Project level Wetland Scientist

About the opportunity

SWCA's growing Minneapolis team seeks an Project Level Wetland Scientist to join our natural resources team. We are expanding our team and looking for dynamic individuals who are following their passion for delivering the highest-quality project work. If you thrive in the pursuit of ensuring excellence in environmental consulting services, this is a great opportunity for you!

The successful candidate will possess a broad range of skills including identification of Midwestern and Northern Plains botanical and wildlife species, attention to detail, organizational skills, willingness to learn, effective communication and time management skills.

This is a full-time position supporting projects in Minnesota and the Dakotas (and surrounding areas). This position offers the opportunity to support both field and office-based projects, depending on project needs.

We will consider candidates at both role levels:

• Associate Project Wetland Scientist
  - Typically with up to five (5) years of relevant industry experience and expertise preferred.
• Project Wetland Scientist
  - Typically with up to seven (7) years of relevant industry experience and expertise preferred.

• Apply a broad range of environmental compliance experience to support regional renewable energy and transmission focused projects related to Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act, and other resource planning/permitting, and/or natural resource disciplines.
• Work closely with a project team to complete biological resource management tasks.
• Take initiative and resolve issues in an independent manner.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities.
• Work closely with SWCA's other resource scientists, planners, on natural and cultural resource projects throughout the company.
• Complete technical writing assignments focused on the reporting and permitting of environmental compliance documents.
• Support projects as a task lead and/or project manager depending on level of experience and career aspirations.
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other tools for the preparation and execution field studies.
• In the field, oversee a crew or work independently while supporting a variety of data collection needs including wetland delineation, vegetative surveys, protected species and habitat surveys as well as construction compliance efforts.
• Data processing, review, and analysis.
• Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Botany, Environmental Science, Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Ecology, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience conducting a variety of environmental site investigations including wetland delineation, rare plant surveys, protected species habitat surveys, Phase 1 site assessments, etc, within the Northern Plains and Midwest geographies.
• Applicants who are unable to show professional wetland delineation experience will not be considered.
• Completion of a 38-hour wetland delineation training course or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.
• Technical writing experience associated with the summarization of site conditions and the preparation of permit compliance evaluations.
• Strong working relationships with the local, state and federal regulatory agencies in Minnesota and the Dakotas such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources/North Dakota Game & Fish Department, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Experience navigating wetland/ water resources federal and state permitting in Minnesota in compliance with the Clean Water Act and Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act.
• Experience submitting the Joint Application Form for Activities Affecting Water Resources in Minnesota.
• Familiarity with mapping software (such as ArcGIS) and GPS devices.
• Ability to travel to a location, hike and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, while carrying equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds is required.
• It is anticipated that moderate travel will be required for the position, with field work sometimes reaching 50% of your time (seasonally).
• Applicants must have valid driver's license and be able to meet SWCA's driver requirements.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ability to conduct a variety of natural resources studies including threatened/endangered species assessments, environmental assessments, and biological reports and evaluations documentation.
• Task or project management experience.
• Ability to write technical reports and permit applications and subject matter expert review related to the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, local municipal and county regulations, and other resource planning/permitting relevant in the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains. Report…