SWCA Environmental Consultants · 1 day ago
Senior Planning Team Lead
Flagstaff, AZ
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$96K/yr - $125K/yr
8+ years expSWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior Planning Team Lead for Arizona to play a key leadership role within their Planning Program. This position involves strategic business development, project leadership, and team mentorship, focusing on complex planning and permitting projects in the environmental sector.
Environmental ConsultingNatural Resources
Responsibilities
Manage client relationships and conduct business development with new and existing clients
Identify and evaluate sales opportunities (prospects and proposals) and make recommendations to the team and leadership; lead proposal efforts
Support business line growth objectives and lead the development of planning and permitting documents including Federal, State, and local permitting for business lines that may include land use planning, generation, transmission, mining, and others
Network within industry organizations to expand the regional client base in line with the region’s strategic goals
Develop and foster teaming relationships that lead to business development
Take a leading role in the effort to diversify sales in the Arizona market, specifically by developing business in the planning discipline, also contributing to cross-specialty business in the cultural and natural resources, restoration, and multi-region and multidisciplinary pursuits
Participate in and lead strategic client capture efforts, in collaboration with Client Services Resources team and local/regional leadership
Manage the performance of individual projects and effectively coordinate with clients and agencies to produce technically excellent work that is on time and on budget
Identify and mitigate project challenges to avoid overruns and ensure profitability
Demonstrate excellent leadership behavior and professionalism while providing leadership at the project, team, and office level
Mentor and coach junior team members in business development and client services and in the development of skills in environmental analysis and document preparation
Advise the Arizona Planning Director on staff supervision, advancement, and course correction, as needed
Provide general support to the team relating to subject matter resources, training opportunities, regulatory and research updates, etc
Take a leading role in managing the schedule for the planning team, ensuring adequate coverage of project needs and appropriate assignments of staff to specific tasks, and identifying staffing shortfalls so that additional support can be sought either through subconsultants, staff from other offices, or hiring
Serve as the lead hiring manager for project- and staff-level positions. Take a leading role in identifying staffing needs, screening job candidates, conducting interviews, and making hiring recommendations to the Arizona Planning Director
Ensure team compliance with performance management and training requirements; support Arizona Planning Director in tracking progress and follow-up with individual supervisors and staff members
Drive compliance with safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety
Write and manage the preparation of environmental review documentation (e.g., state and local permitting, NEPA documents, and critical issue analyses) for a wide variety of projects, including renewable energy development, transmission, mining, etc
Manage teams on a variety of permitting processes, including EAs, EISs, CXs, plans of development, Arizona Certificates of Environmental Compatibility, county special use permits, zoning change applications, etc. This position will help lead, write, and manage the preparation of environmental compliance documents related to projects managed by federal agencies or state and local governments
Manage interdisciplinary projects that have planning and cultural and natural resource components. This position requires understanding and collaboration with a variety of resource experts
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another planning or science-related field
A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in planning and permitting and document preparation, preferably in environmental consulting
Demonstrated experience in supervising, mentoring, and providing leadership for other professionals
Proven project management experience managing 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 planning/permitting documents; and setting and adhering to project budgets and delivery schedules
Experience working on permitting for federal, state, and local environmental regulations and the ability to develop project execution plans to satisfy regulatory compliance
Proven experience working with a diverse range of clients across one or more of the following sectors: public lands, land use planning, natural and cultural resources, electrical transmission, wind and solar energy, transportation infrastructure, and oil and gas projects in the western United States
Preferred
Ten (10) years of relevant experience is preferred; with experience managing others
Graduate or Master's degree in environmental planning, environmental science, or another planning or science-related field
Arizona experience working on state and local environmental permitting processes
Experience with supporting business development with federal agencies, RMPs, mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy developers or other non-federal applicants that seek permits or leases from federal agencies
Benefits
Performance bonuses
Competitive benefits package
Forward-thinking workplace flexibility
Outstanding corporate culture
Award-winning career development
Company
SWCA Environmental Consultants
SWCA is an environmental consulting firm.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Joseph Fluder
CEO | President | Director
Jon Kehmeier
Vice President Scientific and Technical Services
Recent News
2025-09-25
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