About the opportunitySWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Associate Project Manager – Utility Permitting to support environmental permitting efforts for utility infrastructure projects throughout Massachusetts and the Northeast. Projects may include electric transmission and distribution, substations, renewable energy interconnections, and other utility-related infrastructure requiring local, state, and federal permitting approvals.
This position is ideal for a developing project manager with permitting experience who is ready to take increased responsibility for project coordination, client support, schedules, and deliverables while working under the guidance of senior project managers and technical leads.
This role will report to one of our MA office locations (Amherst or Southborough), but candidates can be distributed, preferably anywhere within the New England area. This is a regular (with benefits), salaried/exempt, full-time position.
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.
What you will accomplish
- Support the planning, coordination, and execution of utility permitting projects, primarily in Massachusetts and surrounding New England states
- Coordinate environmental permitting tasks and schedules under the direction of a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager
- Assist with preparation and review of permitting applications, technical reports, and supporting documentation
- Manage projects that include NEPA compliance, biological resource assessments and constraints analyses, state and federal Endangered Species Act consultations, Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 permitting, state-level siting permits, and state wetlands permits.
- Track project scopes, schedules, milestones, and budgets for small to medium projects and defined tasks within larger projects
- Coordinate with internal technical specialists (natural resources, cultural resources, GIS, environmental planning) to support permit deliverables
- Support agency coordination with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies (e.g., MassDEP, local Conservation Commissions, USACE, NHESP)
- Communicate project status, risks, and needs to project leadership and internal team members
- Perform QA/QC reviews of project deliverables at the task level
- Assist with subcontractor coordination, invoicing review, and project documentation management
- Promote and adhere to SWCA’s quality standards, and project management best practices
- Takes responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.
Experience and qualifications for success
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Planning, Biology, Ecology, or a related field.
- Three (3) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types and sizes, with an emphasis on federal, state, and local permitting in New England, and agency interactions at all levels.
- Experience supporting utility, linear infrastructure, or energy-related permitting efforts
- One year of experience managing projects, including developing and implementing budgets, schedules, and scopes of work.
- Working knowledge of applicable environmental regulations (e.g., MEPA, MESA, Wetlands Protection Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA)
- Demonstrated experience with federal agencies such as USFWS, EPA, USACE, and FERC.
- Experience coordinating project tasks, schedules, and deliverables
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency with common project management and documentation tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, SharePoint, project tracking systems)
Preferred qualifications:
- Master’s degree in biology, botany, wildlife management, or a closely related field.
- Five (5) years of natural resources consulting experience on a variety of project types, sizes, and regions that include: energy facility siting and constraints studies, federal, state, and local permitting, NEPA compliance, and agency interactions at all levels.
- Experience assisting with energy facility siting and constraints studies
- Experience with NEPA compliance
- Direct experience with Massachusetts utility permitting and local/state regulatory processes
- Experience supporting projects involving electric transmission, distribution, renewable energy, or substations
- Demonstrated established relationships with state regulators and key utility clients in the northeast.
- Demonstrated success managing large mutli-year utility projects through permitting, construction, and closeout.
- Experience in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and/or Maine. New York experience is a plus.
- Interest in continued growth toward full Project Manager responsibilities
An employee in this Massachusetts-based position can expect an annual salary of $66,612.00 - $95,823.00. 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.
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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