Principal Project Manager - Energy

SWCA Environmental Consultants • Pasadena, CA

12h • $124,079 - $163,391 • Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Principal Project Manager for our growing practice in Southern California. The Principal Project Manager strategically consults on and leads complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and ensuring quality assurance and quality control to support Southern California energy sector clients. This position will work closely with other project managers and technical specialists. The Principal Project Manager will leads client relations and/or business development opportunities, negotiates deliverables and continually communicate with clients and/or regulators to manage expectations. This position can be office-based, remote, or hybrid. In this position you will support projects in the energy generation and transmission sectors, including gas, electrical, transmission, solar, wind, and battery storage as well as other client types mainly in Southern California.
The ideal candidate will have strong gas, electric, transmission and energy experience who has managed projects with complex environmental issues as well as technical experience in fields such as natural resources. You will serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor, applying innovation and technical excellence to improve project quality, efficiency, and outcomes while aligning with industry and regulatory requirements. Your work will expand SWCA’s professional reputation in project management throughout California and beyond, and you will be provided with opportunities for professional development. You will collaborate with peers, maintain SWCA’s standards of excellence, and support the continuing development of SWCA’s Project Management Program.
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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental sciences, or a closely related field required.
• Ten (10) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including 5 years of managing projects preferred.
• General understanding of energy infrastructure and related environmental resource issues.
• Expertise with Southern California natural resources.
• Demonstrated primary report authorship for a variety of project types.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Project Leadership: consults and leads complex projects, overseeing the technical approach and quality control.
• Exemplary Leadership: Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: Innovates standards and practices to enhance the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards. Serves as a go-to technical expert and consultant, providing novel project strategies and applying technical excellence that considers client needs to meet project requirements.
• Project Accountability: Continuously guides projects, executing accountability for the performance of projects or delegated tasks and ensuring that project milestones are met and outcomes align with SWCA’s values and client expectations. Assesses risks and implements strategies for problem-solving. Revises or suggests revisions to project scopes, schedules, and budgets as necessary to meet evolving project requirements and ensure successful outcomes.
• Business Growth & Innovation: Drives business growth and client success through technical excellence, innovation, and development of new methods and standards that advance SWCA's technical reputation. Contributes to SWCA's strategic planning.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with specialists to provide comprehensive technical support for projects.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols. Fosters team development and cross-training, modeling and promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members to enhance project outcomes, as well as team depth and redundancy.
• Relationship Management: Establishes and grows effective consultative relationships with external and internal clients and/or agency regulators and industry partners (if applicable) to support successful projects.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.

What This Job Offers

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