Project-Level Wetland Scientist

SWCA, Incorporated; Lombard (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Project-level Wetland Scientist to join its dynamic team in Chicago. This role offers a unique opportunity to work on impactful environmental consulting projects, ensuring compliance with critical regulations like the Clean Water Act. The ideal candidate will thrive in both field and office settings, demonstrating expertise in wetland delineation and environmental site investigations. Join a supportive and employee-owned firm that values collaboration and continuous learning, and take part in shaping sustainable solutions for our natural resources. If you are passionate about environmental science and eager to make a difference, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Employee stock ownership plan

Career development programs

Flexible workplace options

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Wellness programs

Education reimbursement

Performance bonuses

Qualifications

• 3+ years of environmental site investigation experience.
• Completion of a wetland delineation training course or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Support renewable energy projects related to environmental compliance.
• Conduct field studies and oversee data collection efforts.
• Complete technical writing for environmental compliance documents.

Skills

Botanical identification

Wildlife identification

Technical writing

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Time management

Fieldwork ability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Biology

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science

Bachelor’s degree in Ecology

Tools

GPS devices

Mapping software (ArcGIS)

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA's growing Chicago team seeks a Project-level Wetland Scientist to join our natural resources team. We are expanding our team and looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion for delivering the highest-quality project work. If you thrive in the pursuit of ensuring excellence in environmental consulting services, this is a great opportunity for you!

The successful candidate will possess a broad range of skills including identification of Midwestern botanical and wildlife species, attention to detail, organizational skills, willingness to learn, effective communication and time management skills.

This is a full-time position supporting projects in Chicago, IL, and the surrounding area(s). This position offers the opportunity to support both field and office-based projects, depending on project needs, and can be hired at the following levels:

• Assistant Project Environmental Scientist – Typically with at least 3 years of relevant experience and expertise.
• Associate Project Environmental Scientist – Typically with at least 5 years of relevant experience and expertise.

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

• Apply a broad range of environmental compliance experience to support regional renewable energy and transmission focused projects related to Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other resource planning/permitting, and/or natural resource disciplines.
• Complete technical writing assignments focused on the reporting and permitting of environmental compliance documents.
• Support projects as a task lead and/or project manager depending on level of experience and career aspirations.
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other tools for the preparation and execution field studies.
• In the field, oversee a crew or work independently while supporting a variety of data collection needs including wetland delineation, vegetative surveys, protected species and habitat surveys as well as construction compliance efforts.
• Data processing, review, and analysis.
• Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.

Experience and qualifications for success

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Environmental Science, Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Ecology, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience conducting a variety of environmental site investigations including wetland delineation, protected species habitat surveys, Phase 1 site assessments, etc, within the Midwest, Northeast, and Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Regions.
• Applicants who are unable to show professional wetland delineation experience will not be considered.
• Completion of a 38-hour wetland delineation training course or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.
• Technical writing experience associated with the summarization of site conditions and the preparation of permit compliance evaluations.
• Familiarity with mapping software (such as ArcGIS) and GPS devices.
• Ability to travel to a location, hike and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, while carrying equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds is required.
• Able to conduct overnight mobilizations for up to 1-2 weeks at a time accounting for approximately 60% travel throughout the active field season.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications:

• Five (5) years of experience conducting a variety of environmental site investigations including wetland delineation, protected species habitat surveys, Phase 1 site assessments, etc., within the Midwest, Northeast, and Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Regions.
• Strong working relationships with the local, state and federal regulatory agencies, such as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Department Environment Great Lakes and Energy, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the USACE Chicago, Huntington, Detroit, Louisville, and Sant Louis District Offices.
• Task or project management experience.

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 would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All 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 Chicago-office based position can expect a rate of:

• Assistant Project Wetland Scientist $28.67/hr. - $37.40/hr.
• Associate Project Wetland Scientist $68,140.80 - $87,447.36/annually

Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

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.

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