Ecologist

Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose! At Verdantas, we’re redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting-edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high-growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data-driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges.

About the role

This is a great opportunity to join an experienced, respected ecological consulting team in the Midwest. The successful candidate will utilize technical and task management skills on a variety of diverse, sometimes complex, projects requiring multi-disciplinary collaboration, independent review, and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct wetlands and waters delineation field work, report writing, and federal & state jurisdictional determination requests, along with wetland and stream assessments
• Prepare permit applications for USACE, state, and local regulatory agencies
• Coordinate with USFWS, state agencies, and others regarding threatened & endangered species effects determinations
• Assist Project Managers by tracking work progress and providing work assignments to project personnel
• Serve as a technical resource for the company by evaluating alternative strategies for ecological projects
• Support wetland, stream, and terrestrial restoration and mitigation projects, including identification of common native and invasive plant species
• Collect and interpret data through research, file reviews, field observations, and measurements
• Support business development activities by preparing proposals and building relationships with clients
• Mentor and train junior staff
• Create daily Health and Safety Plans to maintain personal and team safety in the field
• Travel regionally for field assignments, including occasional overnight and out-of-state work (roughly 40% of the time)

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, or similar from an accredited institution
• 7-10 years of experience directly related to wetland delineation and waters permitting, with helpful background in botanical surveys, T&E species surveys, native vegetation restoration, invasive species control, or wildlife habitat restoration
• Working knowledge of the USACE Wetland Delineation Manual and regional supplements, Clean Water Act Section 404/401, and local permitting processes (experience with NEPA, DOT, or stormwater permitting is a plus)
• When in an outdoor environment, the employee is subject to significant walking distances in uneven terrain, varying temperatures, weather conditions, wildlife, and noise
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Must possess a valid driver's license
• Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) or Wetland Professional in Training (WPIT) Certification
• Strong written and verbal communication, sound professional judgment, and the ability to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines both independently and as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team

Pay

The minimum salary for this position is $95,000. We recognize and reward exceptional performance and strive to ensure fair compensation across all roles and departments within the company.

Benefits

• Flexible Work Environment
• Paid Parental Leave
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off + Holidays