Lead Aquatic Ecologist - Fisheries

About The OpportunitySWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Lead Aquatic Ecologist - Fisheries to join our growing Nevada offices. The selected individual will be part of the Natural Resources team supporting various projects in Nevada and across the West Region. We support our clients’ needs across multiple service areas, including renewable generation, transportation, site development, transmission, water infrastructure, and ecological restoration.This position is a regular (with benefits), full-time, salaried position that will involve species-specific consultation, field data collection, impact analysis planning and authoring, permitting, research, and technical report writing and documentation. Interactions with both regulatory agencies and clients is expected. The position will be based out of our offices in either Reno or Las Vegas, NV. Remote candidates will be considered with preference for individuals based near Nevada office locations.Application Due Date: Applications will be due on May 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT.SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing, 1,850+ 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. Come join our team!What You Will AccomplishManage and/or lead a variety of aquatic resources field studies including protocol-level, species-specific surveys, habitat evaluations, biological assessments/evaluations, and population monitoring.Prepare technical reports describing findings from field and survey efforts. Prepare technical sections of natural resource regulatory documents including NEPA documents (contributing to Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements), Biological Assessments, Biological Evaluations, and other technical and/or permitting documents.Develop and implement sampling protocols, field data management best practices, and coordinate with other applicable SWCA staff. Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, and other maps and scientific tools and equipment under sometimes arduous field conditions.Provide training and oversight to develop depth and competency among staff biologists specific to aquatic resources field studies.Independently, or in partnership with other SWCA staff, engage in business development and marketing activities to expand aquatic resources opportunities locally and/or regionally.Drive compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.Experience And Qualifications For SuccessThis person selected for this role will possess excellent organizational and analytical skills, strong writing proficiency, and a demonstrated aptitude with relating biological data to broader ecological, restoration, or management issues.Required QualificationsBachelor’s degree in zoology, fisheries, wildlife biology, ecology, or a related field.A minimum of six (6) years of experience in Fisheries and Wildlife, Biology, Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related life science. Experience must include completing fieldwork, data analysis, technical reports, and impact assessments. Working knowledge of natural resource regulatory laws including Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.Demonstrated knowledge of freshwater / riverine fisheries ecosystems, population studies, stream ecology, issues and policies in Nevada and/or desert southwest USA.Experience producing high-quality deliverables.Experience mentoring and training junior staff and managing project teams.Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.Preferred QualificationsA minimum of eight (8) years of experience in Fisheries and Wildlife, Biology, Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related life science.Possession of a Region 2 United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Endangered Species Collection Permit for aquatic species (such as Rio Grande Silver Minnow or other species listed in the southwestern region); or possessing the qualifications and experience to obtain this permitExperience with wetland delineations and associated delineation reports and permit applications.Experience with field data collection software and ability to use technology for data collection.Experience with ecological or habitat restoration, stream/wetland mitigation, or transportation and/or other linear projects.Experience with conducting statistical analysis using software such as R or similar.Additional InformationAbility to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, high heat and humidity.Ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds is required.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 are seeking an opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled and diverse professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions, then SWCA will be a great fit for you!If you would like to contact SWCA regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please email accomodations@swca.com or call 480-581-5378. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges on all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.An employee in this Nevada - based position can a salary of between $81,120/year and $105,997/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, which includes a competitive benefits package (https://www.swca.com/careers/benefits-wellness/), forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.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.