Senior Biologist - Project Manager

Michael Baker International•Temecula, CA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Michael Baker International is seeking a Senior Biologist / Project Manager I for its Natural Resources Department. The role manages and supports biological resources projects throughout Southern California, particularly in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial counties. It includes senior-level technical review and project management, with work involving biological resources, survey and reporting standards, CEQA compliance, land use planning, regulatory permitting, and Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plans (MSHCPs). The position supports project and staff augmentation assignments for the County of Riverside, the County of San Bernardino, and other local jurisdictions. As an extension of agency staff, the employee will help process applicant submittals and project approvals; review biological studies and environmental documents; coordinate with stakeholders; and prepare clear, defensible review comments and recommendations. The role also has a seller-doer focus: strengthening client relationships, identifying opportunities, supporting pursuits and proposals, and growing the company’s Natural Resources presence in Riverside County and the Inland Empire. The role combines client-site, Michael Baker office, remote, and field work. In-person support at the County of Riverside Planning Department office is anticipated approximately two days per week during onboarding and as needed afterward.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Ecology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, or a related field.
10 or more years of progressively responsible biological resources experience, including project management and senior technical review.
Advanced knowledge of the Western Riverside County MSHCP, including consistency analysis and implementation requirements.
Working knowledge of the Coachella Valley MSHCP.
Strong working knowledge of CEQA biological resources analysis and applicable federal and state regulations, including NEPA, CWA, MBTA, California Fish and Game Code, FESA, and CESA.
Experience preparing or reviewing biological technical reports, focused survey reports, DBESP/HANS documentation, avoidance and mitigation measures, and environmental document sections.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent assignments, budgets, schedules, technical staff, and client expectations in a fast-paced consulting or agency environment.
Excellent technical writing, verbal communication, facilitation, project management, and client-service skills.
Ability and willingness to work regularly in Riverside County, including recurring in-person support at County offices and occasional field visits throughout Southern California.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and working knowledge of ArcGIS tools, web mapping, and biological database research.
Valid driver’s license required.

Nice To Haves

Established professional relationships and project experience with Riverside County TLMA, the Regional Conservation Authority, Coachella Valley Conservation Commission, and other Inland Empire agencies and clients.
Experience working as embedded or extension-of-staff support for a public agency.
Demonstrated success developing new work, leading proposals and interviews, and building client relationships in Riverside County.
Strong Southern California botany, wildlife, aquatic resources, or regulatory permitting expertise.
Advanced degree, relevant professional certification, or current federal or state scientific permits/MOUs for plant voucher collection or wildlife species surveys.
Experience recruiting, supervising, training, and mentoring biological staff.

Responsibilities

Serve as Project Manager for biological resources, staff augmentation, peer review, and regulatory compliance assignments.
Manage priorities, schedules, budgets, task orders, staffing assignments, deliverables, quality control, and client expectations across multiple concurrent projects.
Review biological technical studies and environmental documents for consistency with CEQA and applicable MSHCP requirements.
Review documentation for compliance with and clearance of biological conditions of approval.
Coordinate with County staff, applicants, consultants, resource agencies, and other project stakeholders.
Prepare peer review memoranda, comment matrices, scopes of work, level-of-effort estimates, schedules, and other client-ready deliverables.
Lead the preparation and review of biological technical reports, impact analyses, mitigation measures, focused survey reports, and MSHCP consistency documentation.
Lead or support field visits, site validations, biological surveys, vegetation mapping, focused species surveys, aquatic resources assessments, and construction compliance activities as needed.
Manage regulatory permitting and compliance assignments involving the Clean Water Act, California Fish and Game Code, federal and state endangered species requirements, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Provide technical leadership, QA/QC, training, and mentoring to staff performing biological studies and MSHCP reviews.
Manage project financial performance, including scope, schedule, budget, change management, invoicing support, and contract compliance.
Communicate proactively with Natural Resources leadership about workload, risks, client needs, staffing, and upcoming opportunities.
Develop and strengthen relationships with public agencies, developers, engineering firms, environmental partners, subcontractors, and teaming partners in Riverside County and the Inland Empire.
Identify pursuits, on-call opportunities, staff augmentation needs, and cross-selling opportunities for biological resources, regulatory permitting, restoration, GIS, and environmental planning services.
Support capture planning, go/no-go decisions, proposal strategy, scope and fee development, interviews, and client presentations.
Represent Michael Baker at client meetings, professional organizations, industry events, and agency or community forums.
Collaborate with environmental planners, regulatory specialists, restoration ecologists, engineers, hydrologists, landscape architects, GIS professionals, and other multidisciplinary teams.