complex NEPA projects.
• Provide enterprise-level support by contributing to business development pursuits and proposals.
• Supervise and mentor early and mid-career staff in the development of the skills in NEPA analysis and document preparation.

Typically, lead-level employees have first-level responsibility for projects, processes, technologies, client relationships, or teams. At the Lead Role Level, employees and their managers identify a Career Focus Area and an employee's on-the-job accountabilities and development activities reflect this focus.

Senior-level employees lead complex projects or tasks specific to their practice area, or provide leadership to project managers and the project management discipline at SWCA, developing methodologies and tools, and coaching and developing PM colleagues.

Employees at the Principal Role Level provide leadership to programs, departments, offices, practices, or business lines. They lead or influence other people leaders. Principals help SWCA stay aligned in driving organizational priorities and ensure collaboration across functional business units.

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 environmental planning, environmental science, or another science-related field.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of NEPA document preparation and experience in environmental consulting.
• Management experience on complex, 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.
• A strong understanding and experience with federal and state environmental regulations including NEPA, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the ability to develop project execution plans to satisfy regulatory compliance.
• Proven experience with a subset of public lands, land use planning, natural and cultural resource issues, wind and solar projects, water projects, transportation projects, and or oil/gas projects in the western US.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; attention to detail; and organization, schedule, and budget management skills.

• Applicants must have valid driver's license and be able to meet SWCA's driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another natural, biological, or cultural-resources-related field.
• Ten (10) years of NEPA document preparation and experience in environmental consulting.
• A strong understanding of agency internal processes and procedures and positive existing relationships with federal land management and regulatory agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), US Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), FERC, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is strongly preferred.
• Ability to be recognized by clients and agencies as a NEPA project manager that can lead an EIS from pre-NEPA planning phases through record of decision.
• Experience with business development with federal agencies, RMPs, water, mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy developers or other non-federal applicants that seek permits or leases from federal agencies.

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 Albuquerque, NM-based position can expect an annual salary of: Lead Environmental Planner - NEPA, $80.080/year to $102,960/year; Senior Environmental Planner - NEPA, $90,480/year to $117,520/year; Principal Environmental Planner - NEPA, $102,960/year to $134,160/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.

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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