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.

Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.

What you will accomplish

• 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.

Experience and qualifications for success

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 writing may reach 65% of the position's required time commitment.

• Completion of Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Professional Wetland Delineator training course.

• Minnesota DNR-certified surveyor qualifications.

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.

An employee in this Minneapolis, MN-office based position can expect a salary of $68,140/year to $91,651/year for the Associate Project Wetland Scientist and $$74,954/year - $96,532.80/year for a Project Wetland Scientist. 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 (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), 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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