Environmental consulting in South Texas isn’t a quiet desk job; it is a brutal mix of extreme weather, hazardous materials, and high-stakes real estate transactions. SWCA is deploying an Environmental Consultant to act as the scientific authority on the ground. You are the critical firewall between aggressive commercial land development and the unforgiving reality of TCEQ and EPA environmental regulations, ensuring that industrial progress doesn’t trigger catastrophic ecological liabilities.
The Contamination Hunt & Legal Liability
Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are the ultimate liability checks in commercial real estate. Your objective is to hunt for soil and groundwater contamination that could derail multi-million dollar property transfers. You bridge the massive gap between wrestling with drill rigs in the mud and translating that raw, dirty data into legally bulletproof compliance reports that dictate whether a commercial project lives or dies.
Field Operations & Rig Wrangling
- Phase I/II Execution: Execute aggressive ASTM-standard ESAs. If you miss a historical liability or fail to identify a leaking underground storage tank, the client absorbs massive financial damage.
- Subcontractor Command: Act as the absolute authority over drilling contractors and heavy equipment operators, directing soil borings and groundwater well installations in real-time.
- Contamination Triage: Collect soil gas and water samples using PIDs and specialized meters in the field, actively searching for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals.
- Bureaucratic Defense: Draft complex Affected Property Assessment Reports (APARs). You must mathematically defend your field data to the TCEQ under the strict guidelines of the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP).
Physical Durability & The Texas Baseline
- The Texas Trench Experience: 3 to 5 years of post-graduate fieldwork specifically within Texas. You must already know the local geology and the specific bureaucratic quirks of TCEQ reporting.
- The Hazard Pass: An active 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification is mandatory because you will be routinely standing on contaminated industrial sites.
- Physical Endurance: Texas fieldwork is grueling. You must be physically capable of hauling heavy sampling equipment through the brush and managing active drill sites in 100-degree summer heat.
- Scientific Pedigree: A hard science degree (Geology, Hydrogeology) is required; holding a PG (Professional Geoscientist) or GIT elevates your signing authority and market value considerably.
San Antonio Economics & The ESOP Leverage
The base salary here is just the operational floor; the true financial strategy lies in the firm’s equity structure.
- Base Compensation: $65,000 – $82,000 USD / Year. A standard mid-level band for the San Antonio market.
- The ESOP Wealth Builder: SWCA is a 100% employee-owned firm. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is your primary wealth vehicle, allowing you to build substantial, long-term capital directly tied to the firm’s overall profitability.
- Licensure Bankroll: Take advantage of employer-funded continuing education and professional licensure reimbursement to secure your PG stamp on the company’s dime.
- Corporate Safety Net: Premium medical coverage, 401(k) matching, and structured paid time off to recover from the physical toll of the field.
Deployment Logistics & The Field Mandate
- The Hybrid Field Reality
- Location: San Antonio, TX. Status: Hybrid. “Hybrid” in environmental consulting means splitting your time between grueling physical deployments across South Texas project sites and retreating to the San Antonio office for equipment calibration and heavy technical writing.
- Relocation Posture
- Zero relocation assistance. The firm strictly requires a local operator who already understands the San Antonio metropolitan geography and can mobilize to field sites immediately.
