Senior/Principal Environmental Project Manager - Georgia

SWCA Environmental Consultants; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior or Principal Environmental Project Manager to lead complex, multidisciplinary environmental projects in Georgia and the Southeast. The role emphasizes client relationships, technical leadership, and mentoring cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years of experience, strong wetlands science and regulatory permitting expertise, and a track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience including 4+ years leading projects.
• Strong wetlands/aquatic resources expertise and CWA permitting.
• Experience with the US Army Corps of Engineers and state regulators in the Southeast.
• Proven client management and business development experience.

Responsibilities

• Strategic project leadership across infrastructure, energy and environmental planning.
• Mentor staff and develop cross-disciplinary team capabilities.
• Manage client relationships and regulatory communications to ensure compliance.
• Oversee budgets, scopes, and schedules to meet project goals.
• Drive business growth and implementation of new methods and standards.

Skills

Project Leadership

Client Management

Mentorship

Regulatory Compliance

Wetland Science

Permitting

Business Development

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science / Biology / Ecology / Environmental Engineering

Master's degree in a related field

Tools

ArcGIS

Regulatory databases

Job description

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior or Principal Environmental Project Managerto 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.

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.

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.