Wetland Scientist

Malaysianwildlife; Victoria (MN); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MWI is seeking a seasoned wetland scientist to lead delineations, navigate agency reviews, and guide field surveys. You’ll oversee projects from site assessment to reporting, manage data collection with GPS/GNSS, and coordinate with agencies across Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The role blends field and regulatory work with opportunities to shape the practice, mentoring junior staff and expanding client relationships as the firm grows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, ecology, biology, botany, soil science, natural resources, or related field (Master’s a plus).
• 5+ years of wetland delineation experience (consulting preferred); 10+ years preferred for a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Lead wetland delineations on large and small sites following the Corps Manual and regional supplements.
• Identify hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland hydrology indicators.
• Perform wetland assessments and plant/soil surveys.
• Evaluate proposed wetland mitigation and restoration sites.
• Collect and manage field data using GPS/GNSS and ArcGIS tools.
• Serve as project lead and communicate with clients and agencies.

Skills

Field skills

Hydric soils identification

Hydrophytic vegetation

Wetland hydrology indicators

Technical writing

ArcGIS Pro / ArcGIS Online

GPS / GNSS data collection

Project management

Driver’s license / reliable transport

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

ESRI ArcGIS Pro / ArcGIS Online

GPS / GNSS field data collection

MnRAM (Minnesota Rapid Assessment Method)

Floristic Quality Assessment

Job description

The Opportunity

A largefirm will slot you into one stage of the process;you delineate, and someone elsedesigns; youmonitor, and someone elseoversees construction and maintenance. At MWI,you’lldo all of it. As our wetland scientist,you’llrun delineations, carry permits through agency review, supportmitigationbankingdesign and approvals,completehydrology and mitigation monitoring, write the environmental review documents that tie it together, and oversee contractors. Often on the same project, start to finish.

We’reexpanding our wetland sciences practice, and there’s genuine room to shape how it growsprofessionally and financiallyas MWI grows. Ifyou’vewanted to own projects instead of pieces of them, this isyourjob.

The Structure — Honest About Where We Are, and Where This Goes

We’re hiring this role as a project-based role to start, sized to our current project load and growing as the work does. For the right experienced professional, that’s the opportunity, not the catch: build this practice and you can have a direct path to full-time and your own team to lead if you want it. If you’re an established professional who can bring a book of work with you, we should especially talk since there’s room to grow faster. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll build the role around the right person. That’s something only a small firm can credibly offer.

Location and Work Arrangement

This is a Minnesota based position, and candidates must reside in Minnesota. Our field work is concentrated in the Twin Cities metro, with roughly 20 percent in greater Minnesota and occasional work in western Wisconsin. You need to live within reliable driving distance of the metro, and we prefer candidates within about a two-hour drive of Victoria, Minnesota.

The role is hybrid. Office work such as offsite assessments, permitting, and reporting can be done remotely on your own schedule. Field work such as delineations, site assessments, and mitigation monitoring is in person and cannot be done remotely. We are not able to consider out of state or fully remote candidates for this position.

WhatYou’llDo

Field & Technical

• Lead and conduct wetland delineations on large- and small-scale sites following the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and the applicable Regional Supplements (Midwest RegionandNorthcentral & Northeast Region).
• Identifyand document hydric soils (Munsell colors, redoximorphic features), hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland hydrology indicators.
• Perform wetland functional and condition assessments (e.g.,MnRAMin Minnesota; rapid assessment methods in Wisconsin) and Floristic Quality Assessments.
• Conduct vegetation surveys, plant community classification, habitat assessments, soil surveys, and rare / threatened & endangered species surveys.
• Evaluate potential wetland mitigation, restoration, and bank sites for feasibility and ecological lift.
• Collect and manage field data with sub-meter GPS / GNSS units and ArcGIS Field Maps / Survey123to completeArcGIS Pro / ArcGIS Online mapping and analysis.

Regulatory & Permitting

• Assess federaljurisdiction(Waters of the U.S.) and prepare Approved and Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination requests in the current post-Sackett landscape.
• Navigate Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) review, MN DNR Public Waters, and Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) coordination.
• Navigate Wisconsin’s nonfederal wetland program,WDNRwetland identification and confirmation, andePermittingsubmittals.
• Prepare and manage Clean Water Act Section 404 / 401 permit applications, state permits, and exemption requests.
• Author environmental review documents—Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAW), Environmental Assessments (EA), and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)—under NEPA and Minnesota / Wisconsin state equivalents.

Mitigation, Banking & Monitoring

• Develop wetland replacement, restoration, and mitigation plans, and support wetland bank establishment (prospectus, banking instrument, credit accounting).
• Coordinate with the Interagency Review Team (IRT) andMNBWSRor WI DNRon banking and credit approvals.
• Conduct mitigation and monitoring site visits and prepare annual monitoring reports measured against performance standards.

Client, Business & Team

• Serve as projectleadandcommunicate directly with clients and agencies and carry projects from scope to close.
• Develop proposals andwork plans and support business development and client relationships.
• Mentor and build junior staff; provide QA/QC review of deliverables.
• Stay current with evolving wetland science, delineation methods, and regulatory change.

What You Bring

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, ecology, biology, botany, soil science, natural resources, or a related field (Master’s a plus).
• 5+ years of professional wetland delineation experience (consulting preferred); 10+ years preferred for a practice-leading role.
• Demonstrated delineation experience using the Corps Manual and the applicable Regional Supplements.
• Working knowledge of Minnesota and/or Wisconsin wetland regulations and permitting (WCA;WDNRnonfederal program; CWA Section 404/401).
• Strong field skills in hydric soil identification, hydrophytic plant ID, and wetland hydrology indicators.
• Strong technical writing for delineation reports, permit applications, and monitoring reports.
• ProficiencywithESRIArcGIS Pro / ArcGIS Online and GPS / GNSS field data collection.
• Ability to self-direct, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a flexible environment.
• Minnesota residency, a valid driver’s license, and reliable transportation. Field visits, delineations and monitoring visits are concentrated in the Twin Cities metro, with some travel in greater Minnesota and occasional trips to western Wisconsin. Overnight travel is infrequent.

Preferred

• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) certification through the Society of Wetland Scientists.
• Minnesota Wetland Professionals Wetland Delineatorstatus(or eligibility and willingness to obtain).
• Wisconsin DNR Assured Wetland Delineator status(or eligibility and willingness to obtain).
• Experience with wetland mitigation and banking (credits, banking instruments, IRT coordination).
• NEPA /MEPA/ WEPA environmental review experience (EAW, EA, EIS).
• Familiarity withMnRAM, Floristic Quality Assessment, and staterapid-assessmentmethods.
• Experience with threatened & endangered species, MN / WI Natural Heritage data, and rare plant surveys.
• OrdinaryHigh WaterMark (OHWM) / watercourse delineation, Phase I ESA, or related environmental due-diligence experience.
• Familiarity with the2025 proposedWOTUSrule and the heightened jurisdictional documentation it requires.
• Strong background in wetland science across the Upper Midwest and Great Plains regions.