{"id":3282114,"url":"https://alion.io/job/nwra-lead-environmental-scientist","title":"Lead Environmental Scientist","company":{"id":2213906,"name":"NWRA","domain":"nwra.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/nwra-org","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"iCIMS","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Salt Lake City, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":81120,"max":105996,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":105996},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-26T16:53:53Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-26","last_verified_at":"2026-10-29T03:58:02Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"About the opportunity\nSWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Lead Environmental Scientist to join our Natural Resources program in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this role, you will support biological studies, natural resource management, environmental permitting, and regulatory compliance (Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Water Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, etc.) projects across a diverse portfolio that includes transmission, mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, and ecological restoration initiatives.\nAs a senior technical leader, you will serve as a subject matter expert, manage large and complex projects, provide quality oversight and review for project deliverables, support key client relationships, proposals, and business development, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance project opportunities throughout the region.\nDepending on project needs, this position may require travel within the region to support fieldwork, client engagement, regulatory coordination, and project oversight. You will work closely with clients, regulatory agencies, leadership, and technical staff to guide project direction, ensure technical excellence, and support successful project delivery. This role offers the opportunity to mentor staff, lead natural resources management and regulatory compliance efforts, and play a key role in advancing projects and client success.\nThis is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried/exempt opportunity based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Pay rate will be based on individual qualifications and experience. This position is hybrid-eligible for candidates residing within Salt Lake City, Utah, or distributed (= remote) for applicants based in Utah.\nApplication Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates are identified. This position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.\nAbout SWCA\nSWCA Environmental Consultants is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm providing full spectrum environmental services across the United States. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, delivering sound science and creative solutions to complex environmental challenges.\nWe are guided by our core values every day. We collaborate as #OneSWCA, we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices nationwide, SWCA offers a collaborative, team focused environment where employees can build meaningful and long-term careers.\nWhat you will accomplish\nStrategic Project Leadership: Strategically consults on and leads complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and ensuring quality assurance and quality control.\nExemplary Leadership: Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards.\nTechnical Expertise & Innovation: Innovates standards and practices to enhance the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards. Serves as a go-to technical expert and consultant, providing novel project strategies and applying technical excellence that considers client needs to meet project requirements.\nProject Accountability: Continuously guides projects, executing accountability for the performance of projects or delegated tasks and ensuring that project milestones are met and outcomes align with SWCA’s values and client expectations. Assesses risks and implements strategies for problem-solving. Revises or suggests revisions to project scopes, schedules, and budgets as necessary to meet evolving project requirements and ensure successful outcomes.\nBusiness Growth & Innovation: Drives business growth and client success through technical excellence, innovation, and development of new methods and standards that advance SWCA's technical reputation. Contributes to SWCA's strategic planning.\nCross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with specialists to provide comprehensive technical support for projects.\nMentorship & Team Development: Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols. Fosters team development and cross-training, modeling and promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members to enhance project outcomes, as well as team depth and redundancy.\nRelationship Management: Establishes and grows effective consultative relationships with external and internal clients and/or agency regulators and industry partners (if applicable) to support successful projects.\nPublishes and Presents Findings: Leads the preparation and presentation of scientific and regulatory findings, contributing to the body of knowledge and enhancing SWCA's reputation in the field.\nFollows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.\nPerforms related work as assigned.\nMinimum Qualifications\nKnowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree. Six years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including some experience managing others. Eight years of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education.\nExperience and qualifications for success\nBachelor’s degree in Biology, Wetland Science, Plant/Soil Science, Ecology or other related environmental science.\nSix (6) years of experience working in a private sector (i.e., consulting) or regulatory agency setting leading and overseeing the completion of natural resources fieldwork, technical reports, impact assessments, and environmental assessments.\nExperience managing complex natural resources projects, permitting and regulatory compliance projects, environmental consulting, or ecological studies including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, scopes of work from feasibility assessments to final report/permit preparation.\nDemonstrated experience with federal agencies such as US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), US Forest Service (USFS), and/or, Utah Trust Lands Administration (TLA), and other state/local agencies in the Great Basin Sub-Region.\nExperience with flora and fauna of Utah and the Intermountain West. \nAbility to travel as needed for client and agency meetings.\nAbility to collaborate with junior level to experienced environmental professionals.\nExperience with client management and business development for natural resources services within the region.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nMaster’s degree in Wetland Science, Biology, Plant/Soil Science, Ecology or other environmental science related fields.\nEight (8) years of experience working in a private sector (i.e., consulting) or regulatory agency setting leading and overseeing the completion of natural resources fieldwork, technical reports, biological assessments, impact assessments, and environmental assessments.\nCurrent or prior Certification as a Professional Wetland Scientist by the Society of Wetland Scientists or PMP certification.\nOther Job Conditions\nWhen drug testing is required\nApplicants must be willing to participate in drug and alcohol screening as part of the pre-employment process, when required by project or client requirements.\nWhen driving is required\nApplicants must possess a valid driver's license and meet SWCA's driver requirements.\nWhen traveling is required\nThis position may require domestic travel, including travel by commercial airline. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain all valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel throughout the duration of employment.\nSafety Expectations\nStaff level: Adheres to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.\nProject level: Takes responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.\nLead level: Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.\nDirector Level: Serve as an ambassador for SWCA’s Safety Culture and implementation\nWork Environment\nWork is regularly performed outdoors and involves hiking over uneven terrain, lifting and carrying equipment up to 25-50 pounds, and working in varying/extreme weather conditions. Employees may be exposed to vegetation, wildlife, insects, dust, chemicals, sharp or heavy tools, and other environmental conditions while following required safety procedures.\nPay Range\nSWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Salt Lake City, UT-based position is $81,120.00 to $105,996.80 per year. Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses.\nAs a 100% employee-owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) with profit sharing, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities.\nClosing\nIf you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact  or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact .\nUse of Technology in Hiring\nSWCA may use approved technology, including AI-assisted tools, to support parts of the application and recruiting process. All selection and hiring decisions are made by SWCA employees, and candidates are not selected or rejected by automated systems. We are committed to a fair, transparent, and human-centered hiring experience.\nCandidate Use of AI\nCandidates may use AI tools to help prepare application materials and interviews. However, all application materials, assessments, and interview responses must accurately reflect their own experience, skills, and qualifications. AI must not be used to fabricate experience, complete assessments on their behalf, or otherwise misrepresent their background or abilities.\nEqual Opportunity Employer\nSWCA Environmental Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive.\nSWCA 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":11249,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Professional development","Wellness"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Natural Resources","Waste Management","Standards & Industry Bodies"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-26T16:53:53Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":12,"reasons":["conf:4","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":105996,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/nwra-lead-environmental-scientist","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/nwra-lead-environmental-scientist.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-29T05:20:48Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":8172,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-30T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2213906},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2213906"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnwra-lead-environmental-scientist"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnwra-lead-environmental-scientist"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnwra-lead-environmental-scientist"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/nwra-lead-environmental-scientist\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnwra-lead-environmental-scientist"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3282114}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"nwra.org","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3282114},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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