Lead Project Manager - Utility Permitting

Swca Environmental Consultants; Lombard (IL); On-site; USD 87,141 - 114,660; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Flexible work environment

Total Rewards package

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Lead Project Manager for Utility Permitting to support oil and gas projects in Lombard, IL. The role involves strategic leadership across all project phases, ensuring regulatory compliance and managing multidisciplinary teams. Ideal candidates have extensive experience in environmental consulting and project management, with at least 6 years in natural resources. The position offers a salary range from $87,141.60 to $114,660.00, along with benefits and a flexible work environment.

Qualifications

• 6 years of natural resources consulting experience with all levels of permit processing.
• 3 years of experience managing projects including budgets and schedules.
• Valid driver's license and meeting SWCA’s driver requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary project teams in navigating complex permitting challenges.
• Manage compliance with regulatory requirements and budgets.
• Revise project scopes, schedules, and strategies as conditions evolve.

Skills

Utility project permitting

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Environmental consulting

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, or wildlife management

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a qualified Lead Project Manager – Utility Permitting with strong interpersonal skills and experience in utility project permitting and project management to join our team and primarily support oil and natural gas infrastructure projects. The position will directly support a regulated utility program based in Chicago, Illinois.

This individual will provide strategic and technical leadership across all project phases, from early planning and permitting through construction, consulting with clients and internal teams to guide complex utility permitting efforts. The ideal candidate will possess extensive environmental consulting and project management experience, preferably with specific knowledge of oil and gas transmission in Chicago. SWCA is looking for the right candidate to take on existing and future projects and help build its presence throughout the Midwest.

Reporting to the Chicago office, this full‑time, salaried position is hybrid eligible and includes benefits.

What you will accomplish

• Strategically consult on and lead multidisciplinary project teams to navigate complex permitting challenges, aligning technical approaches with client objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Manage projects that include compliance, biological resource assessments and constraints analyses, state and federal Endangered Species Act consultations, Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 permitting, state-level permits, and local level permits.
• Lead high‑complexity projects or program components, coordinating teams and resources, overseeing technical approach and QA/QC, and ensuring delivery on regulatory compliance, scope, schedule, and budget.
• Demonstrate strong skills in project planning, internal communication, and human relations, ensuring effective collaboration within the team. Project plans should communicate status, schedules, task delegation, scope changes, budget allocation, and other project details (including goals, purpose, and/or reasoning).
• Continuously guide complex projects, proactively identifying and resolving risks to project success, safety, quality, and performance through informed judgment, creative problem solving, and strategic adjustments.
• Revise or recommend revisions to project scopes, schedules, budgets, and technical strategies as project conditions evolve to ensure successful outcomes.
• Take initiative and anticipate and resolve issues to assure client needs are met effectively.
• Lead and advise on all aspects of project implementation, including the development of permitting strategies, provide QA/QC of work processes and deliverables, and lead or support teams completing technical studies that support permitting efforts.
• Engage with SWCA’s Technical Director team to support quality initiatives, and develop policies & procedures in your areas of expertise.
• Engage with professional organizations, including attendance at conferences, trainings, and client-led events on behalf of SWCA.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide project technical support to junior staff.
• Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
• Six (6) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and regions that include energy facility siting and constraints studies, federal, state, and local permitting, and agency interactions at all levels.
• Three (3) years of experience managing projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Experience in Illinois and the Midwest Region.
• Demonstrated experience with state local agencies such as IEPA, IDNR, MWRD, DuPage, Cook, Lake, and McHenry Counties.
• Demonstrated experience with applicable environmental federal, state and county regulations.
• Demonstrated experience with federal agencies such as USFWS, EPA, and USACE.
• Prior primary report authorship and finalization for clients and agencies in a natural resource consulting context for a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications

• PMP Certification.
• Eight (8) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and regions that include federal, state, and local permitting, compliance, and agency interactions at all levels.
• Four (4) years of experience managing projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple utility projects through permitting, construction, and closeout.
• Experience in more than one of the Midwest states.

Compensation and benefits

An employee in this Chicago, IL‑based position can expect an annual salary of $87,141.60 – $114,660.00. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements, and other factors permitted by law. Regular‑status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses and the SWCA Total Rewards package, which includes benefits and flexible work environment.

Equal Opportunity

EOE – women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. SWCA celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive work environment.

Accommodation Contact

For assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or requiring accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, contact [e-mail] or call 1‑480‑581‑5378. This contact is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.