Associate Project Manager - Utility Permitting

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Associate Project Manager - Utility Permitting to support environmental permitting efforts for utility infrastructure projects throughout Massachusetts and the Northeast. Projects may include electric transmission and distribution, substations, renewable energy interconnections, and other utility-related infrastructure requiring local, state, and federal permitting approvals.

This position is ideal for a developing project manager with permitting experience who is ready to take increased responsibility for project coordination, client support, schedules, and deliverables while working under the guidance of senior project managers and technical leads.

This role will report to one of our MA office locations (Amherst or Southborough), but candidates can be distributed, preferably anywhere within the New England area. This is a regular (with benefits), salaried/exempt, full-time position.

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.

• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of utility permitting projects, primarily in Massachusetts and surrounding New England states
• Coordinate environmental permitting tasks and schedules under the direction of a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager
• Assist with preparation and review of permitting applications, technical reports, and supporting documentation
• Manage projects that include NEPA compliance, biological resource assessments and constraints analyses, state and federal Endangered Species Act consultations, Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 permitting, state-level siting permits, and state wetlands permits.
• Track project scopes, schedules, milestones, and budgets for small to medium projects and defined tasks within larger projects
• Coordinate with internal technical specialists (natural resources, cultural resources, GIS, environmental planning) to support permit deliverables
• Support agency coordination with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies (e.g., MassDEP, local Conservation Commissions, USACE, NHESP)
• Communicate project status, risks, and needs to project leadership and internal team members
• Perform QA/QC reviews of project deliverables at the task level
• Assist with subcontractor coordination, invoicing review, and project documentation management
• Promote and adhere to SWCA's quality standards, and project management best practices
• Takes responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Planning, Biology, Ecology, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types and sizes, with an emphasis on federal, state, and local permitting in New England, and agency interactions at all levels.
• Experience supporting utility, linear infrastructure, or energy-related permitting efforts
• One year of experience managing projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• Working knowledge of applicable environmental regulations (e.g., MEPA, MESA, Wetlands Protection Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA)
• Demonstrated experience with federal agencies such as USFWS, EPA, USACE, and FERC.
• Experience coordinating project tasks, schedules, and deliverables
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with common project management and documentation tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, SharePoint, project tracking systems)

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and regions that include: energy facility siting and constraints studies, federal, state, and local permitting, NEPA compliance, and agency interactions at all levels.
• Experience assisting with energy facility siting and constraints studies
• Experience with NEPA compliance
• Direct experience with Massachusetts utility permitting and local/state regulatory processes
• Experience supporting projects involving electric transmission, distribution, renewable energy, or substations
• Demonstrated established relationships with state regulators and key utility clients in the northeast.
• Demonstrated success managing large mutli-year utility projects through permitting, construction, and closeout.
• Experience in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and/or Maine. New York experience is a plus.
• Interest in continued growth toward full Project Manager responsibilities

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, a Science and Leadership Program, 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 accommodations@swca.com 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.

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 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 Massachusetts-based position can expect an annual salary of $66,612.00 - $95,823.00. 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.

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.

#ind-swca

#LI-NC1