Swca Environmental Consultants
Environmental consulting firm offering planning, design, and compliance services across sectors.
Senior Planning Team Lead
Lead planning and permitting projects, drive business development, and manage a team in Arizona
Job Highlights
About the Role
SWCA seeks a Senior Planning Team Lead for Arizona to play a key leadership role within its Planning Program, combining strategic business development with hands‑on project leadership, client partnership, and team mentorship. The role supports office and regional goals by pursuing new opportunities, leading complex planning and permitting projects, and building strong, trusted relationships with clients and partners. The Senior Planning Team Lead will develop business opportunities within Arizona and adjacent markets while managing a locally based and distributed planning team. Responsibilities include client leadership, business development, proposal management, networking, and diversifying sales across planning, cultural and natural resources, and multidisciplinary pursuits; as well as people leadership, mentorship, staffing, and compliance with safety and performance standards. • Develop business opportunities in Arizona and adjacent markets while leading a local and distributed planning team. • Manage client relationships, identify sales prospects, and lead proposal development and strategic capture efforts. • Oversee planning and permitting deliverables for federal, state, and local permits across energy, transmission, mining, and related sectors. • Mentor and coach junior staff, advise the Planning Director on staffing, and serve as lead hiring manager. • Schedule and allocate team resources, address staffing gaps, and ensure project profitability and on‑time delivery. • Write and manage environmental review documents (NEPA, CEC, zoning, etc.) and coordinate interdisciplinary projects.
Key Responsibilities
- ▸business development
- ▸client management
- ▸planning permits
- ▸team leadership
- ▸resource scheduling
- ▸environmental review
What You Bring
The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of Arizona’s regulatory environment and planning landscape, along with the technical expertise to guide permitting strategies. This position offers the opportunity to influence program direction, support the growth of the planning practice, and contribute to SWCA’s success on Certificate of Environmental Compatibility projects and federal, state, and local permits for renewable energy, transmission, mining, and oil/gas initiatives. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, science, or a related field and have at least eight years of progressively responsible experience in planning, permitting, and document preparation. Required are proven project‑management skills, supervisory experience, and a track record of working on federal, state, and local permitting for sectors such as renewable energy, transmission, mining, and oil & gas. Preferred qualifications include ten years of experience, a graduate degree, and specific Arizona permitting expertise. • Bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, science, or related field; 8+ years of planning and permitting experience. • Proven project‑management of complex, multidisciplinary projects with budgets and schedules. • Experience supervising and mentoring professionals. • Successful track record with federal, state, and local permitting across energy, transmission, mining, or oil & gas sectors. • Preferred: 10+ years experience, graduate degree, and Arizona‑specific permitting knowledge.
Requirements
- ▸bachelor's
- ▸8+ years
- ▸project management
- ▸leadership
- ▸permitting
- ▸arizona permitting
Benefits
This is a full‑time, salaried position reporting to the Arizona Planning Director, with collaboration across Arizona and potentially Nevada, New Mexico, and beyond. SWCA offers flexible work location arrangements, allowing office‑based, hybrid, or remote work for candidates located in the region, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. SWCA provides flexible work arrangements, a competitive salary range of $95,910‑$124,570 with performance bonuses, and a comprehensive Total Rewards benefits package. The firm is employee‑owned, ranks among the top environmental compliance firms, and is committed to salary equity, diversity, inclusion, and supporting internal career advancement. • Salary $95,910–$124,570 plus performance bonuses; flexible work arrangements; comprehensive benefits and Total Rewards package.
Work Environment
Hybrid