Associate Project Ecologist

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking an Associate Project Ecologist to support our Natural Resources team in Pensacola, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Tampa, FL. The ideal candidate will have experience in wildlife ecology, environmental permitting, and habitat assessments, particularly within Florida and the southeastern United States. This role involves fieldwork, regulatory coordination, and technical reporting to support ecological projects, including species surveys, wetland delineations, and permitting efforts.

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. Occasional travel for fieldwork may be required across different ecoregions in the Southeast, and overnight stays should be anticipated as part of this fieldwork.

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.

• Conduct field surveys for threatened and endangered species, with a focus on gopher tortoise permitting and relocation, avian breeding season monitoring, and wetland delineations.
• Perform habitat assessments, submerged aquatic vegetation mapping, and ecological monitoring across diverse ecosystems.
• Lead environmental permitting efforts, including preparation and submittal of Environmental Resource Permits (ERP) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 permit applications.
• Coordinate directly with regulatory agencies such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and regional Water Management Districts.
• Oversee field teams, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and best management practices.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret environmental data using GIS and other spatial analysis tools.
• Prepare technical reports, agency coordination documents, and regulatory permit applications.
• Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards.
• 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.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in ecological assessments, environmental permitting, or wildlife biology.
• Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent (FWC) and experience leading relocation efforts.
• USFWS-approved surveyor for Audubon's crested caracara or similar avian species.
• Proficiency in wetland delineations and knowledge of state and federal permitting pathways.
• Experience conducting seagrass and oyster reef monitoring is a plus.
• Strong technical writing skills for permit applications and ecological reports.
• Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS, ArcPro) and field data collection tools.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments, including remote locations and variable weather conditions.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet SWCA's driver safety requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with large-scale ecological restoration or solar energy projects.
• Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) or ability to obtain certification.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance for habitat restoration and protected species management.
• Experience coordinating with clients, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders to ensure project success.

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.

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 Pensacola, FL-based position can expect an hourly pay rate of $31.20/hour to $40.04/hour. 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.

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.

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.

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.