Lead Environmental Scientist

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants in Salt Lake City, Utah seeks a Lead Environmental Scientist to join our Natural Resources program. You will support biological studies, regulatory compliance, and environmental permitting across a diverse portfolio, mentoring staff and guiding project direction.

As a senior technical leader, you’ll oversee large projects, ensure quality, and develop client relationships. Travel within the region may be required; hybrid-eligible for Utah residents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, wetland science or related field.
• Six years in private sector or regulatory setting leading natural resources projects.
• Experience with fieldwork, reports, impact assessments, and environmental reviews.
• Familiarity with federal and state agencies in the Great Basin region.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex natural resources and permitting projects, ensuring QA/QC.
• Mentor staff and coordinate with cross-disciplinary teams.
• Manage client relationships, proposals, and business development.
• Oversee regulatory compliance and project budgets/schedules.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Project management

Client relations

Regulatory coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology or related environmental science

Master’s degree in Wetland Science or related field

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Lead Environmental Scientist to join our Natural Resources program in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this role, you will support biological studies, natural resource management, environmental permitting, and regulatory compliance (Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Water Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, etc.) projects across a diverse portfolio that includes transmission, mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, and ecological restoration initiatives.

As a senior technical leader, you will serve as a subject matter expert, manage large and complex projects, provide quality oversight and review for project deliverables, support key client relationships, proposals, and business development, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance project opportunities throughout the region.

Depending on project needs, this position may require travel within the region to support fieldwork, client engagement, regulatory coordination, and project oversight. You will work closely with clients, regulatory agencies, leadership, and technical staff to guide project direction, ensure technical excellence, and support successful project delivery. This role offers the opportunity to mentor staff, lead natural resources management and regulatory compliance efforts, and play a key role in advancing projects and client success.

This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried/exempt opportunity based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Pay rate will be based on individual qualifications and experience. This position is hybrid-eligible for candidates residing within Salt Lake City, Utah, or distributed (= remote) for applicants based in Utah.

Application Deadline : Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates areidentified.Thisposition may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool isestablished.

What you will accomplish

• Strategic Project Leadership: Strategically consults on and leads complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and ensuring quality assurance and quality control.
• Exemplary Leadership: Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: Innovates standards and practices to enhance the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards. Serves as a go-to technical expert and consultant, providing novel project strategies and applying technical excellence that considers client needs to meet project requirements.
• Project Accountability: Continuously guides projects, executing accountability for the performance of projects or delegated tasks and ensuring that project milestones are met and outcomes align with SWCA’s values and client expectations. Assesses risks and implements strategies for problem-solving. Revises or suggests revisions to project scopes, schedules, and budgets as necessary to meet evolving project requirements and ensure successful outcomes.
• Business Growth & Innovation: Drives business growth and client success through technical excellence, innovation, and development of new methods and standards that advance SWCA's technical reputation. Contributes to SWCA's strategic planning.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with specialists to provide comprehensive technical support for projects.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols. Fosters team development and cross-training, modeling and promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members to enhance project outcomes, as well as team depth and redundancy.
• Relationship Management: Establishes and grows effective consultative relationships with external and internal clients and/or agency regulators and industry partners (if applicable) to support successful projects.
• Publishes and Presents Findings:Leads the preparation and presentation of scientific and regulatory findings, contributing to the body of knowledge and enhancing SWCA's reputation in the field.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Wetland Science, Plant/Soil Science, Ecology or other related environmental science.
• Six (6) years of experience working in a private sector (i.e., consulting) or regulatory agency setting leading and overseeing the completion of natural resources fieldwork, technical reports, impact assessments, and environmental assessments.
• Experience managing complex natural resources projects, permitting and regulatory compliance projects, environmental consulting, or ecological studies including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, scopes of work from feasibility assessments to final report/permit preparation.
• Demonstrated experience with federal agencies such as US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), US Forest Service (USFS), and/or, Utah Trust Lands Administration (TLA), and other state/local agencies in the Great Basin Sub-Region.
• Experience with flora and fauna of Utah and the Intermountain West.
• Ability to travel as needed for client and agency meetings.
• Ability to collaborate with junior level to experienced environmental professionals.
• Experience with client management and business development for natural resources services within the region.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Wetland Science, Biology, Plant/Soil Science, Ecology or other environmental science related fields.
• Eight (8) years of experience working in a private sector (i.e., consulting) or regulatory agency setting leading and overseeing the completion of natural resources fieldwork, technical reports, biological assessments, impact assessments, and environmental assessments.
• Current or prior Certification as a Professional Wetland Scientist by the Society of Wetland Scientists or PMP certification.