Senior Wetland Scientist

TRC Companies • Portland, OR

104d • $95,000 - $130,000

About The Position

TRC seeks highly motivated, qualified individuals to join our growing Pacific Northwest Permitting, Planning and Licensing team as a Senior-Level Wetland and Natural Resources Biologist. The successful candidate will be an energetic, flexible project/task lead completing natural resources field surveys and environmental documentation throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and beyond. Our practice is focused on energy generation, power transmission, power storage, utilities infrastructure, and commercial development. You can bring with you an enthusiasm and initiative to expand into markets and services that excite you. This position will be associated with one of our Pacific Northwest offices (Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Milwaukie, OR).

Requirements

• 10-15+ years of professional experience completing natural resources surveys, waterbody and wetland delineations, stream assessments, and other biological field surveys throughout Oregon and Washington.
• Have your Professional Wetland Scientist certification.
• Experience as project/task manager, leading all aspects of projects/tasks from notice to proceed through completion, including team and financial management.
• Excellent analytical reasoning skills and technical writing to identify project constraints, proposed solutions and deconflict project siting.
• Strong working knowledge to identify Pacific Northwest plant species sufficient to complete wetland delineations, vegetation and noxious weeds surveys, and habitat assessments throughout Oregon and Washington.
• Demonstrated experience performing routine and atypical wetland delineations using the USACE Manual and Regional Supplement(s) to identify, map, and characterize wetlands.
• Demonstrable experience preparing Joint Permit Applications meeting Oregon DSL removal-fill law and USACE Section 404 Clean Water Act requirements.
• Experience with Oregon SFAM and ORWAP assessments.
• Trained in Washington state wetland rating systems.
• Clear and concise technical writing and communication skills are mandatory.
• Able to maintain and grow relationships with clients and regulators.
• Experience with federal and state wetland and environmental permitting (401 Water Quality Certification, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, etc.).

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Ecology, Range Science, Botany, Soil Science, Natural Resources, Wildlife Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, or a related field.
• Strong working knowledge of Oregon state and municipal regulations and permitting for power and utilities projects.
• Experience completing other biological surveys (e.g., aquatic and marine fish survey, marine mammals, eel grass and benthic surveys, in-water work permitting).
• Experience with the United States Army Corp of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Forest service, Indian Lands, and Fish and Wildlife, and other Federal and State Agencies.
• Experience siting, designing, and implementing restoration/mitigation projects to compensate for impacts to wetlands, waters, and habitat communities.
• Additional skills and experience that are useful but not required are: site planning, NEPA/SEPA process, Shoreline Management policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead field technicians and junior staff to conduct natural resources field surveys, wetland and waterbody delineations, habitat and noxious weed mapping, and ecological restoration/mitigation projects.
• Complete data analyses and author technical environmental documentation.
• Engage with regulatory permitting and consultations.
• Serve as the technical resource with up-to-date expertise/guidance regarding federal, state (Washington, Oregon), and local regulatory requirements for biological and natural resource protocols, regulations, permitting processes, and common pitfalls.
• Work on multiple assignments simultaneously and communicate effectively to deconflict competing priorities and schedule deadlines.
• Direct team members to do the same.
• With minimal supervision, plan and lead natural resources field surveys, mapping, and impacts assessment evaluations that conform with federal, state, and local manuals and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor and train junior staff on plant identification, soil characterization, species protocol surveys, and aquatic resources assessments as applicable.
• Research local ordinances and state regulations to understand site specific regulatory constraints, allowable uses, and critical areas code requirements.
• Lead wetland delineations and functional assessments based on the USACE 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual, applicable USACE regional supplements, and applicable functional assessment protocols.
• Conduct fish, wildlife, and plant species assessments in accordance with the requirements of U.S. Endangered Species Act Section 7/10, ODFW, WDFW, and WA DNR.
• Conduct wetland and stream function and value assessments conforming with ODSL and Washington Dept of Ecology standards.
• Conduct or support other biological surveys including vegetation and habitat assessments, and special status fish, wildlife, and plant species.
• Coordinate closely with TRC geographic information system (GIS) staff to prepare required mapping deliverables.
• Author technical reports documenting field findings, impacts assessments, and mitigation requirements.
• Prepare Joint Permit Applications (Oregon) and JARPA (Washington) for state and local wetland and waterbody impacts permitting.
• Identify, design, and implement habitat restoration/mitigation measures to compensate for project environmental impacts.
• Lead or participate in client, agency consultation, and internal team meetings.
• Interface directly with clients, internal team members including subconsultants, regulatory agency staff, and tribal representatives.
• Manage project delivery to meet client expectations as well as TRC quality, safety, and financial goals.
• As part of a team, lead and/or assist preparing competitive bid proposals and participate in client/business capture opportunities.
• Complete company administrative tasks as required.
• Represent TRC at industry functions and public meetings.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance.
• 401k package that includes both traditional and Roth IRA options and Company match.
• Paid time off contingent upon full time or part time status and level of seniority (ranging from 15 to 25 days per year).
• All full-time employees enjoy a minimum of 8 Paid Holidays per year.
• TRC ensures that all employees, including those that work part-time, receive paid sick, family, and disability leave in accordance with the laws of their state of residence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Administrative and Support Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree