Environment Planner Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

About the opportunity
SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Principal Environmental Planner to support our growing portfolio of complex, multidisciplinary environmental projects across the Gulf Coast and the broader Southeast. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a seasoned project manager who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and is passionate about delivering technical excellence, driving client success, and mentoring high-performing teams.
This is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried position open to candidates based in the Gulf Coast, with flexibility for distributed (remote) work. Pay rate will be based on individual qualifications and experience. SWCA offers a team-oriented work environment, competitive salaries, and a competitive benefits package, including an employee stock ownership retirement plan (ESOP).
In this role, you will lead projects spanning infrastructure, energy, resilience, and environmental planning efforts, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. You will play a key role in shaping technical approaches, strengthening client relationships, and advancing SWCA's reputation for quality and innovation. Periodic travel throughout the region will be required to support client engagement, project oversight, and team collaboration.
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.
About SWCA
The selected Principal Environmental Planner will primarily be responsible for performing and leading regulatory strategy and environmental review for complex interstate energy infrastructure projects subject to permitting under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The successful candidate may also oversee multi-disciplinary project planning, environmental assessment, impact analyses, permitting, and similar tasks across a diversity of industries (e.g., oil/gas pipelines, transportation, disaster relief) and other State/Federal Agency requirements (e.g., US Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA), US Department of Energy (DOE)).
Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Lead and deliver complex, multidisciplinary projects across the Gulf Coast and Southeast with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Serve as a technical leader on FERC projects and impact assessments.
• Direct and manage permitting strategies, application development, and agency coordination.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, providing strategic guidance on regulatory risk, project feasibility, and environmental constraints.
• Manage project financials, including scoping, budgeting, forecasting, and invoicing, ensuring strong performance and client satisfaction.
• Provide QA/QC oversight of field data to support report writing, land use planning, NEPA documentation, FERC filing documents, and permitting.
• Mentor and develop staff, while fostering collaboration across disciplines to deliver integrated, high-quality results.
• Manage client relationships and conduct business development with new and existing clients.
• Assist SWCA with its business development goals and objectives and help ensure the financial success of project activities.
• Maintain SWCA's culture by fostering a friendly, positive, productive, and scholarly working relationship with team members while promoting teamwork, engagement, integrity, quality service, and customer satisfaction.

Experience and qualifications for success
Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or other related field (Master's preferred).
• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of project management experience in a consulting environment, including proposal writing, scheduling, budget management, change management, leading meetings with clients and agencies, directing project teams or tasks, and preparing or directing staff in the preparation of technical studies and NEPA documents.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of environmental permit applications and NEPA documents pertaining to the authorization of interstate natural gas facilities regulated by the FERC (preferred) or other federal agencies.
• Proven experience with agencies such as: FERC, DOE, USACE, and/or similar state agencies, primarily in the Gulf Coast and surrounding states.
• Experience with project financials (budgets, forecasting, invoicing).
• Demonstrated client management and business development experience (seller-doer).
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred or Helpful Qualifications

1. Minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant experience.
2. Minimum of seven (7) years of project management experience in a consulting environment,
3. First-hand experience in developing environmental permit applications and documents pertaining to the authorization of FERC-regulated facilities, including projects that utilize FERC's Pre-filing Process.
4. Established credibility with reviewing agencies and clients.
5. Effectively engaged in resource agency consultations, received stakeholder/agency input and provide informed responses.
6. Demonstrated experience with construction compliance or environmental inspection.
7. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and technical writing, in a variety of professional settings.

WHY WORK AT SWCA
SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 100% employee-owned company that offers a full range of environmental services. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges, all while staying true to our commitment to employee ownership. At SWCA, we live our core values every day: we collaborate as #OneSWCA, we're #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices across the country, we're proud to be one of the largest environmental compliance firms in the U.S. and to rank among Engineering News-Record's Top 200 Environmental Firms.
If you need assistance accessing SWCA's website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.
SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. In alignment with this commitment, we post good faith pay ranges in all job postings.
A Principal Environmental Planner in this Gulf Coast-based position can expect a base salary of $114,594.00 to $149,320.00/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 (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), which includes a competitive Benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, wellness, life, and disability coverage, as well as access to our Employee Assistance Program. Employees may also participate in SWCA's 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.
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.
At SWCA, we're committed to helping our team members grow into industry leaders. Our award-winning Career Landscape program offers a clear and structured path to meaningful career development. We support your growth through conference attendance, internal and external training, education reimbursement, our Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for qualifying publications.
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