The posting
About the opportunity
SWCA Environmental Consultants is seeking a Senior Client Services Lead – Indigenous Relations - to join our Client Services Group (CSG). In this role, you will lead and advance SWCA's Tribal and Indigenous Relations practice by building and maintaining trusted partnerships with Indigenous governments, Tribal communities, clients, federal and state agencies, and internal teams across the organization.
Reporting to the Vice President, Cultural Resources, you will serve as a strategic leader and subject matter expert, guiding the delivery of Tribal Relations services that support environmental planning, permitting, cultural resources, infrastructure, energy, natural resources, and other client projects across SWCA's markets.
You will collaborate with SWCA leadership, project managers, technical specialists, and clients to ensure the consistent application of Indigenous Relations’ best practices across the company. This role offers the opportunity to shape strategy, strengthen Tribal partnerships, mentor staff, support key client relationships, and drive excellence in Indigenous engagement and consultation services. As a senior leader within the practice, you will help establish service standards, expand markets and opportunities, and ensure SWCA continues to provide industry-leading Tribal Relations support to clients and communities.
This is a full-time, regular (with benefits), salaried/exempt opportunity that is distributed (=remote) from any SWCA U.S. office location. Depending on business and client needs, this position may require travel throughout the United States to support client engagement, Tribal consultation, relationship building, project delivery, and business development activities.
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted through October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT.
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, at 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:
Program Staff Leadership:
- Mentor and assist SWCA staff on Indigenous Relations across the company. Be recognizable as a technical authority and leader responsible for setting a standard of excellence for Indigenous and Tribal community and government relations.
- Help to drive growth and differentiation at SWCA through client-focused delivery of Indigenous Relations-related services.
- Coordinate with office and/or regionally based operations staff to develop, implement, and support consistent delivery of Indigenous Relations services throughout SWCA.
- Take initiative and resolve issues to ensure client’s needs are met effectively.
Tribal Relations Team Support:
- Building and retaining a progression of technical talent related to Indigenous community relations and Tribal liaison-ship.
- Developing an internal nationwide SWCA Indigenous Relations team with current staff to drive excellence, share best practices, and ensure consistency.
- Identifying gaps in expertise, identifying, and attracting top talent to SWCA, and advocating for strategic hires when needed.
- Advising on new or transformative Indigenous Relations services for Tribal governments, clients, and agencies as service needs change or progress through time and as relevant to your sphere of expertise.
Business Development:
- Recognize and capitalize on events in the world and market trends that impact the business, develop new business opportunities, and lead proposal efforts.
- Support SWCA client managers, serve as technical client manager for key clients or business lines, and foster a client-focused environment.
- Provide internal guidance on pursuits, proposals, and budgets as relates to Tribal and Indigenous relations.
- Identify clients with business opportunities or new services in Indigenous Affairs and Community Relations and lead capture of that work by applying personal expertise in that subject matter.
Experience and qualifications for success
- Bachelor's degree in archaeology, anthropology, Native American studies, cultural resources, environmental planning, public administration, political science, communications, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
- Eight (8) years of professional experience in Tribal Relations, Indigenous engagement, cultural resources, environmental consulting, natural resources, regulatory compliance, government affairs, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience building and maintaining successful relationships with Tribal Nations, Tribal organizations, Indigenous communities, and federal, state, and local agencies.
- Experience leading complex Tribal consultation, Indigenous engagement, stakeholder relations, or community engagement efforts across multiple projects or programs.
- Proven ability to navigate complex social, cultural, political, and regulatory issues while balancing client, community, and organizational objectives.
- Strong client relationship management, communication, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes and build consensus across multidisciplinary teams, including situations where direct reporting authority does not exist.
- Experience mentoring staff and providing strategic guidance to project teams and organizational leadership.
- Ability to travel as needed to support Tribal engagement, client development, and project delivery.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, Native American studies, public administration, law, environmental policy, planning, business, or a related field.
- Ten (10) or more years of experience supporting Tribal Relations, Indigenous engagement, or related consulting and advisory services.
- Recognized subject matter expertise in Tribal consultation, Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous engagement, cultural resources management, or related disciplines.
- Demonstrated experience developing Tribal Relations strategies, organizational best practices, and service delivery frameworks.
- Proven success supporting business development, strategic growth initiatives, proposal development, and client account management.
- Experience working across multiple geographic regions, business sectors, and regulatory environments.
- Strong financial and business acumen, including oversight of complex projects, programs, budgets, and performance metrics.
- Established network of professional relationships with Tribal governments, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), federal agencies, industry organizations, and related stakeholders.
- Experience identifying emerging trends, regulatory developments, and market opportunities and translating them into strategic business initiatives.
