Senior Water Resources Team Lead

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an employee-owned company of environmental professionals who specialize in natural and cultural resource management, environmental planning, and regulatory compliance.

The Senior Water Resources Team Lead is responsible for providing leadership within the New Mexico Four Corner's Natural Resources and Planning Program by managing staff, projects, and clients. The successful candidate will possess a proven track record of developing new business, managing projects, meeting financial goals, and mentoring others to do the same. The Senior Team Lead reports to the New Mexico Four Corners subregion's Senior Natural Resources Director and will work closely with other Team Leads and the subregion Vice President. The successful candidate will have a depth of experience and familiarity with the business environment of New Mexico and the surrounding states.

Application Directions: Qualified candidates must submit a Letter of Interest along with a current resume in order to be considered for the position. Candidates will also be asked to answer a short series of interview questions prior to in-person interviews.

Closing date for applying for this position is: March 7, 2025.

The Senior Water Resources Team Lead will manage and oversee current projects and opportunities related to SWCA's water resources service areas and staff including Clean Water Act compliance and permitting, watershed planning and management, NEPA analysis for watershed resources, stormwater planning and inspection services, and water quality or quantity analysis and planning services. The Senior Team Lead will participate in the development of a forward-looking plan for their team and strategic growth in the realm of water resources services. This will include working with the Natural Resources Director or Team Lead and professional staff in the other SWCA offices and regions to further employee development and mentoring, track financial performance and forecasting, provide senior level technical leadership, and develop strategic program goals by contributing to the following:

Organizational leadership

• Supervise and mentor project managers and technical staff, delegate and monitor staff technical development.
• Facilitate communication between staff and the Director, other teams, and corporate departments.
• Support the continued growth of the Water Resources-focused staff group. Advise the Senior Director on staff hires, advancement, and course correction, as needed.
• Support regional goals to improve and maintain quality of performance and SWCA presence in delivering water resources technical services and providing solutions to water-focused clients.
• Monitor and track metrics of the team including project profitability, individual staff billing rates, productivity goals, labor projections, financial forecasting, and annual business planning.
• Provide general support to the team relating to subject matter resources, training opportunities, regulatory and research updates.
• Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.
• This position will require developed critical thinking skills to recognize and solve problems proactively. Resolve risks and impediments through persistence, creative thinking, and a focus on client satisfaction.

Technical leadership

• Provide senior level quality assurance/quality control reviews of deliverables prepared by other team members.
• Support communication of regulatory updates to clients and internal project managers, either directly or through delegation.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality technical work throughout the team, including process improvement, standard operating procedures, data management and analysis, and reporting procedures.
• Encourage innovation in the program, mentor critical thinking for new internal process improvements, technical approaches, and create a plan for their implementation.
• Think beyond the standard consulting services to develop new project niches, extend project life-cycles, and cross sell other SWCA services.

Client leadership

• Manage the performance of individual projects and effectively coordinate with clients and agencies to produce technically excellent work that is on time and on budget.
• Grow client relationships and conduct business development with new and existing clients.
• Lead proposal efforts related to your discipline, assign other leads as needed, take lead role in the go/no go decisions in concert with the Director.

Required

• A minimum of a Bachelor's (B.A. or B.S.) degree in Biology, Ecology, Water Resources/Engineering, Hydrology, or a related field required.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in consulting and project management, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience supervising and mentoring natural resources project managers, technical staff, and field personnel.
• A working knowledge of water resources consulting in the NM/4C region or SW USA including an understanding of private and public (Federal, State, and Local) sector clients and services sought by clients.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising, mentoring, and providing leadership for other professionals.
• Demonstrated business development success and consulting acumen, including established credibility with federal and state agencies and clients, as well as success in proposal writing.

PREFERRED

• Graduate degree in in Biology, Ecology, Water Resources/Engineering, Hydrology, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience supervising and mentoring natural resources project managers, technical staff, and field personnel.
• A working understanding of agency internal processes and procedures and positive existing relationships with private and public (Federal, State, and Local) sector water clients.
• Ability to take initiative and ownership, resolve problems, and ensure that tasks are completed in the most effective manner.
• Brings a team-building mentality and fosters the entrepreneurial culture of the program.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal 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.

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 accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only. All other inquiries will not receive a response.

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 Albuquerque, NM-based position can expect an annual salary of $97,490/year to $124,696/year. 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, which includes a competitive Benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.

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.

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