Environmental Planner jobs in Colorado

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 Denver/Ft. Collins, Colorado Team is looking for a self-motivated Lead-Level Environmental Planner - NEPA (HR Titles hired under this job opening include Lead Environmental Planner, Senior Environmental Planner; or Principal Environmental Planner) with 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.

This is a regular status, full time position, reporting to one of SWCA’s Team Lead's out of our Denver-Front Range offices. Work can be based in the office, in a hybrid work arrangement, or remote (distributed) for those located in the region. 

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee-owned company of environmental professionals who specialize in environmental planning, natural and cultural resource management, and regulatory compliance. Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today.

What you will accomplish

You will be responsible for performing and overseeing multi-disciplinary environmental impact analyses, facilitating public and agency outreach, and providing quality assurance and leadership during the development of EAs and EISs.  More senior positions (e.g., senior NEPA planner; principal NEPA planner) will be accountable for more business development and lead more complicated, multidisciplinary planning efforts, projects and teams.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Manage and lead the preparation of EAs and EISs addressing the development for a wide variety of projects, including revisions of federal resource management plans (RMPs) and land use plans, issuance of rights-of-way, approvals, and/or leases, policy amendments, etc.
• Support business line growth objectives for business lines that may include land use planning, generation, transmission, water, mining, and others.
• Assist teams by providing technical oversight and guidance for the preparation of key aspects of NEPA documents and the NEPA process, including Pre-Notice of Intent (NOI) activities and project planning; development of the description of the proposed action and purpose and need; NEPA document structuring and content planning; public scoping; public comment review and response; and records of decisions and findings of no significant impact.
• Demonstrate excellent leadership behavior and professionalism while providing leadership at the project, team, and office level.
• Provide expertise to SWCA project managers on complex NEPA projects.
• Provide enterprise-level support by contributing to business development pursuits and proposals.
• Supervise and mentor early and mid-career staff in the development of the skills in NEPA analysis and document preparation.

Typically, lead-level employees have first-level responsibility for projects, processes, technologies, client relationships, or teams. At the Lead Role Level, employees and their managers identify a Career Focus Area and an employee’s on-the-job accountabilities and development activities reflect this focus.

Senior-level employees lead complex projects or tasks specific to their practice area, OR Provides leadership to project managers and the project management discipline at SWCA, developing methodologies and tools, and coaching and developing PM colleagues.

Employees at the Principal Role Level provide leadership to programs, departments, offices, practices, or business lines. They lead or influence other people leaders. Principals help SWCA stay aligned in driving organizational priorities and ensure collaboration across functional business units.

Experience and qualifications for success

We seek a team member who brings with him/her demonstrated experience in NEPA project management, environmental analysis, and agency consultation. We seek the following specific qualities: 

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another science-related field. 
• A minimum of eight (8) years of NEPA document preparation and experience in environmental consulting.
• Management experience on complex, multi-disciplinary projects; leading meetings with clients and agencies; directing project teams including subcontractors; preparing or directing staff in the preparation of technical studies and NEPA documents; and setting and adhering to project budgets and delivery schedules.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; attention to detail; and organization, schedule, and budget management skills.
• A strong understanding and experience with federal and state environmental regulations including NEPA, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and the ability to develop project execution plans to satisfy regulatory compliance.
• A strong understanding of agency internal processes and procedures and positive existing relationships with federal land management and regulatory agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), US Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), FERC, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is strongly preferred. 
• Proven experience with a subset of public lands, land use planning, natural and cultural resource issues, wind and solar projects, water projects, transportation projects, and or oil/gas projects in the western US.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another natural, biological, or cultural-resources-related field.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of NEPA document preparation and experience in environmental consulting.
• Ability to be recognized by clients and agencies as a NEPA project manager that can lead an EIS from pre-NEPA planning phases through record of decision.
• Experience with business development with federal agencies, RMPs, water, mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy developers or other non-federal applicants that seek permits or leases from federal agencies.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. 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.

If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All 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 Colorado-based position can expect an annual salary of:  Lead Environmental Planner – NEPA, $84,084/year to $108,108/year; Senior Environmental Planner – NEPA, $96,096/year to $122,304/year; Principal Environmental Planner – NEPA, $109,200/year to $140,868/year.  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.

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