Environmental Project (Biological) Manager

County of Riverside • Riverside, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The County of Riverside's Transportation and Land Management Agency (TLMA) Planning Department has an exciting opportunity for an Environmental Project (Biological) Manager. This position plays a critical role in managing the Biology Unit within the Department’s Environmental Programs Division, located in Riverside. The Environmental Project (Biological) Manager position focuses on the management of ecological resources. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of, and ensuring proposed project consistency with, Habitat Conservation Plans/Natural Community Conservation Plans, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and practices associated with land development projects, reviewing and evaluating the biological elements of land use applications to ensure practical implementation of regional ecological policies and guidelines, performing environmental evaluations related to ecological reserve/conservation configurations, urban/wildland interface issues, sensitive habitats/vegetation, animal movement, species relocation plans, revegetation plans, and other land use issues resulting from public and private development, and conducting meetings with various regulating agencies, including, but not limited to, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Regional Conservation Authority (RCA), and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). Additionally, the role involves reviewing biological assessments to ensure proper mitigation measures and conservation plan consistency, which may include, but are not limited to: Habitat Assessments, Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) Consistency Analyses, Jurisdictional Delineations, and Determinations of Biologically Equivalent or Superior Preservation (DBESP).

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably in engineering, physical, chemical, environmental, or biological science, planning, public administration, urban or physical geography, geology, architecture, or closely related field to the assignment.
• Four years of professional transportation land use or water resource planning experience, which included two years of experience with responsibility for project oversight in a lead, supervisory, administrative, or managerial capacity.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.
• Walk over uneven outdoor terrain and work in a variety of environmental conditions.
• Be exposed to a variety of weather elements (e.g., high temperatures, rain) and local wildlife while performing field duties.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of project management especially as they apply to public works and/or development activities; the principles and practices of land use and transportation planning; environmental monitoring; state and federal standards concerning public works and/or land use design and construction; techniques of project management, personnel management, and project funding and budgeting; the laws and regulations affecting environmental permitting and permit clearance including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Clean Water Act, and California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of an environmental or water resources planning unit; lay out and supervise the work of professional or water resources environmental personnel; perform difficult technical research, analyze situations accurately, and adopt effective courses of action; review, evaluate, and comment on proposed environmental plans or legislation that affect the Department's environmental process; review current department practices, prepare policies or revise existing policies to ensure environmental compliance; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree in environmental, biological science, or a closely related field.
• Supervisory or managerial experience overseeing professional biological or environmental staff.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).
• Experience working within California local government, consulting, resource agencies, or regional conservation programs is highly desirable.
• Strong technical background in ecological resource management paired with advanced mapping and technology skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of GIS mapping principles, application utilization, data input, and file sharing.
• Knowledge of, or experience applying, UAV/Drone technologies for site review and documentation will be especially competitive.
• A California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Scientific Collecting Permit.
• A relevant certificate, license, or demonstrable experience in a biological discipline directly related to the work performed by the County, such as: Wetlands Delineation, Regulatory Permitting.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management support on an array of technically complex projects related to drainage, biology, water ways, water quality, and hydrologic data.
• Plan, organize, direct, review, and evaluate the work of professional department staff and external consultants involved in the oversight of the environmental process for either land use planning, and other urban infrastructure projects or studies; engage and direct staff while coordinating with department project managers, planners, or development applicants during project planning, design and construction phases, or development land use review phases to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and adherence to the County's General Plan and applicable ordinances.
• Direct and review the selection and design of techniques for the collection, coordination and development of methodologies for data applications and research in water quality and conservation planning, studies of land use, environmental resources and water/flood facilities, or patterns of environmental changes and community development in order to identify both existing and future water quality and conservation issues.
• Directly manage the environmental process for specific, high priority projects; prepare and review the scope of work; review and comment on environmental work products; coordinate project tasks and delivery with project managers, planners, and outside approving agencies.
• Direct or participate in consultant selection and proposal evaluation of Service Agreements; prepare Form 11s for consideration and approval by the Board of Supervisors; prepare and review the environmental project scope, budget, and schedule with consultant firms and on call consultants.
• May prepare, manage and monitor project budgets and schedules; review consultants' monthly progress reports to ensure compliance with project scope and agreement provisions, and approve consultants' invoices for payment processing.
• Review and comment on proposed land use or drainage project plans and legislation that affect the Agency's environmental compliance process; review current Department practices for environmental compliance and prepare or revise existing Department environmental policies and practices to ensure continual environmental compliance.
• Represent the Department before other County departments, governmental agencies, environmental regulatory and permitting agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
• Develop and manage environmental compliance through policy and regulatory development.
• Perform research, analyze, prepare, and/or manage complex environmental documents including Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs); provide technical expertise in comprehensive land use drainage or planning activities; may evaluate and/or review field checking project entitlement plans, grading plans, water quality improvement plans, drainage projects, or land use developments.
• May testify in court proceedings or other administrative hearings as an expert witness in areas within assigned purview.

Benefits

• This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311 of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to be in a leadership position, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.

What This Job Offers

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