Principal Ecologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants; United States; Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 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 Principal Ecologist to lead the Arizona Natural Resources team and provide technical leadership across the Southwest. The role is hybrid-eligible and based in an SWCA Arizona office (Flagstaff, Phoenix, or Tucson).

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in ecology, regulatory compliance, special-status species, avian and wildlife resources, and permitting. You will mentor staff and collaborate with agencies and clients to deliver defensible

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 10+ years in ecology or natural resources consulting.
• Experience managing complex projects and leading teams.
• Knowledge of ESA, MBTA, NEPA, and related regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic project leadership and QA/QC across complex projects.
• Mentor staff and develop team depth and redundancy.
• Lead regulatory compliance and coordination with agencies and clients.
• Drive business growth, innovation, and technical standards.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Client coordination

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Communication excellence

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, wildlife biology, environmental science, natural resource management

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Principal Ecologist to support our Arizona Natural Resources team and provide technical leadership across the Southwest Subregion and companywide. This role is intended for a highly experienced natural resources technical leader who can manage complex projects, lead team mentorship efforts, support improved delivery and growth of technical services, develop innovative and defensible compliance strategies, coordinate technical delivery across regions, and serve as a trusted advisor to clients, agencies, and internal project teams.

The successful candidate will exhibit visible leadership internally and externally and will bring deep subject matter expertise in ecology and regulatory compliance, including experience with special-status species, avian and wildlife resources, vegetation communities, biological assessments and evaluations, species-specific surveys, mitigation planning, agency coordination, and environmental permitting.

This is a regular, full-time, salaried/exempt position that is hybrid-eligible with compensation based on individual qualifications and experience. The position will be based in an SWCA Arizona office in Flagstaff, Phoenix, or Tucson.

What you will accomplish

• 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.
• Exemplary Leadership: Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: Innovates 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.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols. Fosters team development and cross‑training, modeling and promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members to enhance project outcomes, as well as team depth and redundancy.
• 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.
• Publishes and Presents Findings: Leads the preparation and presentation of scientific and regulatory findings, contributing to the body of knowledge and enhancing SWCA's reputation in the field.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job‑Specific Responsibilities

• Act as a liaison between national practice leadership and regional teams to support adoption and implementation of enterprise technical initiatives, tools, quality improvements, and professional development programs.
• Lead and oversee biological resource assessments, impact analyses, mitigation planning, permitting efforts, and related technical studies supporting regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical guidance on biological resource regulations and policy frameworks, including the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and related requirements.
• Develop and maintain biological survey methodologies, study plans, field protocols, data management procedures, and technical reporting standards.
• Monitor emerging regulations, industry trends, and technical standards and promote alignment across regional and companywide subject matter experts.
• Partner with clients, agencies, landowners, interdisciplinary teams, and internal specialists to develop practical compliance strategies that withstand regulatory and public scrutiny.
• Advance service‑line development, technical innovation, and process improvement initiatives that strengthen biological and natural resources services.
• Represent SWCA through agency engagement, industry participation, technical presentations, publications, and other activities that increase technical visibility and market presence.
• Support business development activities through opportunity identification, proposal contributions, client relationship development, and agency engagement within Arizona and the broader western United States

Minimum Qualifications

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

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, wildlife biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Ten (10) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in ecology, wildlife biology, natural resources consulting, environmental compliance, or a closely related field.
• Experience managing renewable energy, oil and gas, transmission, utility, mining, transportation, infrastructure, or land development projects.
• Experience preparing and reviewing Biological Assessments, Biological Evaluations, NEPA documents, avian protection plans, eagle conservation plans, mitigation plans, monitoring reports, permit applications, or similar technical deliverables.
• Demonstrated expertise leading biological resource work, which may include migratory bird surveys, raptor nest surveys, eagle surveys or monitoring, avian use studies, habitat assessments, impact analyses, mitigation planning, and compliance strategy.
• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of natural resources laws and guidance relevant to biological resources and compliance, including ESA, MBTA, BGEPA, NEPA, and applicable state or local requirements.
• Experience designing and implementing field studies, managing field teams, reviewing data, preparing technical reports, and developing defensible recommendations for complex projects.
• Experience coordinating with clients, agency personnel, landowners, subcontractors, and interdisciplinary technical teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex scopes, schedules, budgets, QA/QC processes, and client expectations.
• Ability to mentor staff, share expertise across offices and regions, and build technical depth and redundancy within the biological and natural resources practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical and regulatory issues for clients, agencies, project teams, and public‑facing settings.
• Ability to travel for project, client, agency, and team needs and to pass a motor vehicle screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Twelve (12) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience in ecology, wildlife biology, natural resources consulting, environmental compliance, or a closely related field.
• Established client, agency, or industry relationships in Arizona, the Southwest, and the broader western United States.
• Demonstrated consulting acumen, including proposal leadership, client strategy, budget development, risk identification, and practical problem solving.
• Recognition as a subject matter expert through agency coordination, technical presentations, publications, professional organizations, expert testimony, training, or internal technical leadership.

Other Job Conditions

When drug testing is required

Applicants must be willing to participate in drug and alcohol screening as part of the pre‑employment process, when required by project or client requirements.

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

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

Work Environment

Work is regularly performed outdoors and involves hiking over uneven terrain, lifting and carrying equipment up to 25–50 pounds, and working in varying/extreme weather conditions. Employees may be exposed to vegetation, wildlife, insects, dust, chemicals, sharp or heavy tools, and other environmental conditions while following required safety procedures.

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Arizona‑based position is $105,996.80 to $138,444.80 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.