Principal Project Manager

About the opportunity SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Principal Project Manager to support our growing portfolio of complex, multidisciplinary environmental projects across Florida 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 position is open to candidates based in Florida, with flexibility for remote work. Periodic travel throughout the state and region will be required to support client engagement, project oversight, and team collaboration. 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. What you will accomplish Lead and deliver complex, multidisciplinary environmental projects across Florida and the Southeast, with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and quality. Serve as a technical leader in FERC, project management, aquatic resources and wetland science, guiding wetland delineations, and impact assessments. Direct and manage permitting strategies , application development, and agency coordination. Partner closely with Federal and state regulatory agencies to navigate permitting pathways and ensure compliance. Develop and implement avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies, including restoration and mitigation banking approaches. 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. Lead client relationships and business development efforts, expanding SWCA’s presence in Southeast ’s water resources and permitting market. Mentor and develop staff, while fostering collaboration across disciplines to deliver integrated, high-quality results. Contribute to innovative technical approaches and standards that strengthen SWCA’s reputation and project outcomes. Serve as an ambassador for SWCA’s Safety Culture and implementation Experience and qualifications for success Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science , Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, or a related field ( Master’s preferred). 10+ years of relevant experience, including 5+ years managing projects (12+ years and 7+ years managing projects preferred). Demonstrated expertise in wetland science and aquatic resources, including delineations and jurisdictional determinations. Strong experience with Clean Water Act permitting (Sections 404 and 401). Proven experience working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state regulatory agencies, ideally in Florida or the Southeast. Track record of managing complex projects and multidisciplinary teams. Experience with project financials (budgets, forecasting, invoicing). Demonstrated client management and business development experience (seller-doer). Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills Preferred Qualifications: Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or similar certification. PMP certification. Experience with mitigation strategy, restoration, or mitigation banking. Familiarity with Florida-specific permitting and regulatory frameworks. Experience supporting infrastructure, energy, or land development projects. Established relationships with clients and regulatory agencies in Florida or the Southeast. 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. SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. In alignment with this commitment, we post good faith pay ranges in all job postings. An employee in this Tampa, FL-based position can expect a salary of $110,292.00 to $145,236.00/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, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more. We offer a supportive, team-focused work environment, competitive pay, and great benefits—including a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to help you build a strong financial future. 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. All regular-status employees are eligible for a comprehensive 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. SWCA continues to invest in our people. We value the skills and experience of our internal team members and strongly encourage qualified employees to apply for open positions. We believe in promoting from within whenever possible, offering meaningful opportunities for career growth. Application Deadline: We will begin reviewing applications immediately and schedule interviews with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until we identify a strong pool of candidates and may close without prior notice. We sincerely appreciate the time and effort of all applicants and will thoughtfully review each submission. 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. 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. Lead and deliver complex, multidisciplinary environmental projects across Florida and the Southeast, with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and quality. Serve as a technical leader in FERC, project management, aquatic resources and wetland science, guiding wetland delineations, and impact assessments. Direct and manage permitting strategies , application development, and agency coordination. Partner closely with Federal and state regulatory agencies to navigate permitting pathways and ensure compliance. Develop and implement avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies, including restoration and mitigation banking approaches. 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. Lead client relationships and business development efforts, expanding SWCA's presence in Southeast 's water resources and permitting market. Mentor and develop staff, while fostering collaboration across disciplines to deliver integrated, high-quality results. Contribute to innovative technical approaches and standards that strengthen SWCA's reputation and project outcomes. Serve as an ambassador for SWCA's Safety Culture and implementation Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science , Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, or a related field ( Master's preferred). 10+ years of relevant experience, including 5+ years managing projects (12+ years and 7+ years managing projects preferred). Demonstrated expertise in wetland science and aquatic resources, including delineations and jurisdictional determinations. Strong experience with Clean Water Act permitting (Sections 404 and 401). Proven experience working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state regulatory agencies, ideally in Florida or the Southeast. Track record of managing complex projects and multidisciplinary teams. Experience with project financials (budgets, forecasting, invoicing). Demonstrated client management and business development experience (seller-doer). Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills Preferred Qualifications: Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or similar certification. PMP certification. Experience with mitigation strategy, restoration, or mitigation banking. Familiarity with Florida-specific permitting and regulatory frameworks. Experience supporting infrastructure, energy, or land development projects. Established relationships with clients and regulatory agencies in Florida or the Southeast. 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. SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. In alignment with this commitment, we post good faith pay ranges in all job postings. An employee in this Tampa, FL-based position can expect a salary of $110,292.00 to $145,236.00/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, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more. We offer a supportive, team-focused work environment, competitive pay, and great benefits-including a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to help you build a strong financial future. 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. All regular-status employees are eligible for a comprehensive 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. SWCA continues to invest in our people. We value the skills and experience of our internal team members and strongly encourage qualified employees to apply for open positions. We believe in promoting from within whenever possible, offering meaningful opportunities for career growth. Application Deadline: We will begin reviewing applications immediately and schedule interviews with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until we identify a strong pool of candidates and may close without prior notice. We sincerely appreciate the time and effort of all applicants and will thoughtfully review each submission. 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. 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.