Senior Planning Team Lead

SWCA Environmental Consultants•Salt Lake City, UT

5d•$95,909 - $124,571•Hybrid

About The Position

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior Planning Team Lead to provide leadership within its Great Basin Planning and Permitting Program. The role manages staff, projects, and client relationships, and supports regional Environmental Planning strategies and business objectives. The position is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and may be performed in the office, in a hybrid arrangement, or as a distributed role for candidates located in the region. It reports to the Great Basin Planning Director and is a regular, full-time, salaried/exempt position. The successful candidate will lead planning staff and multidisciplinary project teams, manage complex projects and budgets, support staff development, and maintain strong client and agency relationships. The role includes developing business, evaluating market opportunities, supporting proposals and capture planning, and strengthening SWCA’s regional market presence. Technical work includes leading NEPA and other environmental reviews, preparing and overseeing planning documents and permits, and ensuring regulatory compliance across relevant projects. The position requires substantial planning or NEPA document preparation experience in environmental consulting, including experience managing others. Work may involve domestic travel and is regularly performed outdoors, including hiking over uneven terrain, carrying equipment, and working in varying or extreme weather conditions. The posted annual pay range for the Salt Lake City-based position is $95,908.80 to $124,571.20; eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses. The position includes SWCA’s Total Rewards package.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another planning- or science-related field, or equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and education.
At least eight years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including planning or NEPA document preparation in environmental consulting and some experience managing others.
Strong experience with NEPA, such as environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.
Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and emotional-intelligence skills.
Attention to detail and strong organizational, schedule-management, and budget-management skills.
Experience on complex, multidisciplinary projects; leading client and agency meetings; directing project teams, including subcontractors; preparing or directing technical studies and planning/NEPA documents; and setting and adhering to budgets and delivery schedules.
Working knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations, including NEPA, FLPMA, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, and ability to develop project execution plans for regulatory compliance.
Working understanding of agency processes and procedures, such as those of the BLM, USFS, NPS, BOR, and/or USFWS.
Experience in one or more of the following in the western United States: public lands, land-use planning, natural or cultural resource issues, wind or solar projects, transportation projects, or oil and gas projects.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet SWCA’s driver requirements.
Collaborative teamwork, individual accountability, and conduct aligned with SWCA’s values that contributes positively to an inclusive and supportive workplace.
Ability to obtain and maintain valid travel documents and identification required for work-related domestic travel, if travel is required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another planning- or science-related field.
Ten years of planning or NEPA document preparation experience in environmental consulting.
Experience supporting business development with federal agencies, RMPs, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy developers, or other non-federal applicants seeking permits or leases from federal agencies.
Location in the Salt Lake City, Utah, or Great Basin area.
Interest in pursuing new business.

Responsibilities

Supervise and manage planning staff and project teams to meet project goals, timelines, and quality standards.
Develop and implement strategic plans for staff and project team performance, setting objectives and providing guidance.
Lead the preparation and review of planning documents, ensuring thorough analysis and compliance with applicable environmental regulations.
Promote collaboration and communication within the team and with other departments.
Conduct performance evaluations, provide feedback, and support team members’ professional development.
Engage with clients and regulatory agencies to understand project requirements, address concerns, and achieve successful project outcomes.
Identify and implement solutions to complex planning challenges.
Ensure technical work produced by the team is accurate, complete, and compliant with regulations.
Manage project budgets, schedules, and resources, adjusting as needed to deliver projects successfully.
Follow applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
Support regional Environmental Planning strategies and business objectives.
Evaluate market conditions and identify growth opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
Lead go/no-go evaluations and support proposal development, marketing pursuits, and capture planning.
Foster a sell-doer culture through mentoring, accountability, and participation in business development initiatives.
Develop and maintain relationships with industry organizations, agency representatives, and key stakeholders to strengthen regional market presence.
Lead environmental impact analyses and preparation of NEPA, state, and local environmental review documents, including EAs, EISs, critical-issue analyses, and environmental permits.
Provide technical leadership for environmental reviews supporting renewable energy, transmission, mining, land-use planning, and related infrastructure projects.
Guide NEPA processes, including baseline studies, purpose-and-need development, public scoping, comment response, and preparation of Records of Decision and Findings of No Significant Impact.
Oversee county and state land-use approvals and environmental permitting, including special-use permits and certificates of environmental compatibility.
Perform related work as assigned.
Drive compliance with safety policies and reporting requirements to support team safety.