Ecologist

VHB • Atlanta, GA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

VHB is seeking an experienced Ecologist to support its Atlanta office and growing transportation-focused practice. The role contributes to a natural resources team conducting wetland assessments, protected species surveys, habitat evaluations, aquatic resource surveys, and bat studies. The Ecologist performs ecological studies, leads field surveys, prepares reports, and completes quality assurance and quality control. The position also supports proposals and wetland assessment and permitting work, contributes to environmental impact assessment and compliance, and communicates with project managers, agencies, and clients. The role requires fieldwork in outdoor environments and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Requirements

• B.S. degree or higher in biology, ecology, environmental or natural science, landscape architecture, or a related field.
• 5–8+ years of professional experience with transportation- and energy-client-driven processes and procedures.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong field notation and wetland delineation skills.
• Proficiency identifying general habitats and/or southeastern plant communities.
• Proficiency with MS Office, GPS-enabled mobile data collection technologies, ArcGIS Pro, and GIS applications.
• Experience writing due diligence reports and biological assessments.
• Ability to coordinate surveys and/or consultations for state and federal protected species.
• Proficiency with federal and state environmental regulations and impact permitting.
• Proficiency with field safety practices, including First Aid and CPR.
• Ability to work long daytime hours outdoors.
• Ability to work independently and with diverse, multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and with a wide range of clients.
• Strong technical skills and ability to produce consistent, high-quality work products.

Nice To Haves

• Experience preparing ecology reports for the Georgia Department of Transportation or other state transportation departments.
• Experience with wetland/surface water permitting, ecological surveys and studies, habitat assessment, field data collection and documentation, and data analysis and evaluation.
• Wetland Professional in Training (WPIT), Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB), or similar expert certification.
• Emerging business development and proposal skills, including technical scope writing, qualifications statements, and costing.
• Motivation to learn, mentor, and collaborate with others.

Responsibilities

• Perform ecological studies, including leading field surveys, producing reports, and completing QA/QC.
• Assist with proposals.
• Conduct wetland assessment work, including baseline data research, field delineations, wetland and stream mapping, data collection, and mitigation credit calculations.
• Support US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404/10 permitting processes.
• Lead field surveys and habitat assessments for protected species.
• Participate in multidisciplinary environmental impact assessment, permitting, and compliance related to federal and state agency requirements for a variety of project types.
• Recommend impact avoidance and minimization strategies to clients.
• Communicate with internal and external project managers, agency representatives, and public- and private-sector clients.

Benefits

• Eligibility to participate in the VHB 401(k) plan.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Wellness programs.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Recognition programs.
• Eligible employees may receive annual incentive compensation bonuses, spot bonuses, and merit-based salary increases.
• Flexible, hybrid work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level