Endangered Species Ecologist - Portland, OR

About the role

Tetra Tech is adding an experienced Endangered Species Ecologist to support renewable energy, infrastructure, and environmental permitting projects throughout North America.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level technical support and strategic guidance for:
• Renewable energy projects (wind, solar, battery storage)
• Traditional energy projects
• Linear infrastructure projects (transmission lines, pipelines)
• Support environmental permitting and due diligence activities
• Prepare and contribute to:
• NEPA documents (EAs, EISs, CATEXs)
• Biological Assessments (BAs)
• Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs)
• Eagle Conservation Plans (ECPs)
• Mitigation and compliance plans
• Support project development activities including:
• Proposal preparation
• Scope and budget development
• Compliance strategy development
• Represent clients in discussions and negotiations with regulatory agencies
• Participate in conferences and industry events to support business development and company visibility
• Provide technical review and quality assurance of biological and environmental work products
• Potentially manage projects and multidisciplinary project teams
• Conduct activities in line with internal procedures, legislation, and industry standards
• Pursue continuous professional development and maintain a high degree of discipline knowledge and awareness
• Work in a safe manner at all times and report all health and safety incidents and concerns

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in:
• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Biology
• Natural Resources Planning
• Geography
• Related discipline
• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience supporting public and/or commercial clients
• Experience with:
• Environmental permitting related to wildlife, bats, and/or avifauna
• Threatened and endangered species studies
• Habitat assessments and post-construction mortality monitoring
• Strong technical writing, communication, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to:
• Lead technical efforts
• Build stakeholder relationships
• Support strategic environmental planning
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record without restrictions

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in:
• Hawaii
• Pacific Northwest
• Midwest
• Southeast U.S.
• Applied knowledge of:
• Ecological assessment
• Environmental impact analysis
• Habitat conservation planning
• Environmental due diligence
• Experience with:
• ESA Sections 7 and 10 compliance
• USFWS consultation processes
• CWA Sections 401 and 404 permitting
• Federal and state permitting processes
• Experience preparing and negotiating:
• HCPs
• ECPs and Eagle Take Permits under BGEPA
• Experience with:
• Fatality estimation and risk assessment tools
• Wildlife and habitat analysis
• NEPA-compliant documentation
• Demonstrated success in:
• Regulatory negotiations
• Technical scope and budget development
• Team leadership and mentoring
• Client and business development
• Project management

Physical Requirements

• Ability to conduct occasional field visits and site assessments as needed
• Ability to travel for project work, meetings, conferences, and client support

Work Environment / Travel

• Remote or hybrid work environment with affiliation to the Portland, OR office
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary environmental and engineering teams across North America
• Occasional travel to field sites, client meetings, and industry events

About Tetra Tech

Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure, providing high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 30,000 employees working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems by Leading with Science® to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.