Lead Water Resources Scientist

SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding and looking for dynamic individuals to support the growing Water Resources technical team. The SWCA New Mexico-Four Corners subregion is seeking for a Lead Water Resources Scientist who is motivated to work in a team environment, serve as a technical expert locally (in New Mexico and Southwest Colorado) and nationally manage challenging projects, pursue business development opportunities, and use their expertise to pursue a rewarding professional consulting career.

As a Lead Water Resources Scientist and project manager, you will act as a technical expert and support and manage projects locally and throughout SWCA. The successful candidate will work collaboratively to identify and evaluate opportunities in the market, and will pursue, capture, manage, and execute water resources permitting projects. The position also includes opportunities for staff management, including staff development, supervision, and training. We are seeking applications from multi-disciplinary water resources specialists that are eager to participate in our watershed management approach to creative project solutions across various water resources disciplines.

This is a regular (with benefits), salaried, full-time position. Hybrid work environments for those based in Albuquerque, NM or Durango, CO are encouraged. Highly qualified remote employees will be seriously considered.

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.

• Lead and support multidisciplinary scope of work/proposal development in collaboration with the NM4C Team, including Subject Matter Experts.
• Partner with client managers and other project managers in contract management for watershed management and permitting actions, including CWA Sections 401, 402 (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System; stormwater) and 404, and Floodplain Management (Executive Order 11988).
• Manage and lead permitting projects, especially projects related to watershed science, working with a team of natural and cultural resources specialists to fulfill a variety of environmental planning, and permitting needs for different projects. Responsible for budget and scope tracking.
• Perform technical deliverable review of aquatic resources reports and permit documents.
• Lead and support agency and client coordination regarding permit programs and building trusted relationships.
• Lead or support projects across a variety of projects including renewable energy generation, transmission, and other project activities in New Mexico and the southwest.
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance to SWCA project managers and water resources leads on projects involving surface water resources planning and permitting activities in coordination with the NM4C Water Resources Team Lead and Directors.
• Mentor, coach and potentially supervise water resources staff across the NM4C subregion in collaboration with the team.
• Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Hydrology, Water Resources, Biology, Environmental Sciences, Ecology, or a related field.
• Eight (8) years of experience in the water resources field, in addition to university or graduate work.
• Proven experience solving technical problems by utilizing professional judgment, creativity, science, research, and innovation.
• Demonstrated experience participating in and collaborating within a project team setting while engaging in independent creative and critical thinking.
• Applicants must have valid driver's license and be able to meet SWCA's driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous experience in environmental consulting.
• Previous experience with water quality, hydrology, and/or water resources related to wetland delineations.
• Project management, client management, and/or business development experience.
• Graduate degree in in Environmental Science, Hydrology, Water Resource Management, or a related graduate degree.
• Experience with water quality management.
• Experience working with and/or for government agencies such as the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, New Mexico Surface Water Quality Bureau, Colorado Division of Water Resources, Colorado Water Quality Control Division, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, US Army Corp of Engineers, and/or other municipal water agencies and managers.
• Technical experience with stormwater inspections and management as a registered stormwater inspector (RSI) with a widely recognized certification (CISEC, CESSWI, or other).
• National Environmental Policy Act experience for watershed science.

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing 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.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. 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. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

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. 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 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 New Mexico-Four Corner's-based position can expect an annual salary of $86,154/year to $109,960/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.

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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