Senior Biologist

About the role

Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, Stantec’s experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We’re a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that’s critical to our clients and the communities they support. Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other’s talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects, supervise staff, lead and mentor project field teams, and provide support to other project managers undertaking renewable energy, oil and gas, and other development projects.
• Schedule, assist, and/or lead teams for 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.
• Provide guidance to junior staff, including providing training recommendations, coaching, and mentoring.
• Plan, prepare, and review technical reports or portions of larger environmental assessments.
• Work with business development teams and lead efforts to respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) including defining the scope of work, associated cost, and compiling relevant sections of proposal documents.
• Contribute to our corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees.
• Coordinate with clients and regulators to communicate results of various survey efforts and technical reports.
• Lead development of permitting strategies, permit application packages, and agency negotiations.
• Aid teams and lead efforts in pursuing and contributing to new business opportunities and effective technical proposals.
• Have a target 75-80% direct project utilization goal.
• Conduct occasional overnight travel within and outside of southern California.

Requirements

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrable experience in all aspects of project management, biological impact assessment and mitigation strategy development, and preparation and review of biological resources documents.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and organizational skills.
• Business development acumen with established relationships with clients and regulatory agency staff and/or the capability of successfully developing and maintaining these relationships.
• Significant experience in reviewing and analyzing scientific data, maps, and drawings with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Significant demonstrable background, knowledge, and experience with the flora, fauna, and vegetative communities of southern California and experience in conducting floristic botanical surveys, reconnaissance wildlife surveys, and species-specific protocol surveys; experience in other areas of California and elsewhere 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, particularly for desert tortoise and Mohave ground squirrel.
• Significant 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), and/or biological resources sections for CEQA/NEPA documents.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in southern California, such as: - California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act (CEQA/NEPA) Federal and California Endangered Species Act (FESA/CESA) Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (MBTA/BGEPA) Clean Water Act (CWA) Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Porter-Cologne) California Fish and Game Code (FGC) California Coastal Act and Local Coastal Programs (CCA/LCP) Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (WRMSHCP).
• Significant experience in 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, and/or federal/state Incidental Take Permits (ITPs).
• Demonstrable experience contributing to environmental permitting of energy facilities, pipelines, and/or linear infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrable technical competence and project experience in natural resource fields applicable to commercial (primarily conventional or renewable energy generation/transmission) siting and licensing or environmental permitting of other infrastructure projects.
• Significant experience in working on construction projects, compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects.
• Significant experience with using GPS/GIS technology to collect biological survey data, map vegetation communities, and/or delineate jurisdictional waters.
• Wetland delineation training certificate and/or demonstrable experience in conducting jurisdictional waters/aquatic resources delineations will be considered a plus.
• Must have ability to occasionally travel.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• A medical physical and/or drug and alcohol screening may be required for some project assignments.
• OSHA HAZWOPER 40 certification may need to be obtained prior to employment.

Qualifications

• BS (MS degree preferred) in Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a related field with minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time.
• Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.
• Ability to lift and move items and equipment up to 50 lbs.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations and processes, particularly in southern California, such as: - California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act (CEQA/NEPA) Federal and California Endangered Species Act (FESA/CESA) Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (MBTA/BGEPA) Clean Water Act (CWA) Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Porter-Cologne) California Fish and Game Code (FGC) California Coastal Act and Local Coastal Programs (CCA/LCP) Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (WRMSHCP).
• Significant experience in 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, and/or federal/state Incidental Take Permits (ITPs).
• Demonstrable experience contributing to environmental permitting of energy facilities, pipelines, and/or linear infrastructure projects.
• Significant experience in working on construction projects, compliance monitoring, environmental training, interpretation and application of regulatory requirements, and post-construction monitoring/reporting on small to large projects.
• Significant experience with using GPS/GIS technology to collect biological survey data, map vegetation communities, and/or delineate jurisdictional waters.
• Wetland delineation training certificate and/or demonstrable experience in conducting jurisdictional waters/aquatic resources delineations will be considered a plus.

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.