Staff Level Biologist - Natural Resources (On Call - Variable Hours)

SWCA Environmental Consultants • San Luis Obispo, CA

5d • $24 - $35

About The Position

SWCA is expanding our natural resources team and seeking On Call Assistant/Staff Biologist candidates for upcoming environmental projects involving a range of office and field duties. Candidates located in California’s Central Coast area are encouraged to apply to support the volume of infrastructure projects in those areas. Work hours may vary seasonally, and depending on project needs and your skills. On-call staff are requested for work as it becomes available and are free to accept or refuse the work based on their schedule. As our Natural Resources team continues to grow, additional opportunities for advancement and/or transition to a regular, full-time position will be available.
It is anticipated that travel, including overnight stays, may be required for this position. This position may at times also require long or abnormal work hours (early start times, night shifts, etc.). Fieldwork will mostly include travel throughout the Central Coast of California but opportunities to perform similar duties and travel throughout California and continental United States (e.g., Colorado, New Mexico, Texas) may be available.
The candidate could fill one of our Staff Level roles based on skill and years of relevant experience:
Assistant Staff Biologists: Typically up to 1 year of experience and expertise
Staff Biologists: Typically up to 2 years of experience and expertise
This position is temporary, hourly. Pay will be competitive, based on individual qualifications and experience .
For assistant staff and staff biologist positions, depending upon project, an element of your job may be to independently supervise a biological survey crew in the field. This includes:
Independently assigning and directing the activities of others on behalf of SWCA, often in remote areas without immediate guidance from senior managers, to ensure quality and on-time delivery;
Ensuring that employees understand their responsibilities and delegated tasks and being held accountable if crew members under your supervision are not performing their activities correctly, productively, and safely;
Serving as a conduit of communication between employees and senior managers, including communicating issues to relevant senior managers;
Receiving and resolving complaints from employees in the field; and
Monitoring team productivity and providing timely performance feedback, including deciding when disciplinary action is necessary and delivering discipline.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related life sciences field required.
• One (1) year of field experience required.
• Knowledge of common and special-status state and federal listed California fauna and flora.
• Must have a current and valid driver’s license, with the ability to drive multiple types of vehicles, trucks, and 4x4’s
• Prior experience with GIS software, GPS units/tablets and ability to use technology for data collection.
• Ability to travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, often at high altitudes, and ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds is required.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
• Report or other writing experience.

Nice To Haves

• Two years or field seasons of experience completing biological surveys, fieldwork, habitat assessments, wetland delineations, and/or construction monitoring.
• Botanical and wetland delineation experience.
• Ornithologists with bird identification and nest searching experience; rail, raptor and other birds of prey experience a plus.
• Stormwater, erosion, and sediment control management experience; including Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) and/or Water Pollution Control Plans (WPCPs) implementation experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct biological construction monitoring, environmental inspections, wildlife and vegetation baseline studies (including protocol surveys), nesting bird surveys, wetland assessments, and general habitat assessments.
• Collect field data, record and identify fauna and flora.
• Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS units, ArcGIS Field Maps, and other maps and tools to determine exact locations of project areas, habitat types, and associated landforms.
• Photograph and take detailed notes of habitats, species, and landforms. Operate SWCA vehicles safely, including operation of 4-wheel-drive vehicles on rugged, back-country roads.
• Communicate effectively with SWCA project managers, construction crews, and other environmental specialists to complete the field work and reporting requirements.
• Understand project environmental requirements and the applicable laws and regulations protecting biological resources.
• Complete desktop analyses, web-based database queries, prepare technical reports describing the methods, results, recommendations, and regulatory background for projects.
• Working independently and as part of a diverse team is critical.
• Follow industry-leading safety check-in and reporting procedures.
• Adhering to the safety program and looking out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.

Benefits

• SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees.
• SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff.
• We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees