Senior/Principal Project Manager - Hydropower

SWCA Environmental Consultants is hiring a Senior or Principal Project Manager – Hydropower to provide hydropower and FERC planning expertise and leadership. The role leads complex licensing and environmental compliance projects, oversees technical quality and project delivery, develops client relationships and business opportunities, and mentors staff.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Project Leadership: Strategically consults on and leads complex projects in pursuit of client objectives, overseeing the technical approach and ensuring quality assurance and quality control
• Exemplary Leadership: Leads by example in both technical and soft skills, navigating client and team priorities to deliver projects that meet professional and oversight agency standards
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: Innovates standards and practices to enhance the quality and efficiency of client projects and outcomes, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards. Serves as a go-to technical expert and consultant, providing novel project strategies and applying technical excellence that considers client needs to meet project requirements
• Project Accountability: Continuously guides projects, executing accountability for the performance of projects or delegated tasks and ensuring that project milestones are met and outcomes align with SWCA’s values and client expectations. Assesses risks and implements strategies for problem-solving. Revises or suggests revisions to project scopes, schedules, and budgets as necessary to meet evolving project requirements and ensure successful outcomes
• Business Growth & Innovation: Drives business growth and client success through technical excellence, innovation, and development of new methods and standards that advance SWCA's technical reputation. Contributes to SWCA's strategic planning
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Champions cross-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with specialists to provide comprehensive technical support for projects
• Mentorship & Team Development: Mentors staff for impactful influence, coaching others in technical excellence, leadership, and strategy, and also develops specialized programs and protocols. Fosters team development and cross-training, modeling and promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members to enhance project outcomes, as well as team depth and redundancy
• Relationship Management: Establishes and grows effective consultative relationships with external and internal clients and/or agency regulators and industry partners (if applicable) to support successful projects
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications
• Performs related work as assigned
• Manage multidisciplinary teams in the preparation of licensing documents (e.g., FERC, BOR); environmental assessments; environmental impact statements; implementation plans, technical studies; and federal, state, and local permitting documentation
• Maintain current knowledge of FERC, NEPA, and related hydropower regulatory frameworks and communicate relevant updates to staff and clients
• Provide technical oversight for hydropower licensing and environmental compliance deliverables, including applications, implementation plans, and permitting documentation
• Collaborate with the Team Lead and other Leadership on technical resource needs, emerging project risks, regulatory developments, and delivery constraints that may affect strategic priorities
• Work closely with the Team Lead and other Leadership to strengthen cross-office and cross-regional collaboration on hydropower services
• Direct and contribute to pursuit strategies and proposals by developing staffing approaches and project execution methodologies aligned with team capabilities and market conditions
• Identify opportunities for repeat work and expanded services and support national positioning through client meetings, industry events, and strategic discussions
• Lead complex hydropower licensing and environmental compliance projects, coordinating with clients and regulatory agencies to produce technically sound, compliant work products
• Coordinate directly with clients and regulatory agencies to facilitate efficient project execution and maintain strong working relationships

Requirements:

• Eight (8) years of relevant industry experience and expertise, including four (4) years of managing projects and some experience managing others
• Ten (10) years of relevant industry experience and expertise, including five (5) years of managing projects and some experience managing others
• Eight years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including 4 years of managing projects and some experience managing others
• Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree in biology, environmental science, natural resource management, geology or other related field
• Eight (8) years of relevant industry experience, including experience preparing or directing the preparation of FERC licensing documents and associated environmental compliance documentation
• Four (4) years of experience managing multiple concurrent complex, multidisciplinary hydropower projects, including leading meetings with clients, license applicants, and agencies, directing project teams and subcontractors, and maintaining project budgets and schedules
• Two (2) or more years of environmental consulting experience
• Proven experience mentoring and supervising staff and supporting career development within a team environment
• Working knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations including NEPA, FERC, FLPMA, CWA, ESA, NHPA, and the ability to develop project execution plans to meet regulatory requirements
• Working understanding of agency internal processes and procedures including FERC, BLM, USFS, BOR, NPS, and USFWS
• Demonstrated experience engaging with utility, developers, or other license applicants on hydropower licensing or compliance
• Experience supporting hydropower projects across a range of project types including relicensing, amendments, compliance reporting, exemptions, pumped storage, or transmission-related actions nationwide
• Demonstrated experience providing senior-level QA/QC review of hydropower regulatory deliverables
• A track record of collaborative teamwork, individual accountability, and behaviors that align with SWCA's values and contribute positively to an inclusive and supportive workplace culture
• Applicants must possess a valid driver's license
• Master's degree in environmental planning, environmental science, natural resources, or related field
• Ten (10) or more years of hydropower licensing and environmental consulting experience
• Five (5) years or more of experience managing multiple concurrent complex, multidisciplinary hydropower projects, including leading meetings with clients, license applicants, and agencies, directing project teams and subcontractors, and maintaining project budgets and schedules
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Experience supporting business development efforts with a focus on federal agencies, renewable energy developers, utilities, or other non-federal applicants seeking permits or licenses