Assistant Project Wetland Scientist

About the opportunity:

SWCA's growing Massachusetts team seeks an Assistant Project Wetland Scientist (HR Title = Assistant Project Environmental Scientist) to join our natural resources team in Massachusetts. 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 New England botanical and wildlife species, attention to detail, organizational skills, willingness to learn, effective communication and time management skills.

This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt position supporting projects throughout Massachusetts and New England. This position offers the opportunity to support both field and office-based projects, depending on project needs. This position is hybrid eligible and requires candidates to be within commutable distance to either our Southborough, MA or Amherst, MA office locations.

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 permitting and compliance experience to support regional renewable energy, natural gas, and electric transmission focused projects related to Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other resource planning/permitting, and/or natural resource disciplines.
• Complete technical writing assignments focused on natural resource reports and permit applications.
• 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.
• Three (3) years of relevant experience performing environmental, ecological, or natural resources studies, surveys, or projects in the private or public sector.
• Experience performing environmental compliance inspections and reporting for active construction projects, including familiarity with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit.
• Applicants who are unable to show professional wetland delineation experience will not be considered.
• Demonstrated experience with federal and state laws, such as the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Regulations, the Clean Water Act, the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, the federal Endangered Species Act, and other federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
• Technical writing experience associated with the summarization of site conditions and the preparation of permit applications.
• Familiarity with 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.
• Able to conduct mobilizations with overnight stays in the New England Area. Occasional deployments of up to 1-2 weeks at a time.
• Applicants must have valid driver’s license and be able to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.
• EPA certified SWPPP inspector, or ability to obtain certification within two months.
• Reside within commutable distance to either our Amherst, MA or Southborough, MA office locations.

Preferred qualifications :

• Strong working relationships with the local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
• Experience working with renewable energy, oil & gas, transportation, and public utilities.
• Professional Certifications including PWS, NHCWS, CESSWI, Registered (Professional) Soil Scientist.
• Experience leading field crews performing wetland delineation and other tasks.
• Experience with rare species habitat assessment, survey, and construction monitoring.
• Strong client representation experience through permitting processes and management of project timelines and deliverables.
• Experience developing proposal language and costing.

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 [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 .

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 hourly rate of:

• Amherst, MA = $27.30/hr. - $35.62/hr.
• Southborough/Boston, MA = $30.71/hr. - $40.07/hr.

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.

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