Environmental Compliance Director - Permitting, Rocky Mtn. Plains

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a strategic, operational and client-facing Environmental Compliance Director - Permitting for the Rocky Mountain Plains Subregion to advance SWCA’s environmental compliance business across the full project lifecycle, from early project planning and pre-construction through construction, operations, and post-construction compliance.

This position bridges Operations, Client Services, technical teams, and enterprise resources to position projects for success from their earliest stages. Rather than focusing solely on construction-phase execution, the Director takes a holistic view of clients, projects, markets, people, and financial performance, helping SWCA anticipate client needs, assemble the right teams, manage risk, strategize on how to improve project delivery, and deliver integrated environmental solutions throughout the life of a project. The Director will lead teams across the Rocky Mountain Plains Subregion and shared resources from across the organization, requiring strong collaboration, coordination, and influence.

The successful candidate is an optimistic, action-oriented strategist and connector who sees possibilities, builds networks, manages complexity, communicates clearly, adapts quickly, and consistently turns strategy into results. Qualified candidates will be fluent in environmental permitting and regulatory compliance issues affecting large-scale infrastructure and construction projects and will have demonstrated success in developing opportunities into sustained client relationships, revenue growth, and operational excellence. The Director will be responsible for business development and client growth, project leadership and delivery, and enterprise geographic strategy and team building.

The position will help grow SWCA’s Environmental Permitting and Compliance capabilities throughout the Rocky Mountain Plains Subregion and will support strategic client accounts; connect national strategy with regional and local execution; Lead major environmental compliance pursuits, proposals; oversee high-profile, complex projects and programs; promote team engagement and quality delivery; lead strategy and manage risk; collaborate on geographic and market expansion; support the growth and maintenance of key client relationships; and train and mentor ket SWCA staff. The Director will work closely with regional leadership to drive operational consistency, resource coordination, and business development initiatives that support SWCA’s long-term growth objectives.

This is a full-time, regular (with benefits), salaried/exempt position. This individual may work as a Rocky Mountain Plains hybrid employee associated with one of the offices or a distributed (=remote) employee, but travel will be up to 25%, mainly to offices within the subregion with some select travel across the nation. The position will work across the Rocky Mountain Plains Subregion and reports to the Vice President of the Rocky Mountain Plains Subregion.

To be considered for the position, a cover letter must accompany your resume.

Application Deadline : Applications will be accepted through November 16, at 5:00 PM MT.

What you will accomplish

- Develop strategic account plans and identify opportunities to expand existing relationships into broader, multi-service engagements.

- Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to senior client leaders regarding environmental compliance, project development, execution risk, and long-term program needs.

- Connect national strategy with regional and local execution so that SWCA can deliver consistently while remaining responsive to individual client and project needs.

- Connect clients with appropriate SWCA technical expertise and services throughout the company.

- Lead major environmental compliance pursuits and proposals — from opportunity identification and go/no-go through team selection, capture planning, strategic pricing, and interview preparation, while managing risk and ensuring consistency.

- Develop compliance teaming partners (prime and sub, including EPCs) and maintain productive relationships with regulators, industry experts, and academia.

- Deepen senior-level client relationships and represent SWCA at relevant industry and networking events to strengthen market position across the RMP.

- Provide senior oversight for high-risk or strategic compliance programs, including project execution, risk mitigation, and stakeholder management.

- Promote strong project management disciplines around scope, schedule, financial performance, quality, safety, client experience, and regulatory compliance.

- Work with Client Managers, Project Managers, technical leaders, and operational leaders to establish environmental compliance project strategy, staffing models, scopes, budgets, schedules, risk controls, and delivery approaches.

- Promote solutions that balance regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, constructability, schedule, cost, and client objectives.

- Develop scalable delivery models for large, multi-year, multi-office, and multi-disciplinary environmental compliance programs across RMP.

- Identify opportunities for process improvement, technology adoption, standardization, and innovation while retaining flexibility for project-specific needs.

- Train and mentor SWCA staff in environmental compliance, permitting services, and business development. Help create a culture of performance that attracts, recruits, retains, and develops talent.

Minimum Qualifications

Twelve (12) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including some experience managing others. Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree.

Experience and qualifications for success

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

- Twelve (12) or more years of experience delivering environmental compliance, permitting, natural resource management, and/or construction-phase environmental services, including leadership responsibilities supporting complex projects and programs.

- Five (5) or more years of people leadership experience, including leading operations and enterprise level organizations, including professional, technical, and field-based teams in collaborative or matrixed environments.

- Experience managing complex environmental permitting and compliance programs involving multiple stakeholders, regulatory agencies, clients, and shared resources.

- Experience leading matrixed or shared-resource teams across multiple disciplines and geographic areas.

- Strong consulting, program management, and business acumen, with demonstrated success supporting client delivery, team performance, operational execution, and project financial outcomes.

- Fundamental understanding of financial metrics, forecasting, business planning, and program performance management.

- Experience providing technical leadership for environmental permitting and compliance services demonstrating a deep understanding how permitting requirements, commitments, environmental management plans, agency expectations, and construction practices translate into project execution.

- Demonstrated experience supporting business development and proposal efforts, including cultivating client relationships and contributing to the pursuit, capture, and expansion of work.

- Ability to travel as needed, estimated at approximately 25%.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience partnering with EPCs, owners, developers, contractors, utilities, public agencies, or infrastructure clients to implement environmental permitting and compliance programs on complex projects.

- Demonstrated experience in scaling delivery models for large, multi-year, multi-office, and multi-disciplinary environmental permitting and compliance projects and programs.

- Proven success managing distributed, multi-site teams and shared technical resources.

- Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations applicable to environmental compliance, permitting, and construction-phase project delivery.

- Demonstrated experience within SWCA's business and service lines, industries, client sectors, and markets.

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.

Safety Expectations : Serve as an ambassador for SWCA’s Safety Culture and implementation.

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Rocky Mountain Plains subregion -based position is $123,647.26 to $157,589.64 per year. Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Is eligible for our Director+ bonus and unlimited vacation

As a 100% employee owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k), 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].

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.

#LI-NC1