Natural Resources Scientist - WI or IL

About the role

Make a lasting impact on wetlands, natural resources, and environmental compliance across the Upper Midwest while growing your career with a respected environmental consulting firm. This role offers the opportunity to work on diverse, meaningful projects throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, with a strong balance of fieldwork, project leadership, and client collaboration. Position is based in Cudahy, Wisconsin, Chicago, IL, or Glendale Heights, IL and is onsite/hybrid full‑time.

Responsibilities

• Prepare permit applications, risk assessments, and technical documentation – including proposals, reports, and regulatory agency correspondence.
• Design environmental protection plans and support sustainable site development initiatives.
• Plan, lead, and execute environmental and wetland projects of moderate to high complexity, from fieldwork through reporting.
• Perform and oversee wetland delineations, ecological field surveys, sampling, and scientific analyses.
• Ensure projects meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements and quality standards.
• Serve as a technical resource and team lead, mentoring junior scientists and coordinating field staff.
• Develop and review technical reports, permit applications, and client proposals.
• Analyze and interpret complex field and laboratory data to support defensible conclusions.
• Collaborate directly with clients, regulators, and internal teams on project planning and delivery.
• Uphold safety, quality, and professional standards on all projects.
• Progress toward Terracon Authorized Project Reviewer certification with structured mentoring.
• Projects may include: ecological and natural resource field surveys; wetland and waters of the U.S. delineations, impact assessments, and permitting; wetland mitigation; stormwater management; site planning and regulatory permitting; habitat assessments and agency coordination.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Engineering, Geology, Archaeology, or related discipline. Master’s degree or PhD preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years’ related experience. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 11 years’ related experience.
• Demonstrated senior-level experience in waters of the U.S./permitting, listed species, or NEPA.
• Section 401/404 permitting and/or listed species experience needed.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history.
• Certification in the field of expertise required.
• Wisconsin DNR Assured wetland delineator credentials preferred.
• Illinois Lake County and DuPage County Wetland certification preferred.
• Knowledge of WDNR, IL state and local and USACE jurisdictional wetland regulations.
• Familiarity using Trimble and ESRI products.

Pay

Salary Range: $85,000 - $108,000

Schedule

Onsite/Hybrid Full-Time