Senior Environmental Biologist

Stantec Inc.•Bakersfield, CA

39d

About The Position

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields with dedication, a creative spirit, and a vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties worldwide and are devoted to fostering a community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. Here, you can apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental professionals on work that's vital to our clients and the communities they serve. Join a team that's naturally committed to the environment Your Opportunity Stantec is seeking a consulting biologist with a minimum of 10 years of experience to join our southern California Ecosystems Group by operating out of our San Diego, California office. We welcome a talented and collaborative team member with demonstrable experience in southern California and elsewhere. As a Senior-level Biologist with Stantec, you will work in a highly dynamic team environment with other biologists/ecologists/water resource specialists, and land planning and regulatory experts. This position will include opportunities for both field and office work; it may also involve field work during construction of projects and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects. In this position, you will be responsible for the contribution and management of multi-disciplinary project teams in all phases of the execution and delivery of siting and licensing of energy production, including renewable energy, and electric and gas transmission projects, as well as natural resource planning and management projects. As a Senior Biologist, you will oversee and provide expertise in field biology, regulatory strategy, CEQA/NEPA analysis, and permitting strategy. Specific background and expertise should consist of strong botanical, wetland, or wildlife technical expertise, familiarity and experience with regulatory permitting, and project and client management. This position requires coordination with clients, resource agencies, and environmental and technical staff.

Requirements

You are a biologist or natural resources management specialist and have a minimum 10 years of related experience demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility in conducting biological resources surveys and preparing technical reports.
Demonstrable experience in all aspects of project management, biological impact assessment and mitigation strategy development, and preparation and review of biological resources documents.
Demonstrable experience in providing strong support and collaboration in delivering high quality work products to multi-disciplinary project teams within project scope, budget and schedule expectations.
Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and organizational skills.
Business development acumen with established relationships with clients and regulatory agency staff and/or the capability of successfully developing and maintaining these relationships.
Significant experience in reviewing and analyzing scientific data, maps, and drawings with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Significant demonstrable background, knowledge, and experience with the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of southern California; experience in other areas of California, including desert regions and elsewhere will be considered a plus.
Significant experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys; experience/permits with Chino checkerspot butterfly, arroyo toad, burrowing owl, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell's vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mohave ground squirrel, small mammal trapping, and/or desert tortoise will be considered a plus.
Significant experience in preparing technical documentation including biological survey reports, technical memoranda, Biological Resources Technical Reports (BRTRs), jurisdictional waters delineations and Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports (ARDRs), and/or biological resources sections for CEQA/NEPA documents
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in southern California, such as:- California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act (CEQA/NEPA)
Federal and California Endangered Species Act (FESA/CESA)
Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (MBTA/BGEPA)
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Porter-Cologne Act
California Fish and Game Code (FGC)
California Coastal Act and Local Coastal Programs (CCA/LCPs)
Significant experience in preparation of regulatory permit applications such as Clean Water Act Section 404/401, Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs), Fish and Game Code Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, and/or federal/state Incidental Take Permits (ITPs).
Demonstrated experience leading environmental permitting of energy facilities, pipelines, and/or linear infrastructure projects in the western United States.
Demonstrated technical competence and project experience in natural resource fields applicable to commercial (primarily conventional or renewable energy generation/transmission) siting and licensing or environmental permitting of other infrastructure projects.
Experience in working on construction projects, compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects.
Experience with using GPS/GIS technology to collect biological survey data, map vegetation communities, and/or delineate jurisdictional waters.
Must have ability to occasionally travel.
Must have a valid driver's license and good driving record.
A medical physical and/or drug and alcohol screening may be required for some project assignments.

Nice To Haves

Significant demonstrable background, knowledge, and experience with the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of southern California; experience in other areas of California, including desert regions and elsewhere will be considered a plus.
Significant experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys; experience/permits with Chino checkerspot butterfly, arroyo toad, burrowing owl, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell's vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mohave ground squirrel, small mammal trapping, and/or desert tortoise will be considered a plus.
Possession of a California Scientific Collecting Permit, State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and or federal Recovery Permit for special-status species will be considered a plus.
Wetland delineation training certificate will be considered aplus.
OSHA HAZWOPER 40 certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage projects, supervise staff, lead and mentor project field teams, and provide support to other project managers undertaking renewable energy, oil and gas, and other development projects.
Schedule, assist, and/or lead teams for field tasks, as needed, such as botanical surveys, special-status species surveys/inventories, nesting bird surveys, vegetation community assessments and mapping, jurisdictional waters delineations and assessments, and compliance monitoring.
Provide guidance to junior staff, including providing training recommendations, coaching, and mentoring.
Plan, prepare, and review technical reports or portions of larger environmental assessments.
Work with business development teams and lead efforts to respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) including defining the scope of work, associated cost, and compiling relevant sections of proposal documents
Contribute to our corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees
Coordinate with clients and regulators to communicate results of various survey efforts and technical reports.
Lead development of permitting strategies, permit application packages, and agency negotiations.
Assist teams and lead efforts in pursuing and contributing to new business opportunities and effective technical proposals.
The role has a target 75-80% direct project utilization goal.
Occasional overnight travel may be required within and outside of southern California.

Benefits

Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave.
Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.

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