Ecologist III - Field

Metro Consulting Associates LLC•Plymouth, MI

About The Position

The Ecologist III is a senior-level, field-focused technical specialist responsible for conducting advanced ecological field investigations and supporting regulatory compliance efforts for complex environmental projects. This position spends the majority of time performing hands-on field work, including wetland delineations, ecological surveys, monitoring, and compliance inspections, with supporting office-based responsibilities related to data analysis, reporting, permitting, and coordination. The Ecologist III serves as a field resource to project teams, clients, and regulatory agencies and plays a key role on evaluating compliance on projects involving multiple layers of regulatory review and approval.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, ecology, or related field and/or equivalent experience
Minimum 10–15 years of applicable experience
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites and the corporate office
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical teams
Familiarity with USACE wetland delineation methods and Clean Water Act permitting
Experience with GPS units and related software (ESRI, Pathfinder Office, etc.)
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel

Nice To Haves

Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Wetland Botanist, or seasoned wetland delineator preferred

Responsibilities

Conduct wetland delineations using State and Federal delineation methodologies.
Perform wetland inventories, functional assessments, and mitigation site monitoring.
Conduct ecological surveys, vegetation surveys, stream assessments, and habitat evaluations.
Participate in threatened and endangered species surveys and related compliance activities.
Perform construction and environmental compliance monitoring, including field inspections and documentation.
Collect, record, and maintain accurate field notes, GPS data, maps, photographs, and logs.
Evaluate natural resources and identify potential environmental constraints or compliance issues in the field.
Travel regularly to project sites and work outdoors in varied terrain and weather conditions.
Support and mentor junior field staff during field investigations and monitoring activities.
Prepare and/or review technical reports, including wetland delineations, stream assessments, ecological surveys, habitat assessments, and monitoring reports.
Assist with preparation of wetland mitigation and restoration plans.
Prepare Biological Assessments and develop avoidance, minimization, or mitigation strategies for sensitive species and regulated habitats.
Coordinate with project managers, clients, and regulatory agencies regarding technical findings and permitting requirements.
Provide technical input to support permitting and regulatory compliance under USACE and applicable state regulations.
Prepare or oversee preparation of data tables, figures, maps, and documentation related to ecological work.
Support project profitability through coordination with Project Managers and efficient task execution.
Provide input to improve ecological quality control processes and identify training or resource needs.
Perform other duties as assigned.