Senior Natural Resources Team Lead

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Half Moon Bay, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior Natural Resources Team Lead for its Natural Resources Program in Half Moon Bay, California. The role provides leadership for multidisciplinary natural resources projects, with a focus on wildlife biology, botany, aquatic resources and waters permitting, environmental compliance, and resource management across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. The Team Lead guides project strategy and delivery across infrastructure, restoration, utility, transportation, renewable energy, and land development projects. The position oversees staff, projects, and client relationships while advancing regulatory permitting, environmental compliance, business development, project performance, and operational success. The successful candidate will help grow the Half Moon Bay Natural Resources Program, strengthen client partnerships, and support technical excellence in the region. This is a full-time, regular, salaried/exempt position with benefits, based on a hybrid arrangement out of SWCA’s Half Moon Bay office. The role works closely with the Northern California Natural Resources Director, project managers, and technical specialists. Applicants must submit a Letter of Interest and a current resume. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Science, Ecology, or a related field.
Eight years of progressively responsible experience in biological fieldwork, environmental consulting, and project management.
Experience developing and managing project budgets, schedules, and scopes of work from project initiation through final deliverables.
Experience authoring or contributing to natural resources technical reports and environmental documentation for a variety of projects, agencies, and jurisdictions.
Technical expertise in biological resource studies, habitat assessments, special-status species surveys, or related natural resources disciplines.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations, including NEPA, CEQA, and the Endangered Species Act.
Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing technical direction to professional staff.
Ability to manage competing priorities, solve complex problems, exercise sound judgment, and drive projects to successful completion.
Ability to learn and apply company procedures, adapt to changing project needs, and implement new approaches or techniques as appropriate.
Submit a Letter of Interest and a current resume to be considered.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Science, Ecology, or a related field.
Ten years of progressively responsible experience.
Advanced expertise in one or more specialized biological resource disciplines, such as rare plant identification, protocol-level special-status species surveys, or sensitive habitat assessments.
Experience preparing environmental documentation and permitting materials under NEPA, CEQA, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, or related regulatory programs.
Experience with transportation, water, and land development projects.
Demonstrated business development success, including client relationship management, proposal development, and identifying new project opportunities.
Established professional relationships and experience working with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and clients in California and the Western United States.

Responsibilities

Manage team operations, improve efficiency and productivity, and identify and implement process improvements.
Attract, recruit, develop, and retain staff; mentor employees and manage workload distribution and productivity in collaboration with other leads.
Communicate team vision and priorities and ensure accountability.
Consult on and lead complex projects, oversee technical approaches, and ensure quality assurance and quality control.
Support innovation in standards and practices while aligning project work with industry and regulatory standards.
Provide technical expertise and develop project strategies that address client needs and project requirements.
Guide project performance, milestones, and outcomes; assess risks and address problems; and revise or recommend revisions to scopes, schedules, and budgets as needed.
Drive business growth and client success through technical excellence and innovation, contribute to strategic planning, and develop methods and standards that advance SWCA’s technical reputation.
Promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and coordinate technical support with specialists.
Build consultative relationships with internal and external clients, agency regulators, and industry partners, as applicable.
Follow applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
Perform related work as assigned.
Lead preparation and review of biological resources reports, biological assessments, wetland delineation reports, and biological resource sections of NEPA and CEQA documents.
Develop survey protocols and oversee field surveys for sensitive habitats and species, including focused, protocol-level, and pre-construction surveys.
Prepare and review permitting, compliance, and planning documents associated with NEPA, CEQA, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act.
Partner with the Northern California Natural Resources Director and regional staff on team planning, growth, and operational objectives.
Provide project-specific technical direction and mentorship to natural resources project managers, technical staff, and field personnel.
Serve as a liaison among Natural Resources staff, regional leadership, other technical teams, and corporate support functions.
Coordinate resources related to safety, equipment, training opportunities, and regulatory or research updates to support team readiness.
Lead proposal development and evaluate business development opportunities in support of regional growth.
Represent SWCA in industry organizations and professional networks to expand client relationships and market presence.