Senior Biologist and Regulatory Permitting Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

LSA is seeking a Senior Biologist and Regulatory Permitting Specialist to support and help grow our environmental practice in California’s Central Valley. The successful candidate will combine strong biological and regulatory expertise with a practical understanding of environmental consulting, client service, and the steps necessary to move complex projects successfully through environmental review and permitting.

This position requires extensive knowledge of Central Valley plant and wildlife species, sensitive habitats, and applicable federal and State environmental regulations. The ideal candidate will be an experienced consultant who can develop permitting strategies, prepare technically sound documents, coordinate effectively with regulatory agencies, manage schedules and budgets, mentor junior staff, and communicate clearly with clients, project managers, and multidisciplinary project teams.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead biological resource assessments, field surveys, impact analyses, and preparation of related technical reports.
• Identify potential effects on special-status species, sensitive natural communities, wetlands, and other aquatic resources.
• Develop practical and defensible avoidance, minimization, mitigation, monitoring, and compliance measures.
• Prepare, manage, and obtain regulatory permits and approvals from agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and California State Lands Commission.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable permitting requirements and processes, including:
  • California Fish and Game Code Section 1602 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements;
  • Clean Water Act Sections 401 and 404;
  • Rivers and Harbors Act Section 408 permissions;
  • Central Valley Flood Protection Board encroachment permits;
  • California State Lands Commission leases and approvals;
  • Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation; and
  • Other applicable federal and State biological resource requirements.
• Prepare and manage permit applications and supporting materials through systems such as the Environmental Permit Information Management System (EPIMS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Request System (RSS).
• Coordinate with clients, engineers, environmental planners, regulatory agencies, and other technical specialists to resolve issues and maintain Project schedules.
• Support environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including preparation and review of biological resource sections and supporting technical documentation.
• Manage multiple projects, including scopes of work, budgets, schedules, deliverables, and quality-control reviews.
• Provide clients with clear, responsive, and solution-oriented guidance regarding environmental constraints, regulatory requirements, and permitting strategies.
• Mentor and oversee junior biologists and permitting staff, including providing technical direction, reviewing work products, and supporting professional development.
• Assist with proposal preparation, client development, and efforts to expand the firm’s biological resources and regulatory permitting practice in the Central Valley.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in biology, botany, ecology, wildlife biology, environmental science, natural resources, or a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Central Valley plant and wildlife species, including special-status species and sensitive habitats.
• Substantial experience preparing and processing environmental permit applications and coordinating with federal, State, and regional regulatory agencies.
• Strong understanding of CEQA, NEPA, the federal and California Endangered Species Acts, and related biological resource requirements.
• Experience with Section 7 consultation and preparation or review of biological assessments and supporting documentation.
• Excellent technical writing, editing, organization, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to understand client objectives and develop practical strategies that move projects forward while maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing project scopes, schedules, budgets, staff assignments, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to mentor junior staff and provide clear technical guidance and quality-control review.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work within established schedules and budgets.
• Valid California driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites and agency meetings throughout the Central Valley, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Relevant professional certifications or permits
• Established relationships with Central Valley clients and regulatory agency staff.
• At least five years of experience supporting water infrastructure, flood-control, transportation, agricultural, restoration, and/or public works projects.
• Experience conducting wetland delineations, special-status species surveys, construction monitoring, and permit compliance.
• Business development and proposal preparation experience.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $94,000 to $138,000 per year. The compensation offer will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience.

About the Organization

LSA is a diversified environmental, transportation, and community planning organization. We are recognized as innovators in the field of environmental impact assessment, and we have developed a reputation among clients and professional peers in both the public and private sectors as being thorough, innovative, and objective.

LSA's employee-owners are its most valuable resource. LSA fosters professional development and personal growth in an environment that offers opportunities for training and enrichment. LSA takes great pride in its work and looks for talented, dedicated professionals to join its team. We are always looking for energetic and enthusiastic people. If you enjoy working with clients and colleagues to plan and manage projects, we would like to hear from you.

LSA offers competitive pay, and for all eligible employees medical, dental, vision, long term disability, group life/AD&D insurance plans; vacation, sick, and holiday pay; an Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and a Profit Sharing and Savings Plan with 401k safe harbor match.

For more details about our employee benefits package please visit our Careers Page on our company website.

EOE Statement

LSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify.

LSA provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. All employment decisions at LSA are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Except where required or permitted by law, employment decisions will not be influenced by an individual’s actual or perceived—or association with others of an actual or perceived—age, ancestry, color, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), denial of Family and Medical Care Leave, disability (mental and physical), marital status, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, national origin, race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal, State, or local laws.   

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES  

LSA does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agency Agreement, LSA will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. If a resume or candidate is submitted to any hiring manager without a previously signed agreement, LSA reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. These candidates will be considered property of LSA. We’re not currently looking to add any more agencies to our list of approved vendors, so please do not contact any of our managers or recruitment team with sales calls or details of your candidates.