Principal Client Services Lead

About the opportunity

SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Principal Client Services Lead to join our Southeast team. In this role, you will support multidisciplinary environmental consulting and project delivery efforts for projects across a range of markets, services, clients, and geographies throughout the Southeast.

This is a remote opportunity for the right candidate, with preference for candidates located within the Southeast United States. Depending on project needs, this position may require approximately 5–10% travel throughout the Southeast to support client engagement, regional coordination, and project delivery. You will work closely with clients, leadership, and multidisciplinary teams to guide project direction, ensure technical quality, and support successful delivery. This role offers the opportunity to mentor staff, lead technical work, develop strategic pursuits, and play a key role in advancing project and client success.

Application Deadline:

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be scheduled as qualified candidates are identified. This position may close without prior notice once a strong candidate pool is established.

About SWCA

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm providing full spectrum environmental services across the United States. Our North Star is to be the best place to work and a leader in sustainability, delivering sound science and creative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

 We are guided by our core values every day. We collaborate as #OneSWCA, we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack to our communities. With offices nationwide, SWCA offers a collaborative, team focused environment where employees can build meaningful and long-term careers.

What you will accomplish

• Establishes and strengthens client relationships by proactively engaging with existing and potential clients and partners.
• Drives business development strategy by identifying market trends, targeting key opportunities, and setting strategic priorities.
• Holds self and others accountable for meeting sales targets and business development goals, ensuring consistent performance.
• Identifies and secures opportunities to bid on projects by monitoring the marketplace and leveraging industry connections.
• Develops teaming relationships by initiating and nurturing partnerships with other firms and organizations.
• Coordinates internal staff and strategy meetings to align business development efforts and share market intelligence.
• Conducts external market research to inform business development decisions and anticipate client needs and industry shifts.
• Disseminates the SWCA brand by representing the company at industry events, conferences, and through targeted outreach efforts (~5-10% travel required)
• Performs internal mentorship by guiding junior staff in client services best practices and professional growth.
• Advances SWCA’s overall business development efforts by collaborating with Technical and Operations leaders to deliver integrated solutions.
• Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities

• Leads complex, multidisciplinary client pursuits and capture strategies across the Southeast, coordinating local and national teams to develop and secure strategic opportunities aligned with regional growth priorities, while maintaining awareness of market conditions, competitors, and opportunities to differentiate SWCA.
• Provides strategic project leadership and technical oversight for complex, high-profile projects spanning multiple sites, jurisdictions, agencies, and disciplines, managing project scope, schedule, budget, risk, and quality while ensuring successful delivery and client satisfaction.
• Serves as a technical and professional resource for clients and internal teams, developing innovative approaches, methodologies, tools, and standards; leading stakeholder and client communications as appropriate; mentoring and developing staff; and identifying opportunities to expand client relationships and generate additional work.

Minimum Qualifications

Eight years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, including some experience in managing others, with at least seven years in project management, budget/proposal development, business development, and/or client relationship management. Ten years of related experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, performance, training, and/or education. Knowledge normally obtained through a bachelor's degree.

Experience and qualifications for success

• Demonstrated success leading business development, strategic pursuits, capture planning, and client relationship management within the environmental consulting industry, with experience identifying and developing opportunities across the Southeast and building relationships with clients, regulators, industry partners, and other stakeholders.
• Proven experience leading complex multidisciplinary projects and teams, including responsibility for project strategy, technical approach, QA/QC, risk management, budgets, schedules, client and agency communication, and successful delivery of multiple concurrent projects or pursuits.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across offices, geographies, and disciplines; lead teams with and without formal authority; mentor and develop staff; manage competing priorities; and lead effectively with minimal guidance and extensive latitude.

Preferred qualifications: 

• Established professional network and demonstrated relationships with clients, regulators, industry partners, and/or other stakeholders across the Southeast.
• Recognized technical or professional expertise in an environmental consulting discipline, with demonstrated ability to develop innovative solutions, methodologies, tools, or standards that advance client outcomes and SWCA’s technical reputation.
• Experience leading pursuits and projects of the highest complexity involving multiple jurisdictions, agencies, disciplines, phases, significant budgets, elevated levels of risk, controversy, or regulatory complexity, as well as experience supervising or providing leadership through other supervisors.

Other Job Conditions

This position may require domestic travel, including travel by commercial airline. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain all valid travel documents and identification required for work-related travel throughout the duration of employment.  

Drives compliance of safety policies and reporting requirements to ensure overall team safety.  

Pay Range

SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Southeast- based position is $123,052.80 to $169,728.00 per year. Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Eligible employees may also receive performance-based bonuses.

As a 100% employee owned company, we invest in your future. Our Total Rewards package includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) with profit sharing, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, wellness programs, and professional development opportunities. 

Closing

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact accommodations@swca.com or call 1 480 581 5378. If you require assistance with the application process, please contact recruiting@swca.com.

Use of Technology in Hiring 

SWCA may use approved technology, including AI-assisted tools, to support parts of the application and recruiting process. All selection and hiring decisions are made by SWCA employees, and candidates are not selected or rejected by automated systems. We are committed to a fair, transparent, and human-centered hiring experience. 

Candidate Use of AI 

Candidates may use AI tools to help prepare application materials and interviews. However, all application materials, assessments, and interview responses must accurately reflect their own experience, skills, and qualifications. AI must not be used to fabricate experience, complete assessments on their behalf, or otherwise misrepresent their background or abilities. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

SWCA Environmental Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive. 

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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