Senior Paleontologist

Environmental Science Associates•Los Angeles, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is seeking a Senior Paleontologist in Southern California with extensive experience in paleontological monitoring, surveys, testing, fossil salvage, recordation of fossil localities, stratigraphic columns, sensitive formations, curation, and preparing environmental reports and supporting documentation. This role involves leading multi-faceted paleontological resource evaluations, research, and analyses within the Cultural Resources Group. The ideal candidate will possess strong field, writing, time/budget management, and organizational skills, along with experience in agency coordination, client service, and managing paleontological resources within the context of CEQA, NEPA, and the PRPA. The position requires a graduate degree in paleontology or a related field, the ability to lead field crews, and produce technically sound documents. Collaboration with clients and interdisciplinary teams is essential for delivering projects on time and within budget in a fast-paced environment. The role also includes mentoring junior staff and contributing to the development of the paleontological practice in Southern California.

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.
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.
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.
Excellent organizational and strong problem-solving skills.
Clear understanding of project management principles and practices.
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.
Ability to walk long distances carrying a backpack.
Ability 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 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.
Familiar with working on active construction sites.
Experience 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.
Ability to walk long distances carrying up to 50lbs of gear in a wide variety of conditions, including strenuous natural habitats and difficult weather.
Possess a valid driver’s license.
Experience driving 4 wheel-drive vehicles off-road.

Nice To Haves

Remote options may be explored for the right candidate.
Candidates with the capability to commute to and around the Southern California area for field work as needed is strongly preferred.
A writing sample and/or additional documents may be requested as a stage in the interview process.

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.
Perform paleontological monitoring, surveys, testing and fossil salvage.
Record fossil localities, stratigraphic columns, and sensitive formations.
Manage curation of paleontological resources.
Prepare environmental reports and supporting documentation.
Lead paleontological surveys and salvage projects.
Evaluate and treat fossil resources.
Prepare paleontological/geological sections of environmental documents.
Develop mitigation measures for paleontological resources.