Natural Resources Team Lead (Lead Level)

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 81,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

401(k) with profit sharing

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Lead/Senior/Principal Natural Resources Team Lead to guide the Durango/Albuquerque program, manage staff and clients, and drive new business in New Mexico. The role reports to the Natural Resources Director in Albuquerque, with optional remote work for Southwest regions and occasional travel.

The position requires 6–12+ years in natural resources with project and staff leadership, and a degree in environmental science or related field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, or related field.
• Six years of progressively responsible experience, including at least four years managing others.
• Three years of natural resources project management experience, including budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Experience with federal, state, and local environmental laws in the Upper Plains/Midwest area.
• Experience in the New Mexico/Four Corners subregion.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to pass a motor vehicle screening.

Responsibilities

• Lead the New Mexico/Four Corners Natural Resources Program and support execution of a regional strategy.
• Mentor and hire Natural Resources staff and promote training opportunities.
• Develop proposals and manage client relationships to drive business growth.
• Oversee project budgets, schedules, and scopes to ensure successful outcomes.
• Collaborate with cross‑disciplinary teams to deliver high‑quality environmental services.
• Ensure compliance with safety policies and reporting requirements.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Business development

Mentoring

Driver's license

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 Albuqurque, 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.

• 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.

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 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree. 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.

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.

Other Job Conditions

When driving is required

Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

When traveling is required

This position may require domestic travel, including travel by commercial airline. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain all valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel throughout the duration of employment.

Safety Expectations

Lead level: Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. An employee in this Albuquerque, NM-based position can expect an annual salary of:

• Principal Natural Resources Team Lead - $105,996.80 - $138,444.80 per year
• Senior Natural Resources Team Lead - $93,017.60 - $121,139.20 per year
• Natural Resources Team Lead - $81,120.00 - $105,996.80 per year

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.

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.