Natural Resources Project Manager

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Sterling (VA); Remote; USD 74,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a highly experienced Natural Resources Project Manager to drive projects from planning through construction. The role requires managing budgets, schedules, and regulatory compliance across natural resources, cultural resources, and permitting services for diverse clients.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, supervise biologists and field staff, and coordinate with agencies on federal, state, and local permits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an environmental-related field or demonstrated equivalent experience.
• Four years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in natural resources, permitting, environmental consulting, or related.
• GA permitting experience.
• Two years of experience managing projects and/or providing natural resources, cultural resources, and permitting services to clients.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite products (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Word).

Responsibilities

• Serve as a project manager or task lead on projects of varying size and complexity, ensuring budgets, schedules, safety, and quality standards are met.
• Coordinate and support multidisciplinary teams providing natural resources, cultural resources, and permitting services to clients.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide technical support to staff-level biologists and field teams.
• Lead biological field assessments, wetland delineations, and regulatory permit applications for federal, state, and local agencies.
• Manage and lead project teams supporting energy, infrastructure, land development, and other client projects, including FERC-regulated projects and third-party NEPA documentation.
• Act as the regulatory and permit compliance liaison between agencies and clients, proactively addressing compliance issues.
• Work closely with corporate accounting to review invoices, expenditures, and project audits.
• Provide peer review for technical reports and environmental permits, ensuring scientific and professional integrity.
• Implement and enforce SWCA's safety procedures and ethical standards.
• Communicate effectively with diverse project stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, field crews, trade workers, clients, and third parties.
• Support business development by building client relationships, identifying opportunities, and contributing to capture plans and proposals.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Natural resources management

Biological studies

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Team mentoring

Energy development projects experience

FERC infrastructure project experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental-related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Word)

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a highly experienced, dynamic, self-motivated Natural Resources Project Manager with strong interpersonal skills and experience in natural resources management and biological studies. This individual will successfully drive our projects through all phases from early planning and permitting to construction.

This Natural Resources Project Manager should have technical experience in a range of activities such as biological and wetland surveys; federal, state, and local wetland regulations; Endangered Species Act compliance; Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permitting; and agency interactions at all levels. This individual will provide natural resources, cultural resources, and permitting services to clients across a variety of market sectors, supporting project development and regulatory compliance needs. Experience supporting energy development projects is a plus. Skills include the ability to manage small-to-medium-size projects and track milestones within schedule and budget expectations. You will also support or be responsible for QA/QC oversight of field data and technical deliverables to support reporting, permitting, and environmental compliance efforts.

This is a regular, benefited, full-time remote position. Candidates must be located in Georgia with a preference for those located in the Atlanta, GA metropolitan area.

What you will accomplish

• Serve as a project manager or task lead on projects of varying size and complexity, ensuring budgets, schedules, safety, and quality standards are met.
• Coordinate and support multidisciplinary teams providing natural resources, cultural resources, and permitting services to clients.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide technical support to staff-level biologists and field teams.
• Lead biological field assessments, wetland delineations, and regulatory permit applications for federal, state, and local agencies.
• Manage and lead project teams supporting energy, infrastructure, land development, and other client projects, including FERC-regulated projects and third-party NEPA documentation.
• Act as the regulatory and permit compliance liaison between agencies and clients, proactively addressing compliance issues.
• Work closely with corporate accounting to review invoices, expenditures, and project audits.
• Provide peer review for technical reports and environmental permits, ensuring scientific and professional integrity.
• Implement and enforce SWCA's safety procedures and ethical standards.
• Communicate effectively with diverse project stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, field crews, trade workers, clients, and third parties.
• Support business development by building client relationships, identifying opportunities, and contributing to capture plans and proposals.
• Utilize strong organizational, verbal, written, and graphic communication skills in project execution and stakeholder engagement.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in an environmental-related field, or demonstrated equivalent experience.
• Four years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in natural resources, permitting, environmental consulting, or related.
• GA permitting experience.
• Two years of experience managing projects and/or providing natural resources, cultural resources, and permitting services to clients.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite products (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Word).
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local permitting laws and processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Seven years of experience is highly preferred.
• Experience supporting energy development projects, including generation, transmission, renewable energy, and/or oil and gas.
• Experience managing or coordinating multidisciplinary teams providing natural resources, cultural resources, and permitting services.
• FERC-related infrastructure project experience.
• Experience supporting solar generation projects in the Southeast.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 100% employee-owned company that offers a full range of environmental services. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges, all while staying true to our commitment to employee ownership. At SWCA, we live our core values every day: we collaborate as #OneSWCA, we’re #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices across the country, we’re proud to be one of the largest environmental compliance firms in the U.S. and to rank among Engineering News-Record's Top 200 Environmental Firms.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. In alignment with this commitment, we post good faith pay ranges in all job postings. An employee in this Southeast based position can expect a salary of $73,710.00 to $95,550.00 /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 ( https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/ ), which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

We offer a supportive, team-focused work environment, competitive pay, and great benefits—including a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to help you build a strong financial future. At SWCA, we’re committed to helping our team members grow into industry leaders. Our award-winning Career Landscape program offers a clear and structured path to meaningful career development. We support your growth through conference attendance, internal and external training, education reimbursement, our Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for qualifying publications. All regular-status employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, wellness, life, and disability coverage, as well as access to our Employee Assistance Program. Employees may also participate in SWCA’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

SWCA continues to invest in our people. We value the skills and experience of our internal team members and strongly encourage qualified employees to apply for open positions. We believe in promoting from within whenever possible, offering meaningful opportunities for career growth.

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.