Natural Resources Team Lead (Lead Level)

SWCA, Incorporated; Albuquerque (NM); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA, Incorporated is seeking a Lead/Senior/Principal Natural Resources Team Lead for our Albuquerque and Durango offices. The role oversees staff, projects, and clients, with regional focus on the New Mexico/Four Corners area and opportunities for new business development.

The position is full-time with benefits, based in Albuquerque, NM or Durango, CO. Remote or distributed work within the Southwest is encouraged, with occasional travel to local offices as needed.

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 managing others.
• Three years of natural resources project management experience with budgets, schedules, and scopes.
• Experience with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in the Upper Plains/Midwest area.
• Environmental consulting experience with natural resources projects.
• Experience in the New Mexico/Four Corners subregion.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to take ownership of responsibilities and provide solutions.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.
• Prefer twelve years of experience including managing others.

Responsibilities

• Lead the New Mexico/Four Corners Natural Resources Program and support regional strategy.
• Recruit and hire Natural Resources staff with the Natural Resources Director.
• Provide team support for technical resources, training, and regulatory updates.
• Promote safety policy compliance and reporting requirements.
• Evaluate regional market conditions and identify strategic growth opportunities.
• Lead go/no-go decisions and support efficient proposals with the Natural Resources Director.
• Foster a sell-doer culture through mentorship, accountability, and business development.
• Build relationships with industry organizations, agency representatives, and stakeholders to expand SWCA's presence.

Skills

People management

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

Consulting experience

NM Four Corners familiarity

Communication

Ownership mentality

Driver's license

Leadership experience

Education

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

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA is currently seeking applications for a (Lead, Senior, or Principal) Natural Resources Team Lead, supporting our operations throughout New Mexico. The Natural Resources Team Lead is responsible for providing leadership within the Durango/Albuquerque 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 Natural Resources Director out of SWCA’s Albuquerque, NM office. The offices in Durango, CO and Albuquerque, NM 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 with the New Mexico/Four Corners subregion.

This is a full-time, regular (with benefits), salaried position based out of Albuquerque, NM or Durango, CO. Individuals living in New Mexico are preferred. Distributed (remote) employees in the Southwest region are encouraged to apply. If remote, occasional regular travel to the local offices would be expected.

This job opening can hire at three levels:

• Principal Natural Resources Team Lead: Ten (10) years or more years of experience and expertise.
• Senior Natural Resources Team Lead: Eight (8) years or more years of experience and expertise.
• Natural Resources Team Lead: Six (6) or more years of experience and expertise.

Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates are identified. This position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.

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 New Mexico/Four Corners Natural Resources Program and support execution of a forward-looking regional strategy.
• Partner with the Natural Resources 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 Natural Resources 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 Minnesota/Dakotas.

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 managing others.
• 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.
• Previous environmental consulting experience with Natural resources projects.
• Previous project experience within the New Mexico/Four Corners subregion.
• 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

• Twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience in the natural resources/environmental science field, including at least six (8) years managing others.
• Six (6) 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
• 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.