About the opportunity
SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Assistant or Associate Project Ecologist to support our Natural Resources team in the Southeast, with a preference for candidates based in Mississippi or Georgia, and openness to Alabama and Tennessee. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in wetland delineations, permitting, and aquatic resource assessments across the southeastern United States.
This role involves a mix of fieldwork, regulatory coordination, and technical reporting to support ecological projects, with a focus on wetland delineations and Clean Water Act permitting.
This is a full-time position that offers a flexible work arrangement, including hybrid options. Occasional travel for fieldwork may be required across different ecoregions in the Southeast, including overnight stays.
This position is available at the following levels, depending on qualifications and experience:
Assistant Project Ecologist – Typically requires a minimum of three years of relevant industry experience and expertise
Associate Project Ecologist – Typically requires a minimum of five years of relevant industry experience and expertise
What you will accomplish
Conduct wetland delineations using the USACE Regional Supplements.
Perform stream assessments, OHWM determinations, and aquatic resource evaluations.
Support and/or lead permitting efforts, including Section 404/401 processes.Conduct habitat assessments and ecological monitoring across diverse ecosystems.
Coordinate with regulatory agencies such as USACE, EPA, and state agencies.
Collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data using GIS tools.
Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.
Prepare delineation reports, permit applications, and technical documentation. Depending upon project, an element of your job may be to independently supervise a small crew while conducting environmental fieldwork. This includes:
independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on-time delivery;
ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely;
serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers;
receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field; and monitoring team productivity and offering timely performance guidance, including determining when corrective action is needed and delivering appropriate feedback
Experience and qualifications for success
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Soil Science, or related field.
3+ years of experience in wetland delineations and environmental consulting.
Experience applying USACE delineation methodology and regional supplements.
Familiarity with Clean Water Act permitting processes.
Strong knowledge of southeastern hydrology, soils, and vegetation.
Proficiency with GIS tools (ArcGIS, ArcPro).
Ability to work in field conditions (wetlands, streams, remote areas).
Valid driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications:
5+ years of delineation and permitting experience.
Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or ability to obtain.
Qualified Hydrologic Professional (QHP) certification.
Experience leading Section 404/401 permitting efforts.
Experience coordinating directly with USACE districts in MS, GA, AL, or TN.
Strong technical writing and report preparation skills.
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 Southeast position can expect an hourly pay rate of $27.04 to $34.25/hour as an Assistant Project Ecologist or $62,665.20 to $80,875.60/year as an Associate Project Ecologist. 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 (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.
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.
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 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.
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 [email protected] or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.
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