Principal Geospatial Sciences Program Lead - North Region

SWCA, Incorporated; Denver, Bismarck, Minneapolis, Chicago (CO, ND, MN, IL); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks a Principal Geospatial Sciences Program Lead to guide a large, distributed GIS workforce. You will set strategic goals for the North region, ensure high-quality deliverables, and collaborate with regional and corporate leaders to optimize resources and client satisfaction.

The role emphasizes leadership, innovation, and best practices in geospatial science, with remote or hybrid work options preferred for candidates near major offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with GIS emphasis or GIS certificate.
• 8+ years GIS experience including budgeting, prep, analysis, and deliverables.
• 5+ years in GIS leadership across multiple offices, states, and time zones.
• Experience with large environmental consulting/AEC projects.
• Experience with data transfer, analysis, and inventory using Windows Explorer, Excel, Access, and ESRI ArcGIS.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Pro, cartography, and data management.
• Experience with ArcGIS Online/Enterprise platforms.
• Basic understanding of statistics and geometric math.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to a large, distributed GIS team and set strategic goals.
• Ensure high-quality GIS deliverables and act as senior technical reviewer.
• Coordinate inter-office workloads and foster cross-team collaboration.
• Promote GIS services and coordinate with regional and corporate leaders.
• Monitor productivity, allocate resources, and manage large projects.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Strategic planning

Team development

Quality assurance

Client relationships

Communication

Resource allocation

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree with GIS emphasis

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Online/Enterprise

Windows Explorer

Excel

Access

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an experienced and strategic Principal Geospatial Sciences Program Lead to oversee GIS professionals, services, and projects across the North region. This full-time, regular (with benefits), salaried, and exempt position offers flexibility for remote or hybrid work. However, it is strongly preferred that applicants be located within SWCA’s North region and preferability in proximity to one of our offices in Denver, Sheridan, Bismark, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Amherst, or Boston.

As Principal Geospatial Sciences Program Lead, you will provide leadership to a large, distributed GIS workforce, driving the implementation of goals and strategies that advance our geospatial services, technology adoption, and project excellence. You will collaborate closely with operations and technology leaders, manage strategic projects, and ensure the delivery of high-quality GIS products and solutions. This role is ideal for a seasoned GIS professional who excels at building strong teams, fostering innovation, and promoting best practices in geospatial science.

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

• Builds, develops, and leads diverse teams, typically within the discipline. This includes recruiting top talent, facilitating professional growth, managing performance evaluations, and ensuring team members are engaged, productive, and collaboratively working towards common goals.
• Institutes and upholds rigorous quality assurance and control standards to ensure all project deliverables meet SWCA's quality standards. Simultaneously, ensures strict adherence to safety policies and procedures, safeguarding the team's welfare and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Actively contributes to the business unit strategic planning and business development efforts while maintaining transparent and effective communication with all stakeholders. This involves identifying and seizing opportunities for business enhancement, risk management, and regular engagement with clients and team members to align expectations and project objectives.
• Innovatesby designing and implementing advanced geospatial applications, tools, and methodologies to address complex business challenges and enhance project outcomes.
• Overseesprojects and communicates regularly with clients and internal teams to manage expectations, effectively handling client relations and internal coordination to ensure project success and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Establishes and grows effective consulting relationships with internal clients to support successful projects, and to coordinate initiatives and programs for the discipline (gathering feedback and implementing changes).
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to a large, distributed team of GIS professionals, working with the Director of GIS to set and implement strategic goals for the North region.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality GIS deliverables, serving as senior technical reviewer for major projects.
• Coordinate inter-office workloads and foster positive relationships across teams to promote collaboration, engagement, and efficiency.
• Collaborate with regional and corporate leadership to balance workloads and maintain quality standards.
• Monitor productivity metrics, anticipate workload fluctuations, and ensure optimal resource allocation.
• Manage large, strategic projects and serve as a GIS advisor to project managers and stakeholders.
• Promote GIS services internally and externally, representing SWCA’s capabilities to clients and partners.
• Represent the Technology team within regional leadership, advocating for geospatial needs and priorities.
• Troubleshoot GIS issues, gather user feedback, and implement improvements to enhance service delivery.
• Collaborate on Esri software releases, training, and requirements to ensure staff proficiency and technology optimization.
• Work with technical leaders to establish and promote best practices for GIS data collection, analysis, mapping, and reporting.
• Communicate geospatial solutions and needs for budget planning, supporting strategic decision-making.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Anthropology, Biology, Environmental Science, or related field with GIS emphasis (or GIS certificate).
• Eight (8) or more years of GIS professional experience, including budgeting, preparation, analysis, and deliverables.
• Five (5) or more years in GIS leadership roles, overseeing highly distributed teams across multiple offices, states, and time zones.
• Experience with large project execution in the Environmental Consulting or AEC space.
• Experience with data transfer, analysis, mining, and inventory using Windows Explorer, Excel, Access, and ESRI ArcGIS.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Pro, cartography, and data management.
• Experience with ArcGIS Online/Enterprise platforms.
• Basic understanding of statistics and geometric math.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field with GIS emphasis.
• Experience managing GIS projects in environmental consulting, especially for natural or cultural resources in transportation, transmission, oil/gas, mining, or renewables sectors.
• Experience preparing presentations and protocols for GIS methods and metadata.
• Development of analytical models for resource processes.
• Familiarity with federal land management and regulatory agencies (e.g., USFS, NPS, BLM, BOR, USGS).
• Professional GIS certification (e.g., GISP).

Key Skills & Attributes:

• Demonstrated ability to develop positive relationships with staff, technical teams, and leaders across the company.
• Flexibility, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to engagement and teamwork.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and establish or shift priorities under tight deadlines.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance ever-changing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Recognized mentor of others in the context of broader organizational goals and succession efforts.