Project Biologist

About the role

Stantec is seeking a consulting biologist with a minimum of 2 to 5 years of experience to join our southern California Ecosystems Group. The position will operate 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

• Contribute to project field teams and provide support to project managers undertaking renewable energy, oil and gas, and other development projects.
• Conduct field tasks, as needed, such as special-status species surveys/inventories, nesting bird surveys, vegetation community assessments and mapping, jurisdictional waters delineations and assessments, and compliance monitoring.
• Contribute to technical reports or portions of larger environmental assessments.
• May contribute to our corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees.
• Have a target 85-90% direct project utilization goal.
• Conduct overnight travel within and outside of southern California.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2 to 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.
• 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 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 travel.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• OSHA HAZWOPER 40 certification may need to be obtained prior to employment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 to 5 years of experience.

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 being a USFWS-approved biologist for one or more federally listed species and/or a CDFW-approved Designated Biologist (DB).
• Experience in conducting wetland delineation training and/or experience in conducting jurisdictional waters/aquatic resources delineations.
• Strong verbal and technical writing skills and ability to effectively communicate with team members.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical documentation including biological survey reports, technical memoranda, Biological Resources Technical Reports (BRTRs), and jurisdictional waters delineations and Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports (ARDRs).
• Familiarity 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.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• A wellness program.
• Health savings account.
• Flexible spending account.
• 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.
• Paid family leave.