About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is actively seeking a Senior Project Manager – Renewables (iCIMS title = Senior Project Manager) with strong interpersonal skills and experience in project management and permitting to join our renewable energy team. Projects will be located throughout the Midwest: Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. 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 environmental consulting and project management experience, preferably with specific knowledge of renewable energy generation. SWCA is looking for the right candidate to take on existing and future projects and help build our presence throughout the region. The position would be based out of any of our office in Lombard, IL office and may be remote.This is a regular (with benefits), salaried, full-time position.

This position can be hired at the following levels: 

• Lead Project Manager – Typically with at least 8 years of relevant experience and expertise.
• Senior Project Manager – Typically with at least 10 years of relevant experience and expertise.

The successful candidate will have technical expertise and experience in the following categories: renewable energy facility siting and constraints studies, permitting Clean Water Act permitting, Endangered Species Act Compliance, and/or agency interactions at all levels. Required skills include the ability to manage large, complex projects and meet milestones within schedule and budget expectations as well as competency in providing quality assurance, quality control (QA/QC) oversight. The candidate will be experienced in managing multidisciplinary staff to complete project permitting requirements.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision 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.

What you will accomplish

• Oversee multi-year and multi-disciplinary renewable projects
• Develop proposals including scope and budget creation
• Lead, oversee, and execute the management of permitting efforts for renewable energy projects of all sizes and levels of complexity
• Lead client communications regarding project status
• Coordinate and communicate with regulatory agencies
• Represent clients and SWCA at agency meetings and hearings
• Manage the financial performance of individual projects
• Work closely with 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
• Manage projects that include biological resource assessments and constraints analyses, state and federal Endangered Species Act consultations, Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 permitting, state- and local-level siting permits, and cultural resources studies
• 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

Experience and qualifications for success

Required:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of natural resources consulting experience required on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Demonstrated experience with energy facility siting and constraints studies, permitting, and/or NEPA compliance.
• Demonstrated experience with and federal agencies such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service, state wildlife agencies, US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (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.

Preferred:

• A minimum of one (3) year of experience assisting or managing natural resources projects with renewable energy clients, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Demonstrated experience working with regional energy regultorary agencies (OPSB, EGLE, etc).

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).

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 accommodations@swca.com or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

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, IL - based position can expect a rate of $82,992-$109,200/year at the Lead Project Manager level and $95,002-$126,672/year at the Senior Project Manager level. 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 is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

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