Lead Environmental Planner - Pacific NW

SWCA Environmental Consultants • Portland, OR

2d • $89,124 - $114,594 • Hybrid

About The Position

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 Pacific Northwest Team is looking for a self-motivated Lead 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 (with benefits), full-time, salaried position, reporting to SWCA’s Team Lead out of our Portland, OR office. Work can be based in the office, in a hybrid work arrangement, or remote (distributed) for those located in the Pacific Northwest sub-region, including Anchorage, Alaska.
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.
Application deadline: Application materials must be submitted by March 13, 2026.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another science-related field.
• A minimum of six (6) 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and/or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 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 OR, WA, or AK.

Nice To Haves

• A minimum of eight (8) years of NEPA document preparation and experience in environmental consulting.
• Ability to be recognized by clients and agencies as a NEPA assistant project manager that can help lead an EIS from pre-NEPA planning phases through record of decision.
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience managing and/or mentoring staff.
• Ability to work across different business lines including oil and gas, transmission, generation, and transportation.
• Ability to assist with Critical Issues Analysis (CIAs).
• Experience in Alaska and familiarity with agency requirements and local resource issues.
• Experience with federal agencies, the Pacific Northwest geography, water, oil and gas, and renewable energy developers or other non-federal applicants that seek permits or leases from federal agencies.

Responsibilities

• Manage the preparation of EAs and help manage preparation of 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; stakeholder engagement and public participation, 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.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level