Project-Level Environmental Scientist

About the opportunity:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee-owned company specializing in natural and cultural resource management, environmental planning, and regulatory compliance. SWCA’s Chicago, Illinois team is growing and seeks a Project-Level Environmental Scientist. This position offers a collaborative and supportive work environment with a diverse team of scientists working on a wide range of projects, and is based in Cincinnati, OH. The successful candidate will possess a broad range of skills including a well-developed understanding of environmental permitting in the Midwest U.S. across multiple sectors including energy, utilities, and land development, strong technical field skills, and effective communication skills.

This is a full-time, regular status position located in Cincinnati, OH , with hybrid work environments encouraged. This position will report into our Chicago, ILL office

Under this job requisition, we may hire the following job position:

• Assistant Project Environmental Scientist - Typically with at least 3 years of relevant industry experience and expertise
• Associate Project Environmental Scientist – Typically with at least 5 years of relevant industry experience and expertise
• Project Environmental Scientist - Typically with at least 7 years of relevant industry experience and expertise

Application deadline: Application is due at 5:00 PM EDT on 6.27.2026

What you will accomplish:

Responsibilities for this position include serving as a task manager, overseeing, and directing field activities, and managing small to mid-sized project projects. As part of this position, the Project Environmental Scientist will:

• Develop project management and technical lead skills on a variety of environmental and water resource projects.
• Manage a variety of tasks, including projects related to wetland science and threatened/endangered species.
• Oversee and direct all aspects of environmental permitting related to Clean Water Act (CWA) Sections 401 (Water Quality Certification), 402 (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System), and 404 (Dredge and Fill Material), as well as the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and other state and local laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with a team of natural and cultural resources specialists to fulfill a variety of environmental planning and permitting needs for various projects.
• Be responsible for multi-disciplinary scope of work and budget development with the natural resources team, as well as tracking scopes and budgets during project execution.
• Direct agency and client coordination regarding wetland, rare species, stormwater, and compliance monitoring programs and building trusted relationships with the responsible agencies and stakeholders.
• Prepare resource inventory reports, environmental permitting support, and other documents.
• Organize, review, and transfer field data, and write technical reports and permit applications related to the CWA, floodplain management, and other state and local water resources regulations.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other SWCA scientists, including wetland specialists, ecologists, stormwater specialists, restoration specialists, hydrologists, floodplain specialists, wildlife specialists, etc. for quality assurance for scope of work and project approach development.
• Take responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.

Experience and qualifications for success:

Required

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Wetland Science, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology or other related field.
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in natural resources.
• Demonstrated prior experience leading wetland delineations, rare species investigations, construction monitoring, and other similar tasks.
• Previous experience with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations in the midwest United States.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred

• At least one (1) year of natural resources (or related) project management experience, including developing and implementing budgets, scopes of work, and project schedules.
• Five (5) years’ experience of progressively responsible experience in natural resources.
• Experience working on linear projects, including natural gas clients.
• Experience working on renewable energy projects
• Professional certifications including PWS, CWB, CERP, NHCWS, CESSWI, Registered (Professional) Soil Scientist, CE, or similar.

Additional Information

• Valid driver's license.
• Ability and willingness to travel, sometimes at moment’s notice, for extended periods, at night and occasionally on the weekend.
• Ability to pass a Motor Vehicle background screening.
• Available to access projects within the geographic area.
• Ability to work long hours in harsh conditions.

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) 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. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning , we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee-owned , and we build our success together. 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).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.

If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected] or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; 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.

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.

A Project Level Scientist in this Chicago, ILL- based position can expect a compensation rate of:

• Assistant Project Environmental Scientist- $28.67/hour to $37.40/hour.
• Associate Project Environmental Scientist - $35.10/hour to $45.03/hour.
• Project Environmental Scientist - $74,955/year to $96,533 annually.

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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