Associate Biologist

About the role

Stantec is seeking a consulting biologist with a minimum of 5 years of experience to join our southern California Ecosystems Group. The position operates out of one of our southern California offices, including Bakersfield, Fresno, Irvine, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Paramount, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Santa Maria, and Ventura.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with clients and regulators to communicate results of various survey efforts and technical reports.
• Conduct overnight travel within and outside of southern California.
• Work in a highly dynamic team environment with other biologists/ecologists/water resource specialists, and land planning and regulatory experts.
• Lead and mentor project field teams and provide support to project managers.
• Plan, prepare, and review technical reports or portions of larger environmental assessments.
• Assist with the development of permitting strategies, permit application packages, and agency negotiations.
• Contribute to new business opportunities and effective technical proposals.
• May contribute to our corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees.

Requirements

Your capabilities and credentials:

• A bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of related experience demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility in conducting biological resources surveys and preparing technical reports.
• Collaborative team member who works effectively in multi-disciplinary project and field teams.
• Proficient in policies and procedures for Health and Safety, including client-specific training, leading by example, and applying Health and Safety policies and procedures as appropriate to their work.
• Experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys.
• Experience with and/or permits for arroyo toad, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell’s vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mohave ground squirrel, and/or desert tortoise.
• Possession of a California Scientific Collecting Permit, State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and or federal Recovery Permit for one or more special-status species.
• 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), biological resources sections for CEQA/NEPA documents.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in southern California.
• Experience in compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects.
• Proficient in MS Office applications.
• Experience with using GPS/GIS technology (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, Online, and/or Field Maps) to collect biological resources survey data, map vegetation communities, and delineate jurisdictional waters.
• Must have ability to lift and move items and equipment up to 50 lbs.

Qualifications

• Skills: Collaborative team member who works effectively in multi-disciplinary project and field teams. Proficient in policies and procedures for Health and Safety, including client-specific training, leading by example, and applying Health and Safety policies and procedures as appropriate to their work. Ability to coordinate with project managers to conduct work efficiently and within project scope, budget and schedule expectations. Demonstrable background, knowledge, and experience with the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of southern California. Experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys. Experience with and/or permits for arroyo toad, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell’s vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mohave ground squirrel, 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 one or more special-status species will be considered a plus. Qualifications and/or experience with being considered a USFWS-approved biologist for one or more federally listed species and/or a CDFW-approved Designated Biologist (DB) will be considered a plus, particularly for desert tortoise and Mohave ground squirrel. Wetland delineation training certificate and/or demonstrable experience in conducting jurisdictional waters/aquatic resources delineations will be considered a plus. Possess strong verbal and technical writing skills and have the ability to effectively communicate with team members, junior staff, clients, and regulatory agencies. 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), biological resources sections for CEQA/NEPA documents. Working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in southern California. Ability to prepare or contribute to the 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, federal/state Incidental Take Permits (ITPs). Experience in compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects. Proficient in MS Office applications. Experience with using GPS/GIS technology (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, Online, and/or Field Maps) to collect biological resources survey data, map vegetation communities, and delineate jurisdictional waters. Must have ability to lift and move items and equipment up to 50 lbs.

Skills

• Collaborative team member who works effectively in multi-disciplinary project and field teams.
• Proficient in policies and procedures for Health and Safety, including client-specific training, leading by example, and applying Health and Safety policies and procedures as appropriate to their work.
• Ability to coordinate with project managers to conduct work efficiently and within project scope, budget and schedule expectations.
• Demonstrable background, knowledge, and experience with the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of southern California.
• Experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys.
• Experience with and/or permits for arroyo toad, coastal California gnatcatcher, least Bell’s vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mohave ground squirrel, and/or desert tortoise.
• Possession of a California Scientific Collecting Permit, State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and or federal Recovery Permit for one or more special-status species.
• 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), biological resources sections for CEQA/NEPA documents.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in southern California.
• Experience in compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects.
• Proficient in MS Office applications.
• Experience with using GPS/GIS technology (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, Online, and/or Field Maps) to collect biological resources survey data, map vegetation communities, and delineate jurisdictional waters.

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.