SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for an experienced 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 working remotely in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area and reporting to the Chicago, IL office. 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 60% of the time.

This requisition can hire at two levels:

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

Our Vision (the North Star), Core Values, and Purpose:  Help drive SWCA to be 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 are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.

• 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
• 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 conducting wetland delineation fieldwork and wildlife/environmental fieldwork.
• Knowledge and environmental survey experience in the Midwest
• Knowledge and experience working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Experience working with the USACE St. Paul District Office
• 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

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. 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.

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, IL based position can expect an hourly rate of $27.56- $35.96/hr at the Assistant Project Wetland Scientist level or an hourly rate of $31.50-$40.43/hour at the Associate Project Wetland Scientist level. 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 Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

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 accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.