Senior Project Manager - Permitting

About the opportunity:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is actively seeking a Senior Project Manager – Permitting with strong interpersonal skills and experience in project permitting and project management to join our team and primarily support renewable energy generation, oil & gas, and transmission projects. Projects will be located throughout the Midwest and Northeast US.

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 extensive environmental consulting and project management experience, preferably with specific knowledge of renewable energy generation, oil & gas, and transmission. SWCA is looking for the right candidate to take on existing and future projects and help build our presence throughout SWCA’s Midwest Northeast (MWNE) subregion.

The position will report into our Pittsburgh, PA office but can be remote within the Midwest Northeast states . This is a regular (with benefits), salaried, full-time position.

Application Deadline: April 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT

What you will accomplish:

• Assist the MWNE regional VPs and Directors in the development/updating and implementation of regional business plan(s).
• Manage & support projects and associated schedules, budgets, subconsultants, and project staff in the Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and beyond.
• Help develop existing and new clients in the energy marketplace.
• Develop internal SWCA network via relationship-building with peers and directors across the MWNE subregion.
• Engage with SWCA’s Technical Director team to support quality initiatives, and development of policies & procedures in your areas of expertise.
• Attend & contribute to office Business Development meetings in MWNE offices as appropriate (including PIT, PHL, CHI, CIN, PTL, and AMH/BOS).
• Pursue opportunity hires to help build SWCA’s regional team.
• Engage with professional organizations, including attendance at conferences, Board appointments, etc., on behalf of SWCA.
• Mentor regional staff – act as a technical advisor and quality control agent in areas of your particular expertise (especially regional permitting).
• Manage projects that include NEPA compliance, biological resource assessments and constraints analyses, state and federal Endangered Species Act consultations, Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 permitting, state-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.
• Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Experience and qualifications for success:

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field.
• Eight (8) years of relevant industry experience required on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Four (4) years of experience managing energy permitting projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Demonstrated experience with energy facility siting and constraints studies, permitting, and/or NEPA compliance.
• Demonstrated experience with state 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 and/or cultural resource consulting context for a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications :

• Prior routing and siting and transmission permitting project experience within the MWNE.
• Client relationships with electrical transmission, oil & gas, and/or renewable energy firms within the MWNE.
• Ten (10) or more years of relevant, progressively responsible experience on a variety of project types and sizes, regions, and agencies.
• Five (5) or more years of experience managing energy permitting projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 100% employee-owned company that offers a full range of environmental services. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges, all while staying true to our commitment to employee ownership. At SWCA, we live our core values every day: we collaborate as #OneSWCA, we’re #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices across the country, we’re proud to be one of the largest environmental compliance firms in the U.S. and to rank among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.

We offer a supportive, team-focused work environment, competitive pay, and great benefits, including a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to help you build a strong financial future. At SWCA, we’re committed to helping our team members grow into industry leaders. Our award-winning Career Landscape program offers a clear and structured path to meaningful career development. We support your growth through conference attendance, internal and external training, education reimbursement, and bonuses for qualifying publications. All regular-status employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, wellness, life, and disability coverage, as well as access to our Employee Assistance Program. Employees may also participate in SWCA’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. In alignment with this commitment, we post good faith pay ranges in all job postings.

An employee in this Pittsburgh, PA based position can expect a salary of $95,004/year to $126,672/year. 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.

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 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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