Senior Biologist

About the role

GHD has an exciting opportunity in Central California for a Senior Biologist! The Senior Biologist position will involve working with a team of natural resources scientists, environmental planners, engineers, and others to achieve project goals! GHD’s US West Region Natural Resources and Impact Assessment (NR&IA) Group supports projects throughout central coast region of California. Project work will largely include a variety of remedial construction and restoration projects in California, in addition to opportunities for capital improvement projects in both national and international projects. You will contribute to proposals and business development, leading and building a team of scientists, and mentoring and teaching young professionals.

Responsibilities

• Leading client relations, scheduling work, handling scopes of work, and managing budgets
• Communicate effectively with project team members and key individuals
• Provide technical oversight of report preparation, QA/QC, project coordination, and other management duties
• Proposal development including scope and fees
• Develop project mitigation and supervising strategies and plans
• Apply technical understanding of key regulations (federal, state, and local)
• Work with Natural Resources & Impact Assessment team members to secure federal, state, and municipal environmental permits as well as support critical initiatives
• Be a primary point of contact with internal and external clients to provide guidance on natural resource issues and deliver outstanding client service
• Develop relationships with other strategic clients within the professional community
• Grow the GHD brand as an authority in the natural resources space – this means staying up on the latest technologies, and bringing new ideas to project teams
• Flexibility to support field efforts, which may include long days and travel out of the region to construction sites

Qualifications

• MS in Natural Resources, Biology, Wildlife Biology, Fisheries, or related degree
• 12 years of proven experience in the field completing natural resources surveys and assessments (particularly for special status species) and/or similar qualifications that demonstrate a technical competence regarding biological resources in the Bay Area and/or southern California
• 10 years of experience in environmental consulting, and 6 years of full cycle project management experience
• Possession of current USFWS 10(a)(1)(A) Permits and CDFW Scientific Collecting Permits/MOUs for California wildlife or fisheries species (terrestrial and/or aquatic) preferred
• Certified Wildlife Scientist or similar certification is a bonus
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder)

Skills

• Significant experience authoring NEPA, CEQA, Federal and State ESA documents and biology chapters as well as environmental permits such as 1602s, 404s, 401s, etc.
• Experience interacting with a variety of stakeholders including private entities, municipalities, and regulatory agencies
• Ability to develop a team of personnel effectively, as well as lead complex projects
• Meticulous in the ability to balance a diverse and changing workload
• Experience with project oversight and compliance, including leading biological construction and compliance monitoring efforts
• Regulatory coordination
• Wildlife and Botanical Surveys
• Expertise in both wildlife biology and fisheries preferred

Pay

Salary Range $81,000-$166,000 based on experience and location.

Schedule

Hybrid work model: three days per week in-office (San Luis Obispo office) with flexibility for field work and travel.