Assistant Project Ecologist

River Design Group, Inc. (RDG), now part of SWCA Environmental Consultants, is seeking an Assistant Project Ecologist focused on wetland delineation to join us in our Whitefish, Montana office. We are an interdisciplinary water resources consulting firm that focuses on the analysis, design and implementation of river, floodplain, and wetland restoration projects throughout the Northwest U.S. The ideal candidate will possess strong field, office, and geospatial analysis skills with a demonstrated background in the application of ecological and geospatial principles to river, floodplain, wetland, and riparian vegetation restoration projects. This is a permanent, hourly, full-time, role supporting a hybrid working schedule.

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing,1,700+ staff, employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

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.

• Perform wetland delineation field work and reporting tasks.
• Identify and inventory wetland and upland plants, and map invasive weeds.
• Excavate soil pits, identify soil properties, and distinguish hydric soil indicators; Identify wetland hydrology indicators, and map wetland boundaries using GPS.
• Create maps of wetland delineation results and analyze LiDAR surfaces and UAS orthophotos to supplement the field delineation of wetlands when necessary.
• Write wetland delineation reports and perform wetland impact analyses.
• Assist with preparation of state and federal permitting documents for environmental compliance.
• Complete field work in support of ecological site assessments, vegetation assessments, planting and seeding plans, and project monitoring.
• Participate in riparian vegetation restoration design projects by working collaboratively with an interdisciplinary design team consisting of hydrologists, geomorphologists, engineers, hydraulic modelers, ecologists, and project managers.
• Complete geospatial analysis of watersheds, rivers, and wetlands in a GIS environment to support restoration project planning.
• Takes responsibility for team safety, developing safety plans (when applicable), and anticipating potential safety hazards.

• Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Natural Resources, Earth Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum of three years of related work experience. Those with less than three years of experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered for lower level roles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, and preparing, editing, and formatting documents and spreadsheets.
• Knowledge of US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987) methodologies.
• Knowledge of the principles of restoration ecology and desire to translate those principles to ecological restoration projects.
• Ability to identify riparian and wetland vegetation.
• Experience with ESRI ArcGIS software.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Ecology, Natural Resources, Earth Sciences, or related field.

Additional Information:

• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain.
• Ability to work in a wide range of field conditions and travel out of town frequently during the field season.
• Ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Travel will be required for the position, with field work sometimes reaching 50% of your time, and overnight stays.

We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle and we #GiveBack. 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 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 Whitefish, MT based position can expect an hourly rate of $27.30-$35.62/hr. 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 is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans 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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