Wetland Delineator

About the role

GAI Consultants, Inc. is seeking experienced Wetland Delineators to support projects throughout the greater Southwest US region. Ideal candidates will be excited to conduct field work and have a proven track record of independently or as part of a team conducting field investigations related to wetland and watercourse delineation, stream assessments, general biological assessment, and vegetation mapping in a variety of Southwestern US terrestrial habitats.

Responsibilities

• Work independently or as part of team to conduct wetland/water jurisdictional delineation surveys, vegetation mapping and general biological resources site assessments.
• Participate in pre-field planning and post-field data analysis, processing, and management in support of technical report preparation, under the direction of the project’s Environmental Task Manager.
• Utilize desktop resources and other digital tools (i.e., topographic maps, aerial photographs, etc.), industry-related GPS-based field data platforms/software (Field Maps, Survey123, etc.) and other tools for the preparation and execution field studies.
• Absorb and apply industry protocols, technical reports and procedures, and governmental regulations regarding regulated wetlands and waterbodies.
• Collect and maintain accurate field reports and data logs using digital forms and collaborative databases.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and provide additional support to the Environmental Team as needed.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret industry protocols, technical reports and procedures, and governmental regulations regarding regulated wetlands and waterbodies.
• Able to work well as part of a field team (including subconsultants).

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years’ experience routinely performing wetland/water field studies for private or public sector projects in the environmental consulting industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or a closely related discipline.
• Knowledge regarding current Clean Water Act Section 404 and Section 401 regulatory policy, as well as the currently accepted field assessment protocols and associated field instruments to determine jurisdiction of wetlands and waters.
• Familiarity with relevant Federal, State, and local regulations including but not limited to federal and state Endangered Species Acts (ESAs), NEPA, and Clean Water Act (CWA) permits.
• Strong knowledge of Southwest US flora and fauna, especially state and federally listed special-status plant and animal species.
• Ability and willingness to travel to project site locations within the Southwest US region, including field work assignments requiring overnight stays.
• Ability and willingness to hike long distances (up to ~10-12 miles/day) and conduct fieldwork in a variety of terrains (desert, grasslands, wetlands/riparian, etc.) over multiple days for long hours (up to 12 hours/day) in various weather conditions, while carrying equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Comfortable with conducting field work on active construction sites in the presence of construction crews.

Qualifications

• Ability to conduct field work in a safe and efficient way by utilizing good judgment in addition to following GAI and Project-specific health and safety protocols.
• Training will be provided for all Project-specific safety topics.

Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret industry protocols, technical reports and procedures, and governmental regulations regarding regulated wetlands and waterbodies.
• Ability to work well as part of a field team (including subconsultants).
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret industry protocols, technical reports and procedures, and governmental regulations regarding regulated wetlands and waterbodies.
• Ability to write detailed and comprehensive field reports and other task-related correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from others including managers, clients, and field colleagues.

Pay

The salary ranges for these positions are $68,000 to $84,500 per year. The compensation offer will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Schedule

This role will support both field and desktop-based tasks, depending on business needs. This position is eligible for remote employment, but requires candidates to be located within the Southwestern US region.