SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for an experienced Associate Project Wetland Scientist to join our Chicago team. 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!

This is a regular, full-time position reporting to our Chicago, IL office location. We will also consider hybrid or remote candidates in Lombard, IL, and remote candidates in the Cincinnati, OH, or Grand Rapids, MI area(s). This position offers the opportunity to support both field and office-based projects, depending on project needs. Associated travel for this position is expected to be 70% of the time.

We will consider both Assistant Project and Associate Project-level candidates for this role. That includes

• Assistant Project Wetland Scientist typically, with minimum three (3) years of relevant experience and expertise
• Associate Project Wetland Scientist typically, with minimum five (5) years of relevant experience and expertise.

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.

• Assist with conducting a variety of natural resources field studies including wetland delineations, threatened/endangered species assessments, and avian/wildlife surveys.
• Conduct fieldwork, organize and transfer field data, and write technical reports and permit applications related to Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other resource planning/permitting, and/or natural resource disciplines.
• Assist in the writing and development of written deliverables related to project work.
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and tools during fieldwork.
• Safely operate SWCA-owned and rental vehicles, including 4-wheel drive vehicles.
• Complete individual tasks of medium complexity or duration with oversight.
• In the field, oversees a crew or work independently on standard tasks.
• Mobilizes field crews and equipment.
• Coordinate land access, field crew progress, data transfer and management.
• Execute data collection in the field through self and others.
• Complete field data QA/QC.
• Conduct research.
• Perform basic data synthesis and analysis.
• Apply broad knowledge of regulations or guidelines to projects.
• Communicate with clients or agency representatives.
• Oversee the implementation of the safety plan in the field.

• Required Qualifications
  • Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Biology, Botany, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Science, Ecology, or a related field.
  • Minimum three (3) years of experience conducting wetland delineation fieldwork and wildlife/environmental fieldwork. Applicants who are unable to show professional wetland delineation experience will not be considered.
  • Completion of a 38-hour wetland delineation training course or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.

• Preferred Qualifications
  • Five (5) years of experience leading and conducting wetland delineation fieldwork and wildlife/environmental fieldwork.
  • Knowledge and environmental survey experience in the Midwest, Northeast, and Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Regions.
  • Knowledge and experience working with the local regulatory agencies, such as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Department Environment Great Lakes and Energy, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  • Experience working with the USACE Chicago, Huntington, Detroit, Louisville, and Sant Louis District Offices.
  • Familiarity with mapping software such as ArcGIS and GPS devices.
  • Task management experience.
  • Certification from the Society of Wetland Scientists as a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or Wetland Professional in Training (WPIT).

• Additional Information
  • Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather and rugged terrain.
  • Ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
  • Frequent travel will be required for the position, with fieldwork sometimes reaching 60% of your time.

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 would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the online application process due to a disability, please email or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All 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 Chicago-based position can expect an hourly rate of:

• Assistant Project Wetland Scientist = $27.56 - $35.96/hr.
• Associate Project Wetland Scientist = $31.50/hr. - $40.43/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 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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