Senior Biologist

Consulting Biologist

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.

Stantec is seeking a consulting biologist with at least 10 years of experience to join our southern California Ecosystems Group by operating out of one of our southern California offices, including but not necessarily limited to: Los Angeles, Fresno, Irvine, Monrovia, Paramount, Pasadena, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Ventura. We welcome a talented and collaborative team member with demonstrable experience in southern California and elsewhere.

As a Senior-level Biologist with Stantec, you will work in a highly dynamic team environment with other biologists/ecologists/water resource specialists, and land planning and regulatory experts. This position will include opportunities for both field and office work; it may also involve field work during construction of projects and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects. In this position, you will be responsible for the contribution and management of multi-disciplinary project teams in all phases of the execution and delivery of siting and licensing of energy production, including renewable energy, electric and gas transmission projects, transportation projects, community development projects, and projects for other public and private sector clients. As a Senior Biologist, you will oversee and provide expertise in field biology, regulatory strategy, CEQA/NEPA analysis, and permitting strategy.

Specific background and expertise should consist of strong botanical, wetland, or wildlife technical expertise, familiarity and experience with regulatory permitting, and project and client management. This position requires coordination with clients, resource agencies, and environmental and technical staff.

As a Senior Biologist, you will:

• 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.
• Assist 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.

Your Capabilities and Credentials:

You are a biologist or natural resources management specialist; you at minimum hold a bachelor's degree (master's degree preferred) in Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources Management, or a related field; and have a minimum 10 years of related experience demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility in conducting biological resources surveys and preparing technical reports. Skills desired include:

• Demonstrable experience in all aspects of project management, biological impact assessment and mitigation strategy development, and preparation and review of biological resources documents.
• Demonstrable experience in providing strong support and collaboration in delivering high quality work products to multi-disciplinary project teams within project scope, budget and schedule expectations.
• 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.
• 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 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.
• Qualifications and/or experience with being considered a USFWS-approved biologist for one or more federally listed species and/or a CDFW-approved Designated Biologist (DB) 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/LCPs)
• Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (WRMSHCP)
• Demonstrable 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.
• Demonstrable 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.
• Demonstrable 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.

Education and Experience 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. This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what's previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what's possible.