Senior/Principal Environmental Project Manager

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee-owned company

Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

401(k) with profit sharing

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior or Principal Environmental Project Manager to lead a growing portfolio in Georgia and the Southeast. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams, shape technical approaches, and strengthen client relationships while upholding SWCA’s standards of quality and innovation.

The role offers hybrid/remote options around Atlanta, travel within the region, and opportunities to mentor staff and expand our Georgia presence.

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including four (4) years of managing projects.
• Twelve (12) years of related experience, seven (7) years managing projects; PMP is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Project Leadership: lead complex projects, oversee technical approach and QA/QC.
• Exemplary Leadership: guide client and team priorities to meet standards.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: develop new methods aligned with regs.
• Project Accountability: manage scopes, schedules, budgets; assess risks.
• Business Growth & Innovation: drive client success and strategic planning.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: work with specialists for full support.
• Mentorship & Team Development: coach staff and promote knowledge sharing.
• Relationship Management: grow client and regulator relationships.

Skills

Wetland science

Aquatic resources

Project management

Client management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior or Principal Environmental Project Manager to support our growing portfolio of complex, multidisciplinary environmental projects in Georgia and the broader Southeast. This is a high impact leadership opportunity for a seasoned project manager who is interested in building our Georgia team’s presence, delivering dynamic projects with our local staff, growing client relationships with southeast team, maintains focus on strategic goals, and is passionate about technical excellence, driving client success, and mentoring high performing teams.

In this role, you will lead projects spanning infrastructure, energy, resilience, and environmental planning efforts, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. You will play a key role in shaping technical approaches, strengthening client relationships, and advancing SWCA’s reputation for quality and innovation. You will play a key role in shaping technical approaches, strengthening client relationships, and advancing SWCA’s reputation for quality and innovation

This requisition can be hired at either level:

• Senior Project Manager – Eight (8) years of relevant industry experience and expertise, including four (4) years of managing projects and some experience managing others
• Principal Project Manager – Ten (10) years of relevant industry experience and expertise, including five (5) years of managing projects and some experience managing others

This is a full-time, salaried/exempt position that is open to candidates based around Atlanta, GA, with flexibility for hybrid/remote work. Highly qualified distributed (=remote) based in/around Atlanta, Georgia will also be considered. The ideal candidate will have Southeast project/client experience, preferably in energy markets.

Periodic travel throughout the state and region will be required to support client engagement, project oversight, and team collaboration.

Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates areidentified.Thisposition may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool isestablished.

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

• 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.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Grows client base to support building the Georgia team, responsible for hiring and developing team to support work.
• Provides technical leadership and subject matter expertise in aquatic resources, wetland science, permitting, and environmental compliance, guiding complex assessments and project strategies.
• Leads permitting strategies, agency coordination, and regulatory compliance efforts to support successful project outcomes.
• Develops and advises on avoidance, minimization, mitigation, restoration, and compensatory mitigation strategies to address environmental constraints and regulatory requirements.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to clients by providing strategic guidance on regulatory risk, project feasibility, and environmental constraints.

Minimum Qualifications

Eight (8) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including four (4) years of managing projects and some experience managing others. Twelve (12) years of related experience, seven (7) years managing projects, and PMP certification is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education. Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• Eight (8) years of relevant experience, including four (4) or more years managing projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in wetland science and aquatic resources, including delineations and jurisdictional determinations.
• Strong experience with Clean Water Act permitting, including Sections 404 and 401.
• Proven experience working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state regulatory agencies, ideally in Florida or the Southeast.
• Track record of managing complex projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with project financials, including budgets, forecasting, and invoicing.
• Demonstrated client management and business development experience as a seller doer.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
• Twelve (12) or more years of experience, including seven (7) or more years managing projects.
• PMP certification.
• Professional Wetland Scientist certification or similar credentials
• Experience with mitigation strategy, restoration, or mitigation banking.
• Familiarity with Florida specific permitting and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience supporting infrastructure, energy, or land development projects.
• Established relationships with clients and regulatory agencies in Georgia or the Southeast.

Other Job Conditions

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

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

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

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Southeast-based position is

• Senior Project Manager - $90,004.00 - $126,672.00 per year
• Principal Project Manager - $110,292.00 to $145,236.00 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.

Closing

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact [e-mail]. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact [e-mail].

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.

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