Principal Ecological Restoration Team Lead

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Principal Ecological Restoration Team Lead to help lead and grow our ecological restoration practice in Southern California. This position serves as an organizational leader responsible for developing people, supporting project delivery, fostering collaboration, advancing restoration services, and contributing to the strategic growth and market position of the practice across the region.

The Principal Ecological Restoration Team Lead will work in close partnership with the Senior Natural Resources Director to support a growing team of restoration professionals engaged in habitat restoration, mitigation implementation, ecological monitoring, adaptive management, and habitat enhancement projects. The successful candidate will help build team capacity, develop staff, strengthen client relationships, and support successful delivery of restoration projects throughout southern California.

This position serves as a key connector among restoration practitioners, project managers, office leaders, and technical specialists across Southern California and will collaborate closely with colleagues throughout California and the West Region to share expertise, support project delivery, and advance SWCA's restoration capabilities. This role combines people leadership, project oversight, client engagement, business development support, and restoration expertise to help strengthen SWCA's position as a leader in ecological restoration.

This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried/exempt position. The position reports into our Pasadena office but can work out of other Southern California offices on a hybrid or distributed (=remote) basis.

Application Deadline : Applications will be accepted through November 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT.

What you will accomplish

- Supervises and mentors a team of ecological restoration professionals, providing guidance, support, and performance evaluations to ensure high-quality work and professional development.

- Oversees the planning, design, and implementation of complex ecological restoration projects, ensuring alignment with client objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.

- Conducts high-level technical reviews of project plans, designs, and deliverables, providing expert feedback and ensuring technical excellence.

- Facilitates cross-disciplinary collaboration, coordinating with other departments and specialists to integrate diverse expertise and achieve comprehensive project solutions.

- Leads client and stakeholder engagement efforts, building and maintaining strong relationships to support project success and business growth.

- Drives innovation and continuous improvement within the team, identifying opportunities for new methodologies, technologies, and practices to enhance project outcomes.

- Represents the organization at industry conferences, workshops, and meetings, sharing knowledge and promoting the company’s expertise and capabilities.

- Manages risk and addresses project challenges proactively, implementing strategies to mitigate issues and ensure successful project delivery.

- Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.

- Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

- Partner with the Senior Natural Resources Director on workforce planning, recruiting, succession planning, and organizational development initiatives.

- Build organizational capability by developing talent pipelines, expanding cross-office collaboration, and creating professional growth opportunities across California and the West Region.

- Champion a culture of safety, inclusion, accountability, and continuous learning

- Provide strategic direction and organizational support for restoration, mitigation, and ecological programs across Southern California and the Pacific Islands.

- Drive consistency, scalability, and operational effectiveness across the restoration portfolio.

- Advance SWCA's restoration practice by translating emerging science, technologies, and industry trends into practical solutions that enhance project and business outcomes.

- Support the growth of restoration services through client engagement, strategic pursuits, proposal development, and market expansion initiatives.

- Strengthen relationships with clients, agencies, contractors, and project partners to support long-term business growth.

- Promote alignment, knowledge sharing, and resource coordination among restoration practitioners across California and the West Region.

- Support integration of restoration services with SWCA's broader environmental, natural resources, permitting, and water resources practices.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree. Ten years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including some experience managing others. Twelve years of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education.

Experience and qualifications for success

- Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, restoration ecology, natural resources, or a related field required.

- Ten (10) years of professional experience in the ecological restoration and natural resources field.

- 4 years of environmental consulting experience in California.

- Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing professional staff.

- Experience managing large, complex environmental or restoration projects.

- Extensive experience with restoration planning, implementation, monitoring, and adaptive management.

- Strong understanding of restoration-related permitting and environmental compliance processes.

- Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with staff, clients, agency representatives, and project partners.

Preferred qualifications:

- Master’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, natural resources, or a related field required

- Twelve (12) years of professional experience in the ecological restoration and natural resources field, including some experience managing others.

- Experience with habitat mitigation, mitigation banking, watershed restoration, riparian restoration, wetland restoration, or habitat conservation planning.

- Existing relationships with California regulatory agencies, utilities, transportation agencies, water agencies, municipalities, or other restoration-focused clients.

- Experience supporting business development, proposal preparation, and client management activities.

Other Job Conditions

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license and meet SWCA's driver requirements.

This position may require domestic travel, including travel by commercial airline. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain all valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel throughout the duration of employment.

Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.

Work is regularly performed outdoors and involves hiking over uneven terrain, lifting and carrying equipment up to 25–50 pounds, and working in varying/extreme weather conditions. Employees may be exposed to vegetation, wildlife, insects, dust, chemicals, sharp or heavy tools, and other environmental conditions while following required safety procedures.

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this San Diego, CA-based position is $116,894.70 per year to $153,047.70 per year . Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses.

As a 100% employee owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) with profit sharing, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities.

Closing

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact [email protected] or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact [email protected].

Use of Technology in Hiring

SWCA may use approved technology, including AI-assisted tools, to support parts of the application and recruiting process. All selection and hiring decisions are made by SWCA employees, and candidates are not selected or rejected by automated systems. We are committed to a fair, transparent, and human-centered hiring experience.

Candidate Use of AI

Candidates may use AI tools to help prepare application materials and interviews. However, all application materials, assessments, and interview responses must accurately reflect their own experience, skills, and qualifications. AI must not be used to fabricate experience, complete assessments on their behalf, or otherwise misrepresent their background or abilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive.

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.