Natural Resources Team Lead

careers-swca; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 98,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Natural Resources Team Lead to guide Minnesota and Dakotas projects from Minneapolis, MN or Bismarck, ND. The role emphasizes leadership of staff, project strategy, and client relations within a collaborative, employee-owned firm.

Ideal candidates bring 6–8+ years in natural resources, with strong budgeting, scheduling, and regulatory experience, plus a track record of mentoring others and driving growth in a regional program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, or related field.
• Six years of progressively responsible experience in the natural resources/environmental science field, including at least four years in environmental consulting.
• Three years of natural resources project management experience, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Experience with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in the greater Upper Plains/Midwest area.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to pass a motor vehicle screening and possess a valid driver’s license.
• Eight years of progressively responsible experience preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: manage operations, improve efficiency, recruit and mentor staff, and allocate workload.
• Strategic Project Leadership: lead complex projects, oversee technical approach, ensure QA/QC.
• Organizational Expertise: innovate standards and practices, align with regulatory requirements.
• Project Accountability: guide milestones, manage risks, adjust scopes, schedules and budgets as needed.
• Business Growth & Innovation: drive growth, develop new methods and standards for client success.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: work with specialists to support projects.
• Relationship Management: build client and regulator relationships to support projects.
• Follows applicable regulations and performs related work as assigned.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Communication

Regulatory knowledge

Client relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, or related field

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA is currently seeking applications for a Natural Resources Team Lead, supporting our operations throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas. The Natural Resources Team Lead is responsible for providing leadership within the Minnesota/Dakotas Natural Resources Program by managing staff, projects, and clients. The successful candidate will possess a proven track record of developing new business, managing complex projects, meeting financial goals, and mentoring others to do the same.

The Natural Resources Team Lead will report to the Office Director out of SWCA’s Minneapolis, MN office. The offices in Bismarck, ND and Minneapolis, MN offer a collaborative and supportive work environment, and specialize in natural and cultural resource management, environmental planning, permitting, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will have a depth of experience and familiarity with the business environment of Minnesota and the Dakotas. This is a full-time, regular (with benefits), salaried position based out of Minneapolis, MN or Bismarck, ND. Individuals living in Minnesota are preferred. Remote (= distributed) employees in the Upper Plains/Midwest geography are encouraged to apply. If remote, occasional travel to the local offices would be expected.

This job opening can hire at two levels:

• Senior Natural Resources Team Lead:minimum eight (8) years of experience and expertise.
• Natural Resources Team Lead: minimum six (6) years of experience and expertise.

About SWCA

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm providing full spectrum environmental services across the United States. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, delivering sound science and creative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

We are guided by our core values every day. We collaborate as #OneSWCA, we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices nationwide, SWCA offers a collaborative, team focused environment where employees can build meaningful and long-term careers.

What you will accomplish

• Team Leadership: Manages team operations to enhance efficiency and productivity, identifying and implementing process improvements. Attracts, recruits, develops, and retains top talent, focusing on staff development and mentoring. Tracks and manages workload distribution and productivity, making staffing adjustments in collaboration with other leads. Ensures accountability and clearly communicates the team's vision and priorities.
• 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.
• Organizational Expertise: Supports innovation of 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.
• 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.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership

• Lead the Upper Plains Natural Resources Program and support execution of a forward-looking regional strategy.
• Partner with the Office Director to recruit and hire Natural Resources staff.
• Provide team support related to technical resources, training opportunities, and regulatory updates.
• Promote compliance with safety policies and reporting requirements.

Client & Business Leadership

• Evaluate regional market conditions and identify strategic growth opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
• Lead go/no-go decisions and support efficient proposal and marketing pursuits in coordination with the Office Director.
• Foster a sell-doer culture through mentorship, accountability, and participation in business development initiatives.
• Build relationships with industry organizations, agency representatives, and key stakeholders to expand SWCA's presence across the Upper Plains.

Minimum Qualifications

Six years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including some experience managing others. Eight years of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education. Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s (B.A. or B.S.) degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, or related field.
• Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in the natural resources/environmental science field, including at least four (4) years in environmental consulting.
• Three (3) years of natural resources (or related) project management experience, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work from pre-field tasks to final report preparation.
• Previous experience with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in the greater Upper Plains/Midwest area.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• An ability to take ownership of responsibilities and provide potential solutions to problems encountered on the job.
• Ability to pass a motor vehicle screening.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications:

• Eight (8) or more years of progressively responsible experience in the natural resources field, including six (6) years in environmental consulting.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising, mentoring, and providing leadership for other professionals.
• Demonstrated business development success and consulting acumen, including established credibility with federal and state agencies and clients, as well as success in proposal writing.

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. An employee in this Minneapolis, MN-based position can expect an annual salary of: Senior Natural Resources Team Lead -- $97,668.00 - $127,196.00; Natural Resources Team Lead: $85,176.00 - $111,297.00. Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses.

As a 100% employee-owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) with profit sharing, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities.

Closing

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact [e-mail] or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact [e-mail].

Use of Technology in Hiring

SWCA may use approved technology, including AI-assisted tools, to support parts of the application and recruiting process. All selection and hiring decisions are made by SWCA employees, and candidates are not selected or rejected by automated systems. We are committed to a fair, transparent, and human-centered hiring experience.

Candidate Use of AI

Candidates may use AI tools to help prepare application materials and interviews. However, all application materials, assessments, and interview responses must accurately reflect their own experience, skills, and qualifications. AI must not be used to fabricate experience, complete assessments on their behalf, or otherwise misrepresent their background or abilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive.

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.

#LI-AO1