Lead Project Environmental Planner; FERC​/NEPA

About the Opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is expanding our team and actively looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. Our Houston, TX team is looking for a self‑motivated Project-Level Environmental Planner with project management experience (especially FERC), attention to detail, and strong communication skills. Individuals need to be willing and able to work with peers across various offices and accomplish tasks associated with a variety of projects in any given week.

The ability to work directly with clients is imperative. The interest in pursuing new business is also desirable. The Project Level Environmental Planner will manage and support planning projects primarily in Houston and along the Gulf Coast.

This is a full‑time, salaried, regular (with benefits) position that will report into our Houston, Texas office. Pay rate will be based on individual qualifications and experience. SWCA offers a team-oriented work environment, competitive salaries, and a competitive benefits package, including an employee stock ownership retirement plan (ESOP). Houston and/or Baton Rouge‑area “hub” and hybrid work environments are desired. Remote work environments will only be considered for highly qualified candidates not local to Houston.

• Associate Project Environmental Planner – Typically with at least five (5) years of relevant industry experience and expertise preferred.
• Project Environmental Planner – Typically with at least seven (7) years of relevant industry experience and expertise preferred.

The selected candidate will be responsible for performing environmental impact analyses, facilitating public and agency outreach, and providing quality assurance and leadership during the development of EAs and EISs. More senior positions will have greater independence and work on larger and more complicated tasks and projects.

• Prepare and manage project scope, schedule, milestones, and budgets for federal, state, and private‑land projects.
• Manage projects and tasks related to biological resource assessments/constraints analyses; ESA consultation; CWA permitting (Sections 404/401); NHPA compliance; and other applicable regulatory requirements. Develop recommendations for mitigation measures, monitoring, environmental inspection/compliance, and resource‑specific permitting requirements.
• Provide QA/QC oversight of technical content to support project reporting, land use planning, NEPA documentation, permitting, and compliance deliverables.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance through key aspects of the NEPA process for a variety of agencies (e.g., FERC, FEMA, DOT), including pre‑NOI and project planning; proposed action and purpose‑and‑need development; document structure/content planning; public involvement/scoping; comment review/response; and decision documents (ROD, FONSI).
• Demonstrate leadership and professionalism; foster a collaborative, positive team environment and continuously improve procedures to deliver work effectively.
• Supervise, mentor, and instruct technical staff and field personnel; support development of individual and team capabilities (including impact analysis and document preparation skills).
• Coordinate and collaborate with clients, internal staff, subcontractors, and resource/regulatory agencies to obtain permits and authorizations and to support project delivery.
• Support business development and client relationship management with new and existing clients; contribute to business line growth objectives and the financial success of project activities.
• Drive a strong safety culture by implementing safety policies and reporting requirements; develop safety plans when applicable; and anticipate and address potential hazards for field components.

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Planning, Ecology, Natural Resource Management, or other related field required.
• Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience and expertise for an Associate Project Environmental Planner; five (5) years preferred.
• Mi…