Assistant Project Wetland Scientist

at  SWCA Environmental Consultants

About the opportunity:
SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Assistant Project Wetland Scientist to join our dynamic natural resources team. While this position is listed under our Pensacola, FL office, we encourage candidates based throughout Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee to apply, as our growing team operates across these regions. In this role, you will work on a diverse range of projects involving wetland delineations, rare species surveys, ecological inventories, environmental permitting, and construction monitoring. The position offers a balanced mix of fieldwork and office-based tasks, providing opportunities to apply your expertise in natural resource management while learning and developing new skills and supporting projects across Florida and the southeastern U.S. Your contributions will be crucial to environmental conservation efforts and project success.
This is an hourly, full-time position that offers a flexible work arrangement including hybrid options, with staff able to work from our Pensacola, Gainesville, or Tampa offices, or as distributed team members within Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, or Tennessee. Atlanta-based staff are also encouraged to apply due to our growing distributed staff in that area. Occasional travel for fieldwork may be required across different ecoregions in the Southeast, and overnight stays should be anticipated as part of this fieldwork.
Please note that this position involves demanding fieldwork with anticipated travel reaching at least 60% of your time.
The selected candidate will be required to pass client-specific drug and alcohol testing, potentially including pre-fieldwork drug testing and random, monthly drug testing.

What you will accomplish:

• Conduct various natural resource field studies, including wetland delineations, threatened/endangered species assessments, and avian/wildlife surveys.
• Organize and manage field data in digital formats.
• Prepare technical reports and permit applications for regulatory approvals under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other relevant natural resource planning/permitting disciplines.
• Collaborate with team members to develop project deliverables.
• Utilize topographic maps, GPS devices, and other tools during fieldwork activities.
• Safely operate 4-wheel drive vehicles for fieldwork and site visits.
• Coordinate field crew activities, including mobilization and data collection efforts.
• Conduct research, data synthesis, and basic analysis to support project objectives.
• Communicate effectively with clients and agency representatives throughout project lifecycles.
• Ensure adherence to safety protocols and oversee their implementation in the field.
• 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:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Water Resources, Botany, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience conducting wetland delineations and aquatic resource assessments. Candidates who cannot demonstrate delineation experience will not be considered for this position.
• Experience conducting desktop research for preliminary wetlands evaluations and conducting field wetland delineations.
• Proficiency in GPS devices, digital data collection, and mapping software such as ArcGIS.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate 4WD vehicles.
• Capability to conduct fieldwork in various conditions and terrains, and lift up to 40 pounds of equipment.
• Knowledge of Clean Water Act regulations and the Nationwide Permitting system.
• Ability to travel at up to 3 weeks at a time for field assignments.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Extensive knowledge of botanical species taxonomy and strong field identification skills.
• Experience mentoring survey teams in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee, and leading site visits with agency personnel.
• Willingness to learn new survey techniques and protocols.
• Experience leading wetland delineations, protected species surveys, and construction monitoring.
• Professional certifications (e.g., WPIT, AWB, CERPIT, CESSWI, APSS) or the ability to obtain them.
• Strong knowledge of botanical species taxonomy and field species identification.
• Experience in protected species surveys such as gopher tortoise, avian surveys, protected bat surveys, or aquatic invertebrate surveys.

Please refer the Job description for details