Principal Project Manager - Utility Permitting

Swca Environmental Consultants; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 82,992 - 163,390; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Lead, Senior, or Principal Project Manager – Utility Permitting to join our Northeast team. The role focuses on permitting for natural gas, renewable energy, and electric transmission projects, with daily involvement in planning, strategy, and client coordination in the New England area.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive environmental consulting and project management experience, including NEPA compliance, agency interactions, and state

Qualifications

• 6–10 years of natural resources consulting experience including energy facility siting, permitting, NEPA, and agency interactions
• 3–5 years of project management experience with budgets, schedules, and scopes
• 2 years managing multidisciplinary staff on renewable energy permitting
• Experience in Massachusetts
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet SWCA’s driver requirements

Responsibilities

• Lead project teams to navigate permitting challenges and meet client needs
• Develop and implement permitting strategies across NEPA, state, and federal reviews
• Provide QA/QC of work processes and deliverables for permitting studies
• Support regional business planning and client development in the New England area
• Mentor staff and manage junior projects
• Attend business development meetings and engage with professional organizations

Skills

Project management

Permitting

Interpersonal skills

NEPA compliance

Agency interactions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field

Master’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is actively seeking a qualified (Lead, Senior, or Principal) Project Manager – Utility Permitting with strong interpersonal skills and experience in utility project permitting and project management to join our team and primarily support natural gas, renewable energy generation, and electric transmission projects. Projects will be located throughout the Northeast US, with specific focus on the New England area.

This requisition can hire at three levels:

• Lead Project Manager – Typically with at least six (6) years of relevant industry experience and expertise; eight (8) years preferred
• Senior Project Manager – Typically with at least eight (8) years of relevant industry experience and expertise; ten (10) years preferred
• Principal Project Manager – Typically with at least ten (10) years of relevant industry experience and expertise; twelve (12) years preferred

This individual will work with a dynamic and company‑wide team to successfully drive projects throughout all phases, from early planning and permitting through construction. The ideal candidate will possess extensive environmental consulting and project management experience, preferably with specific knowledge of renewable energy generation, electric transmission, and gas transmission. SWCA is looking for the right candidate to take on existing and future projects and help build our presence throughout the Northeast subregion.

This role will report to our Boston, MA office location but candidates can be distributed anywhere in the New England area within reasonable driving distance to attend in‑person meetings when required. This is a regular (with benefits), salaried, full‑time position.

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

What you will accomplish

• Work closely with and lead project teams to navigate permitting challenges and meet client needs.
• Take initiative and resolve issues to assure client needs are met effectively.
• Lead and advise on all aspects of project implementation, including the development of permitting strategies, provide QA/QC of work processes and deliverables, and lead teams completing technical studies that support permitting efforts.
• Assist the Midwest/Northeast (MWNE) regional VPs and Directors in the development/updating and implementation of regional business plan(s).
• Manage & support New‑England‑based projects, as well as other projects in the Northeast, mid‑Atlantic and beyond.
• Help develop existing and new clients in the energy marketplace, taking a lead role in key accounts.
• Develop internal SWCA network via relationship‑building with peers and directors across the MWNE region.
• Engage with SWCA’s Technical Director team to support quality initiatives, and development of policies & procedures in your areas of expertise.
• Attend & contribute to office Business Development meetings in the Northeast offices as appropriate.
• Contribute to the development of SWCA’s regional team by supporting hiring and staff development.
• Engage with professional organizations, including attendance at conferences, trainings, and client‑led events on behalf of SWCA.
• Mentor regional staff – act as a technical advisor and quality control agent in areas of your particular expertise (especially regional permitting).
• Manage projects that include NEPA compliance, biological resource assessments and constraints analyses, state and federal Endangered Species Act consultations, Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 permitting, state‑level siting permits, and state wetlands permits.
• Supervise, mentor, and provide project technical support to junior staff.
• Work closely with SWCA’s resource scientists, environmental planners, managers, and directors in both natural and cultural resources groups throughout the company to promote SWCA’s business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values.
• Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
• Six to ten (6‑10) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and regions that include: energy facility siting and constraints studies, federal, state, and local permitting, NEPA compliance, and agency interactions at all levels. Minimum years of experience dependent on level of role.
• Three to five (3‑5) years of experience managing projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Two (2) years’ experience managing multidisciplinary staff to complete project permitting requirements and projects with renewable energy clients.
• Experience in Massachusetts.
• Demonstrated experience with state agencies such as public utility commissions, state wildlife agencies (e.g. MA NHESP, CT NDDB, NH NHB), state wetland agencies (e.g. MA DEP, CT DEEP, NH DES, RI DEM).
• Demonstrated experience with federal agencies such as USFWS, EPA, USACE, and FERC.
• Prior primary report authorship and finalization for clients and agencies in a natural resource consulting context for a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
• Professional certifications, such as Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Connecticut Registered Soil Scientist, and/or New Hampshire Certified Wetland Scientist (CWS).
• Eight to twelve (8‑12) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and regions that include: energy facility siting and constraints studies, federal, state, and local permitting, NEPA compliance, and agency interactions at all levels. Preferred years of experience dependent on level of role.
• Five to seven (5‑7) years of experience managing projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Demonstrated established relationships with state regulators and key utility clients in the northeast.
• Demonstrated success managing large multi‑year utility projects through permitting, construction, and closeout.
• Experience in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and/or Maine. New York experience is a plus.

Why Work at SWCA

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee‑owned firm, providing a full‑spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee‑ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA, we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee‑owned, and we build our success together. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News‑Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We offer a supportive, team‑oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.

An employee in this Massachusetts‑based position can expect the following salary:

• Lead Project Manager - $82,992.00 - $122,850.00 annually
• Senior Project Manager - $95,004.00 - $142,506.00 annually
• Principal Project Manager - $110,292.00 - $163,390.50 annually

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.