About the opportunity
SWCA Environmental Consultants seeks an Associate Project or Project Technical Editor to join the Technical Publications team and support offices throughout the company, with an emphasis on our Great Basin subregion.
SWCA’s technical documents range from simple memoranda to multichapter, multivolume environmental impact reports and environmental impact statements. The candidate will be responsible for editing and formatting our scientific technical documents and marketing proposals.
This requisition can hire at two levels:
- Associate Project Technical Editor – Typically with a minimum of 3 years of relevant technical experience and expertise.
- Project Technical Editor – Typically with a minimum of 4 years of relevant technical experience and expertise.
This is a regular, full-time, benefits-eligible, hourly/non-exempt position. The position is eligible for hybrid or distributed (i.e., remote) work and reports to our Salt Lake City, Utah, office. This position has occasional evening, weekend, and overtime work when deadlines demand.
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
- Leads and coordinates project efforts to align with client and SWCA objectives from conception through delivery. This includes setting clear project goals, timelines, and standards; coordinating efforts, schedules, and budgets between technical staff, project managers, and other stakeholders; and ensuring a cohesive approach to project execution and objectives.
- Edits technical documents for clarity, coherence, consistency, and compliance with SWCA and client standards, applying in-depth knowledge of technical subject matter.
- Collaborates effectively with project teams, including technical experts, project managers, and other Quality professionals, to ensure the integration of content, design, and technical accuracy in all project deliverables. Acts as a liaison to bridge gaps between different functions, ensuring a unified approach to project execution and delivery.
- Develops and implements project-specific style guides and editing protocols, standardizing approaches to ensure consistency across documents.
- Mentors and guides junior staff, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and professional growth within the team. Provides feedback, shares knowledge, and offers support to enhance skills and capabilities.
- Innovates editing processes and tools, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and document quality.
- Manages multiple editing assignments simultaneously, prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines and budget constraints.
- Provides feedback and guidance on complex technical documents, ensuring accuracy and adherence to project goals.
- Follows applicable federal, Tribal, state, local, industry, contractual, and company regulations, standards, and specifications.
- Performs related work as assigned.
Additional Job-Specific Responsibilities
- Formats and finalizes reports of varying size and complexity, including text, tables, maps, graphics, and appendices.
- Identifies review bottlenecks, schedule risks, and staffing or workflow issues early, and proactively recommend solutions or escalate concerns as needed.
- Maintains document control by tracking revisions, monitoring version control, and verifying changes.
- Works with multiple authors in a single document.
Minimum Qualifications
Three years of relevant, experience. Five 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
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Three (3) years of technical editing experience.
- Science background and/or technical knowledge of environmental consulting, biological sciences, or cultural resources is highly desirable.
- Command of Microsoft Word, particularly Track Changes and Styles, and experience with Microsoft Excel and collaborative document-editing platforms.
- Experience with Microsoft Teams and Outlook for workplace communication and collaboration.
- Command of Adobe Acrobat, including creating and modifying simple and complex PDFs.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Five (5) years of technical editing experience.
- Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes
- Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance ever-changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Flexibility, excellent interpersonal skills, and commitment to teamwork.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and establish or shift priorities under tight deadlines.
- Excellent verbal, writing, and analytical skills.
- Ability and willingness to learn SWCA’s in-house style guide and client/agency style guides.
- Superior command of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and composition.
- Ability to translate technical jargon into plain language.
Other Job Conditions
Applicants must possess a valid driver's license and meet SWCA's driver requirements.
Pay Range
SWCA is committed to salary equity and transparency. The expected pay range for this Salt Lake City, Utah–based position is:
- Associate Project Technical Editor – $28.08 to $35.88 per hour
- Project Technical Editor – $31.72 to $40.56 per hour
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.