Senior Paleontologist

Environmental Science Associates•San Diego, CA

23h•$114,774 - $140,279•Hybrid

About The Position

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is seeking a Senior Paleontologist in Southern California with over 10 years of experience. This role involves leading paleontological monitoring, surveys, testing, fossil salvage, recordation of fossil localities, stratigraphic columns, sensitive formations, curation, and preparing environmental reports and supporting documentation. While remote options may be explored for the right candidate, the ability to commute to and around Southern California for field work is strongly preferred. This is a hybrid position, with a preference for candidates who can work from any of our Southern California ESA locations. The Senior Paleontologist will lead multi-faceted paleontological resource-related evaluations, research, and analyses for a growing group of paleontologists within the Cultural Resources Group statewide. The ideal candidate will have excellent field, writing, time/budget management, and organizational capabilities, along with agency coordination and client service experience. Proficiency in managing paleontological resources within the context of CEQA, NEPA, and the PRPA is essential. Experience with leading paleontological surveys and salvage projects, documentation, evaluation, and treatment of fossil resources, and preparing paleontological/geological sections of environmental documents and developing mitigation measures is required. The role also involves coordinating, supervising, and mentoring junior staff, and organizing/assisting in developing a paleontological practice within the southern California cultural resources group. The position requires a graduate degree in paleontology or a closely related field, meeting or exceeding requirements for a paleontological principal investigator, and the ability to lead field crews and produce technically supported documents. Collaboration with clients and interdisciplinary teams to deliver projects on time and within budget in a fast-paced environment is expected. Strong problem-solving skills and a clear understanding of project management principles are necessary.

Requirements

10+ years of experience performing paleontological monitoring, surveys, testing and fossil salvage, recordation of fossil localities, stratigraphic columns, and sensitive formations, curation, and preparing environmental reports, and supporting documentation.
10+ years of experience in relevant scientific or environmental consulting environments.
Ability to lead multi-faceted paleontological resource-related evaluations, research, and analyses.
Excellent field, writing, time/budget management, and organizational capabilities.
Agency coordination and client service experience.
Proficiency in the management of paleontological resources within the context of CEQA, NEPA, and the PRPA.
Experience with leading paleontological surveys and salvage projects.
Experience with documentation, evaluation, and treatment of fossil resources.
Experience preparing paleontological/geological sections of environmental documents and developing mitigation measures.
Qualified paleontologist who holds a graduate degree in paleontology or a closely related field.
Meet or exceed the requirements for a paleontological principal investigator.
Ability to lead field crews and produce well-written and technically supported documents.
Ability to work collaboratively with clients and interdisciplinary teams to deliver projects on time and within budget in a fast-paced work environment.
Excellent organizational and strong problem-solving skills.
Demonstrate a clear understanding of project management principles and practices.
Responsible for the delivery of high-quality work products.
Ability and desire to coordinate, supervise and mentor junior staff members.
Ability to organize and assist developing a paleontological practice within the southern California cultural resources group.
Enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack.
Able to lift at least 50 pounds.
Confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments.
Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, extensive field work and site visits in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in forested environments, fields, arid lands, along stream banks, and in coastal/intertidal areas.
Possess a valid driver’s license.
Experience driving 4 wheel-drive vehicles off-road.

Nice To Haves

Candidates with the capability to commute to and around the Southern California area for field work as needed is strongly preferred.
Familiar with working on active construction sites.
Completing locality forms.
Knowledgeable of fossil materials and sensitive formations common to the region.
Minimum of six months of field experience or relative academic field experience in Southern California.

Responsibilities

Manage and carry out surveys and technical document preparation on a wide range of projects.
Manage and conduct archival research, paleontological resources assessments, development of appropriate contexts, paleontological survey and resource documentation, resource evaluations, and impacts analysis meeting CEQA, NEPA and other requirements.
Serve as the primary author of paleontological resource assessment reports to support larger multi-disciplinary environmental documents.
Supervise project teams and participate in and/or lead client meetings.
Assist in preparing scopes of work and budgets, including providing technical input, contributing to proposal writing, and engaging with proposal/interview teams.
Provide mentorship and support for junior staff, including reviewing their work for accuracy and clarity and providing constructive feedback and career development guidance.
Cross train qualified cultural resources staff to support field and monitoring projects to provide clients with efficient monitoring options.
Manage paleontological monitoring, surveys, testing and fossil salvage.
Recordation of fossil localities, stratigraphic columns, and sensitive formations.
Curation of paleontological resources.
Prepare environmental reports and supporting documentation.